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George Carlin, R.I.P.
Like many, I was unaccountably sad to hear of the passing of George Carlin. As a member of Generation X, to my shame I have to say that the first time he entered my consciousness was as Rufus from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. To me, Rufus the mentor was sage, a little wisecracking, but always benevolent.
At first I was bemused when I learned that he was a shocking, counterculture humorist. Gentle Rufus? Say it isn't so! Of course, since I was a snot-nosed teen, I was all-too thrilled to catch up with his edgy brand of humor that challenged taboos, crossed lines, offended/delighted many and reflected many of my unvoiced feelings about society.
Last September I was lucky enough to have caught him live at the Universal Amphitheatre in Hollywood. Although I can't remember the particulars (except for a joke about incest and menstruation in the Ozarks I can't share here), I just recall he was in fine form that evening.
A few jokes from his career:
"I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don't have as many people who believe it."
"Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?"
"The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live."
Gentlemen ... we're history. What are your favorite memories of Carlin?
You know, my parents were pretty liberal in terms of what they allowed us to watch on TV growing up. But one thing that wasn't off limits, as I recall, was George Carlin. I can remember the first time I saw his stand-up act was while at a hotel watching HBO when I was around 11 years old in the late-80s. Emersed in his routine, I didn't notice my mom enter the room. I kind of tensed up a little, wondering if she'd make me change the channel. Instead, she noticed who was on, and said, "Oh, George Carlin! I like him!" and joined me on the couch. He continued with his counter-(media)culture schtick, and I learned a little more about my mom - and pushing the boundaries of what the culture-police, politician (i.e., "The Man")pedal as "normal" in this country. Carlin wasn't about normal. He was about critical thinking, civility and ethics. I'll miss him.
brainylagirl | Jun 23, 2008 10:57:04 AM | #I saw him in the early 90's in New Bruswick N.J. He did about an hour of new jokes, but ended the evening with Football vs Baseball.
Alex | Jun 23, 2008 11:24:31 AM | #Long time ago, he told a joke about people in an elevator and how everyone watched the number display for the floor. Like it was going to skip a floor or count backwards. The way he told it, it was soooo funnny and soooo true.
Bobbi | Jun 23, 2008 1:23:41 PM | #My favorite George Carlin routine was how we collect "stuff" to the point we have to move, get storage rooms, etc. The way he put it, it was so true and so funny.
I like to think he's making a lot of people laugh whereever he may be.
Joanna | Jun 23, 2008 2:25:45 PM | #I think my favorite bit of his was about golf and people who played it. He said it was such a bourgeois, smug type of sport and how the greens could be used to build housing. As usual, he was right. Peace be upon the master.
To Joanna: I'd like to think that not only is he making people laugh wherever he may be, but he's making them THINK.
Isis | Jun 23, 2008 2:57:18 PM | #One of the funniest jokes that I read in one of his books (and saw on the Jon Stewart special) was about his advertising lullaby. Fast, funny and honest. The joke about what "Gourmet" meant was hilarious. I will miss his comedy and honesty for the rest of my life.
Ernie | Jun 23, 2008 4:17:33 PM | #Isis: I agree with your comment!
Joanna | Jun 23, 2008 4:24:27 PM | #57 here. First saw Carlin on the Smothers Brothers. Only a small segment of a much larger horizon of comedy. Rather than challenging things, he actually celebrated Democracy and freedom. Without it he couldn't get a joke in edgewise. A lover of life, people, a good punch line.
Frank Baum | Jun 23, 2008 5:03:16 PM | #As one of the somewhat older generation, I first remember George on the Merv Griffin show, doing his standup and some characters, including the hippie dippy weatherman. So funny then and only got better with age. He made you think and laugh at the same time, we'll miss him.
Pam | Jun 23, 2008 6:46:23 PM | #oh yeah i loved his hippy dippy weatherman....
George Carlin was something my father and i had in common, we both loved him. yes, he made you laugh and THINK, and even more important, you sensed a great sensitive heart beneath it all. George, i will remember you and miss you always, and if you see my Dad say hi!
I'm 53 now (almost grown!) & I remember his hippy-dippy weatherman; partly because he was sooo stoned, & partly because he said;
"tonight-mostly dark, with scattered light in the early morning hours."
I hope to see him again, soon.
Why do we drive on the parkway but park in the driveway?
Cats do not accept blame, they don't embarrass at all.............ever see a cat run across a room and crash into a glass door?
and on and on.
