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

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

I'm sure his soul is stuck on the roof, and no one can get it down.
He was, after all, in his own words... a frisbeeterian.

[MetryJen]

Good grief, what is this lately with the deaths? I'll miss Carlin, he was the first comedian I ever really loved. I remember being 14 and listening to his records with my best friend so often that we could repeat them word for word (which we often did).

Screw getting on the plane, I'm getting IN the plane :)

Carlin was the greatest.

[Bienville]

His bit on the industrial/pastoral differences between football and baseball was also wonderfully priceless.

"In baseball, you're up! In football you're down."

"Baseball is played in a park. Football is played on a gridiron."

[MetryJen]

LOL, I will forever think of all sports as being grown men chasing around balls thanks to George :)

[LittleBrother]

Carlin was indeed a comic genius-- or maybe I should say a "comet" genius, since he streaked across the firmament showering sparks wherever he flew.

He has been, and will continue to be, an inspiration to all of us counter-cultural, contrarian curmudgeons!

[fpie]

Carlin was a devoutly crabby man who crabbed about the right stuff. I clicked on the "Modern Man" link and found it brilliant as advertised.

[Jericho]

I was always looking forward to Carlins next material. If there's one man who could have showed us the right path and the difference between what's good and bad, what's right and wrong, what's important and bullshit..­..

Will someone ever be able to fill Carlins shoes?

Apart from Lewis Black and a few others, like Chris Rock maybe, I seriously, seriously doubt it.

[RoloTomassi]

He was the best of his generation.

[jennyjen]

Such a loss. I am in my early 50's. Imagine what it was like to see him on tv discussing politics. Everything was so sanitized that he was always shocking. He helped me form my early political opinions and I will be forever grateful to him for showing me the world outside of the one I lived in that was managed by my parents and the nuns at school. There is an excellent biography about him that airs now and then on tv. I hope they will re-air that for us now. Don't miss it guys it is illuminating.

[Uselessboy]

One of the most stirring memories of my life is of American nightly news clip of locals in a pub singing in Wales the night they heard Richard Burton died.

I'll play a verse or two of the Irish trad music America Wake reel for you George, but I promise to snark about it irreverently in your honor.

[SaraPulis]

According to his book, he wants his remains to be taken up in an airplane and dropped. The remains must be left wherever they land, even if they land on the mayor's lawn. As a Frisbeean, he believed that at death the soul is tossed up onto the roof, never to be retrieved. Mr. Carlin, may your soul land on a rooftop of a nice downtown apartment building where cool people always throw wild parties! I will miss you!