George Carlin Dead At 71: "It's A Wonderful Feeling To Have Found Something You're Good At, That You Love To Do"

George Carlin — comic, envelope-pusher, bedeviler of censors everywhere — died yesterday of heart failure at age 71. Carlin was a comedy giant, a legend and a pioneer for his sharp observations and wicked, fearless commentary — the kind that occasionally got him in trouble, like, say, getting arrested for violating FCC obscenity laws, a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court (and, er, upheld the FCC's right to decide what was obscene). That was for "The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" — most of which you still can't say on television (but which apparently have no problem showing up on Twitter). Either way, Carlin definitely moved the needle.

I was lucky enough to interview Carlin earlier this year, and was so impressed by our conversation that I transcribed almost all of it, and the result was a 4,500-word interview that was illuminating and thoughtful and smart (his part, at least). I was surprised at how engaged he was online, the breadth of his reading and media consumption, and he had some interesting and sharp observations about politics, media, comedy, religion, and why people can be so f-ing stupid. Here's one he made about himself, though, and it's worth recalling now:

It's a wonderful feeling to have found something you're good at, that you love to do, and that other people think you do well. Those are the three elements, I think, that go into being happy: Find something you love, be good at it, and have other people pat you on the back and say "good job."

Good job, George. R.I.P.

Carlin, counterculture comedians' dean, dies at 71 [AP]
George Carlin, Pioneering Comedian, Dead at 71 [EW]
George Carlin, Splenetic Comedian, Dies at 71 [NYT]

Interview:
George Carlin Reads More Blogs Than You Do [ETP]

Video:
George Carlin Dies: Video Highlights From His Career [HuffPo]

Comments

[CanuckforObama]

Carlin was born the same year as my father, and although my father has never given up his Catholic faith, he is certainly as grouchy and cynical as Carlin was. I think a lot of white males of his pre-Boomer generation have a unique perspective on society that is rapidly disappearing. They are the last people who have any recollection of the Great Depression and the World War that followed. They remember a time when economic hardship was the common lot of the overwhelming majority of people, a time when mass consumption was a still a vice and not a virtue, a time when sex was taboo and youth culture barely mattered. Their whole world view changed drastically in the 1960s and they did not know whether to embrace the counter-culture or reject it. Carlin of course embraced it. But he also rejected the materialism that took hold once the 60s gave way to the Reagan 80s. Carlin's material of the last 20 years is contradictory in a way because, deep down, his humour is conservative. His attacks on religion and nationalism aside, Carlin was absolutely peeved off with what modern society and the younger generations had become. His humor betrayed a yearning for society to return to the tougher, less pampered and politically correct world he grew up in as a kid. Having said that, I respect him immensely for being a rare and funny free-thinker who should us how absurd life is on this planet.

[hilts]

There was a lot more to George Carlin than the "7 Dirty Words" routine. It's disappointing that the MSM points to this as his most important contribution to comedy. His comparison of baseball to football was brilliant. His Modern Man routine should go down in history as one of the great monologues of all-time.

[shearm]

The best comedian of all time. RIP George. You will be sorely missed.

[DonDavis]

A Contrast of Two Irish Catholics: How Would George Carlin Have Conducted ‘Meet the Press?’
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=1948

[IowaGirl]

Interesting the difference in response to Carlin's passing v. the ultimate insider, Tim Russert. There won't be any Catholic bishop's at this comic genius's funeral, nor line-up of sobbing network news readers who only think they're God, but there will be a hell of a lot of us who feel genuinely bereft at the passing of a courageous truth teller and rare wit.

For one of his funniest bits, Google Carlin's words of wisdoms on birthday and aging--I send it to all my friends b/c the perspective is so wise and funny.

[ceciboloca]

Oh no! Please say it isn't so. The world is a far poorer and grimmer place without the one and only George Carlin! My favorite comedian!

[JonDev]

George was a truthteller. He will be missed and always remembered by his outstanding body of work. The world is a better place having him in it and influenced by him. RIP.

[protagonia]

His influence has stuck.

He lives on in that way.

[CriticalDune]

An anti-Newhart in the kindest sense. He will be missed. His star turn as the Conductor on
the Thomas the Tank Engine Videos will live forever, especially given his stated distaste for kids!
*&%$#&. R.I.P.

[nsmavrik]

Words can not express the great loss this is to comedy.

I will never forget the first time I "discovered" George Carlin. It was the fall of 1986 where HBO showed the very first Comic Relief. His bit on "Trying to find a place to keep your stuff" awakened me to his comedy genious.

He inspired me enough for me to go and buy all of his past records, and I was suprised to know that I have been listening to his comedy YEARS before Comic Relief and didn't realize it.

He awakened me to what TRUE comedy is. His comedy made me study comedy from various people and see how that can translate to become a better thinker and a more outspoken person.

He always brought me up when things were down, and inspired me when things were best.

The TRIFECTA of comedy are now all silenced. Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, and now the great George Carlin. Comedy will NEVER be the same.

Although I have never seen Lenny or Richard in concert, I am fortunate that I was able to see George Carlin live more than 7 times in my life, and I will always treasure that.

George, you have given us a great gift. The power of laughter. Your voice will never be diminished, and your legacy will be everlasting. I love you George. I hope you can finally rest, and can go and see your wife and your uncle Dave. We'll miss you.

Rest in Peace

[SparXaFire]

Ohhhhh dear. I love him and will miss him. He validated a lot of my crazy thoughts and opinions and gave me the courage express my own truth.... and fearlessly drink municipal water, and laugh aloud at Christians and stop wasting my time voting... The list is endless, and so are my memories of George.

[ElPerro]

I really don't know what do say. The world just got a bit darker and less fun today. It's just a friggin shame.

[lovethesinner]

Best "Aristocrats" ever.

[thegoodstraw]

George Carlin was a man who knew BS when he saw it and was never afraid to let us know what he thought about it. Peace on, my friend!

[Snafu]

I'm stunned. Somehow I guess i thought he'd live forever. When i was about 13-14 I started listening to his albums, I credit George Carlin for opening my eyes early on. I don't think i questioned many things until started listening to him. I just found out a minute ago when I came to this site and I have to admit I'm really choked up.

[gbht12]

I had taken a day off from news yesterday and did not see this until now. George , I have such long memories of you. I will miss your humor and you uncanny way of making me laugh! I loved all your shows. I will treasure my DVD's now more than ever.

What the heck is going on with the heart failure in this country? We need to be taking better care of ourselves and stop eating sh*t.!

[protagonia]

"What the heck is going on with the heart failure in this country?"

Almost like it's something in the air.