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.

Comments

[FrictionSoul]

One of my favorite memories growing up was when my friends' parents bought 7 DIrty Words. We were 8 and loved it. Still do.

Will his epitaph have them? I hope the HuffPo moderators will honor Carlin by letting the 7 dirty words be posted here. You have to listen to what he says about each one, and not just what the words mean to you.

Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits.

[floydSmoot]

I just passed an entire cheese sandwich through my nose...

[SteveRetired]

There were many classics. I thought of his first album, Am & FM………especially the bit about him going to Narc school, and nobody told him that the word shit meant “shit”. His first day after graduation, two hippies drive up and ask him, “Hey Dude. Want to buy some shit?” He wonders what it is these kids are up to, so he plays along. “How much is the “shit?” “Its $100 a pound man.” “Wow! Must be some really good “shit! I'll take a pound.” "Would you like some papers with that?" "Sure" he replied. "I'll take a roll or two. Where did you get the shit?" "We brought it over from Cambodia in our Guitars, man."

[frantaylor]

The inspiration for this truly hilarious bit from "Family Guy":

Stay tuned for the D*** Van D*** Show, starring D*** Van D***.

[Bobotheclown]

Remember, the only reason that you can post those 7 words now, even here on the Huffington post, is because George Carlin took the issue to the Supreme Court and won. In his own way he brought about change as profound as any we have experienced in the post war era. Here's to a comedian with the courage of his convictions. There will not soon be another like him.

[outnow]

Wouldn't it be nice if the MSM recognized a genius? No, they are always focused on where the oil is. Maybe it's where the sun don't shine! But don't look there! You'd have to bend over!

[SwingingFromCenter]

Leave it to someone like you to turn a memorial to Carlin into something about oil and the media.

Nitwit.

[chuckieboy]

It is NOT MSM it is the CORPORATE MEDIA. They only recognize fellow fascists who merrily goosestep along.

[DouginCT]

I've been a life-long fan of George Carlin. I am sad by his death, but heartened by all of the laughs and insights I've gained from years of listening to him. A truly smart, funny, and seemingly decent man. He will be missed by millions, I've no doubt.

And one thing I realized from years of listening to him is the we -his subject- are the real comedians. He was simply verbalizing the absurdity of so much of what we do. Case in point...I will never, ever say "I'm fine" when someone asks me how I'm doing. That stand-up bit killed the temptation to ever again utter such a meaningless reply.

Rest in peace George

[outnow]

You didn't just jump on the boat lately? Just kidding. Seemingly decent man? That's very generous. When I die, I hope even one person says that of me.

[nyboomer]

I have never said to anyone that I am fine and never will. Don't what it means to be fine. I answer that I am old, tired and in pain and would gladly bestow all of that anyone who wants it.

If asked how I'm doing I respond, As bad as usual.

[StrayTalk]

Doug in Connecticut: That was a fine and dandy post.

[brilliantatbreakfast]

Are you sure that's a Carlin bit? "The planet is fine" is his. Saying "I'm fine" is a Marc Maron bit. Please. Maron is having a tough enough time these days.

[steamboat]

Harry, while everybody else brings-up his dark humor and political satire, which was masterful, I'll also always remember his spoof where he compares baseball and football. I thought that was a classic piece, everybit as good as Abbot and Costello's "Whose on First".

[kikomnipotent]

Very sad. He had an insight for the human condition that few could match. His comedy actually makes you think.

[CFAmick]

Thanks for the insight.

[DLSteinhardt]

He defined sublime comedy writing, to me. Wonderful WINO was all I needed to know, as an 11-year-old, about how to be funny. Take a premise, run with it, and never stop looking for ways for it to be even funnier.

We'll miss him terribly.

Satirists have become ever more important. With even Sen. Obama ready to vote for a sanctioned-fascism/telecom-immunity bill, we MUST have sharp wits handy to ridicule such outrages.

[outnow]

You have to laugh. A con law prof? rejecting the 60's and MLK? When you weren't even there? His momma was and he rejects that?

[partisanpolitico]

He was the stand-up version of Vonnegut.

[outnow]

That was the catch -22. If you stuck it to them and they ducked, then they really got it right between the eyes.

[Madashell]

I was lucky to catch his act back in 1980...he was always the master of dark humor and the straight truth that goes with it..

[Mattyhorn]

Per my other post on this sad, sad day:

"...he was our Will Rogers...our Mark Twain...our Jonathan Swift...a comedian of [nearly] Shakespearian proportions."

Although I may be half his age, I identified with his words when I was just a little boy, when my big sister played "Class Clown" for us (mom & dad weren't around, of course). He informed my life deeply and instilled in me a sense of humor I hope to never relinquish.

Again, there's a hole in my heart today.

R.I.P. George - I already miss you more than words (even the '"seven") could ever say.

[WilliePilgrim]

Thanks for the kind words, Harry. I'm sure that he's up there in athiest heaven with MarkTwain, looking over at us and laughing.

[frantaylor]

I'm sure Hunter S Thompson is there with them. The three of them have shown us more about how our world works than all of the rest of us combined.

[Roopez123]

Damn. This is a huge loss. Someone who spoke the truth and made us laugh like hell while doing it. Damn. RIP, George.

[strifeknot]

Carlin's piercing wit and insight never failed to put a smile on my face. He was the best. No one is a more deserving recipient of the Mark Twain award than he.

[saltpeter]

pt 2-- All he was was one man with one microphone who could point his laser sights on all the wrongs and stupidity in the world and make you laugh at the absurdity of it all. Because the topics that he spoke of were so tragically depressing that if you didn't laugh, you'd cry your eyes out just thinking about 'em. George Carlin was one of the first comedians that showed me what the power of laughter provides in helping to make sense of this big crazy ol' world. Today, I will shed a tear at the thought of the loss of one of the best with that incredible power but tomorrow I will laugh remembering some of his best bits and in knowing that the world was a bit better, if not a bit more bitter, because of his presence.

[saltpeter]

Shortly after 9-11 I was talking to a Frenchman and he said "You Americuns, you know what your problem zis?" I told him, "I'm sure you can think of 1000 problems we have but could you limit it to one or two, Frenchy. He said, "You don't not have philosophers." And then I said, Oh know, but you are wrong, little man with funny accent. America has plenty of philosophers. And there names are Lenny Bruce, Richard Prior, George Carlin and Bill Hicks. They're every bit as profound and honest as Nietszche and Sartre and a thousand times more entertaining.

I have always believed that great humor is something you can't fake. An audience either laughs or not. It's instinctual because what someone has said about the human condition rings true or it doesn't. George Carlin said many things that rung very true in his life and he didn't need a 1000 page treatise to do it. And didn't it all timand again decade after decade. And not because he keep up with current comic trends but because what he spoke of was always so universal that it always was pertinent. Same shit, different administration.

[taurus96]

You are so right.It gave me the one thing that had not be mentioned or honored.They are American Philosophers,everyone else is just "going along to get along"MSM,politicians,some writers etc.Thank you for your intelligent comments.