A few years after San Kinison died in their arms, his brother and his best friend join comedians to talk about his life and humor. In 1978, after a divorce, Kinison gives up revival-style preaching to pursue comedy full time. He performs in Houston for several years, then goes to L.A. where he`s a maitre d` for the Comedy Store, rarely getting on stage. Then, Rodney Dangerfield gives Sam six minutes on an HBO special, and he`s a star. Between the commentary and analysis by Pryor, Miller, Tenuta, Leno, and others are long clips from Kinison`s interviews on Larry King Live and from his loud, raunchy, angry, sacred, and profane performances: rock and roll meets standup.