George Carlin
One of the unalloyed joys (really) of being in show business is getting to meet and know people you've admired. I grew up listening to George Carlin, admiring the way he injected intelligence and daring into the world of standup comedy. Along with Richard Pryor and Albert Brooks, Carlin helped revolutionize the genre.
Then a few years ago, much too late, we met in professional circumstances: I was interviewing him on the occasion of a new book of his. We shared the stage for a couple of hours, and continued our chat backstage afterwards. We had a few more phone conversations since then, too few, and I marveled at the quality that I've come to admire more than most others in this business: his persistence. George seemed to love what he did, and so he kept doing it at a very high level. See his remarkable standup poem "Modern Man" for one of the most recent examples.
George grew tougher and sharper over the years, putting more of himself, and his intellect, at the service of his always nimble, always adventurous comedy mind. And, while his comedy was dark, his spirit with his peers was generous.
He was named recently as this year's recipient of the Mark Twain Award. Although the presentation was scheduled for November, the announcement came in time for George to know of the honor.
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Another one bites the dust, one by one the world is losing great people.
Rest in Peace, George!
one of my old favorites - Carlin says to a priest "If God the almighty is so powerful - can He make a rock that even He Himself cannot lift?!"
One of the best standups EVER. Period. End of discussion. What a talent. I will miss him.
" And now the scores of last night's ballgames. 3 to 0. 6 to 1. And a partial score: 4."
Watching today's comics is painful, compared to the wit, depth, and humanity of Carlin, Pryor and Bruce. George, thanks for leaving your all your "stuff" with us. Rest in peace.
Carlin definitely ranks in the first order, with Lenny Bruce and and Mort Sahl.
When the polite humor of Vaughn Meador and Alan Sherman on my parent's console stereo gave way to the George's seven words, anything seemed possible. Can he really say that? He just did! I suspect that legions of those who were teens in the 70's had similar experiences.
He may not have invented that kind of humor, but George Carlin gave us the first taste of the kind of irreverence that would become the primary comedy foodstuffs for many us. Would "This Is Spinal Tap" been as funny, or even possible, if not for "Occupation: Foole" or "Class Clown?"
Remember that George Carlin was the very first host of Saturday Night Live, even if he only did it once.
Only later did I (and I suspect legions of other 70's teenagers) discover Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl. As great as they were, it is George Carlin's voice that comes to mind every time Jon Stewart gets bleeped.
I actually met Mr. Carlin a few years ago when he filmed 'Jersy Girl' in my town. I found him to be a gentle man, quite the contrary to his wonderful rants in concert. He posed for a pic with a friend of mine, and as we thanked him, he smiled and said, "don't get less than $50 bucks on Ebay for that shot." I would never part with this picture! His humor is unending, his spirit true. My heart is aching....
As the truth became dark - so did George. Some said he became jaded and bitter - yet after keeping track of the absurdities for so long it would seem inevitable.
He once said that what we have in congress is a true representation of ourselves - and that they are indeed representative of who we have become. Nothing more prophetically true was ever uttered.
Carlin at a Bread and Roses benefit in Berkeley 9/6/75:
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George Carlin made me think, that alone epitomizes his genius. See you later.
I was unable to get tickets the last time he was in town, I wish I had tried harder- Rest in Peace George- You always made me laugh, Every time I needed to get my "stuff" or when I was feeling like I was so cool- I am Fuck. Fuck of the Mountain! You were one funny man and the facial expressions! I laughed until I was hurting. I guess I never realized how old he was- he still seemed so young and full of it. I'm still in shock.
I'm off to buy a George Memory tee - I see more of them at Cafepress-
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Then to collect ALL the Carlin DVDs I wish I had been able to get those tickets.. (kick self in ass.)
He was a pioneer way ahead of his time.
He was a bad m*****f***** in the best sens of the word.
Sam Kinison, Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Hicks, Phil Hartman, Richard Pryor, Richard Jenny, Mitch Hedberg...
Mort Saul's alive. Reports of his Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated, to repeat Mark Twain.
He's lost his house in Beverly Hills and a friend has started a blog to help Mort get work.
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He appeared in NYC this Spring at BB Kings on 42nd Street in Times Square.
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George Carlin turned stand up comedy into high art and he railed against human foibles because he clearly loved humanity enough to point them out.
Mark Twain once said that a pessimist was an optimist disappointed.
One of the greats has left us.
Carlin exposed the lies we tell ourselves and cut through the euphenisms we use to disguise the Truth; he was a very cunning linguist.
George has been my philosophical hero since the sixties. I haven’t felt this bad since my father died and they were born 7 days apart. For those who don’t understand or like Carlin, it’s takes all kinds of people to make a planet. For those who want to spew their religious indignities and hate, your ignorance and intolerance is showing and you are just making George’s point about religion for him. As George would say “I was an Irish Catholic until I reached the age of reason”, and I couldn’t agree more! All George did was hold a mirror up to show us our reflection, if you didn’t like what you saw it said more about you than your pitiful words ever can. I just want to say, “Thank you George” for being in my life, it will be less joyful with your passing.
If there is such a thing as losing your comedy virginity, I lost mine to Carlin when I was a 10 year old kid listening to his 'Meat Cake' routine on a cassette player in the basement of a friend's house during summer break. He was the first comedian to induce crying.
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