His "A place for my Stuff" routine, his "football vs baseball" routine, his "seven word you can't say on television" routine, the "stupid people" routine........I enjoyed it all, watched it all, read it all and laughed so hard at all of it.
Anybody read Brain Droppings? Funny book!
RIP George we will sorely miss you.
Chris | Jun 24, 2008 5:51:37 AM | #My significant other, Steve, and I were watching one of his routines in which he was talking about the very explicit relationship between his dog - Mo, I think - and his cat. It was the first time I laughed so hard I literally wet my pants! If anyone can remember which DVD it is on, please let me know. He was unique and we will miss his wit and satirical way he viewed the world.
Kathryn | Jun 24, 2008 8:48:06 AM | #Kathryn,
I think it was on the "Carlin at Carnegie" HBO special that he talks about dogs and cats.
You can also catch that particular skit on YouTube.
Thank you, Chris! The world has lost one of its true spokespeople. He certainly wasn't just about "dirty words" but was a true observationist. K
Kathryn | Jun 24, 2008 8:55:07 AM | #I remember one of his bits from when I was a kid about being told to get "on the plane" and his response was something like "F* you, I'm getting IN the plane. Let Evil Knievel get ON the plane." It was that great observational humor of his that always got me and the way he said what you were thinking before you even knew you were thinking it.
My husband and I were lucky to see him in Vegas while on our honeymoon 8 years ago. He was testing out some new stuff, but threw a few classics in as well. He was terrific.
Jeanne | Jun 24, 2008 10:20:02 AM | #Hearing this news has depressed me to no end. I was lucky enough to see him locally in 2006 and was looking forward to his show later this year.
He was one of the most influential people in pop-culture over the past 50 years, no question about it. I will miss everything about him, especially his sharp and critical look at mainstream American culture.
George, if you see this, make sure Jesus passes the pork-chops!
Blue Sean | Jun 24, 2008 11:25:50 AM | #I have the Jammin' in NY album and I love his bits on flying on the airplane with the safety lecture, golf, and that the planet is fine.
"If there's a sudden change in cabin pressure...ROOF FLIES OFF!"
"The planet is fine. The people are F***ed! That's right. Pack your S*** folks. We're going away."
So funny, he shall be missed immensely.
Aaron | Jun 24, 2008 1:53:44 PM | #As a comic, to me this is a huge loss. But, perhaps not really a loss. I can't help but think of what we have gained by having George Carlin on the microphone. George is one of the rare breed of comic who was unafraid to cross the line and be hysterical and critical at the same time. There was always substance behind a G.C. joke. Almost always well thought out, precisly timed and relavent. You can't say this about many comics. But Mr. Carlin was a true artist. Perhaps, like all great artists, his greatest recognition is yet to come in the generations not born, or too young to have grasped him already. Thank you George. For the laughs and for your unrelenting ability to say outloud what we were afraid to think..
Craig Mitchell | Jun 24, 2008 4:36:40 PM | #For anyone who hasn't seen his specials in a long (or not at all), HBO2 is replaying most of them this week. Here is the schedule: http://www.hbo.com/events/george-carlin/tribute.html?ntrack_para1=feat_main_image
As a preteen and teen raised by a liberal single mom, I absolutely loved Carlin's uncanny, wicked wit. It was something she and I could share, and it helped us bond more and argue less. When I was 16, I saw Carlin and his family eating at a crappy airport diner in LAX. I got the courage to walk up to him and ask for an autograph. I didn't have any paper, so he signed the back of a picture of my cat. He got a kick out of that. He was very gracious, as I recall. I know that his career (as well as his life) had many ups and downs. Don't we all? But I loved the way he would serve up highly literate social commentary one minute, then do crude stand up the next minute. Often on the same subject! I was saddened to hear of his passing. He was a true original thinker. Which gets me to thinking: If George Carlin were asked to join a think tank, would he swim with the Oscars or the Angels? =)
Aaron the Barron | Jun 24, 2008 10:15:49 PM | #George Carlin brought some of the most original and innovative material ever to the stage. For him to reveal the "seven dirty words" in public took a lot of guts, and maybe he got in trouble, but it was a groundbreaking moment in comedy history. To be the first or the only person to do something leaves a great impact. When he hosted the first SNL, you know the FCC/censors had to be biting their nails, hoping it wouldn't be screwed up. I have a lot of his "stuff", the albums he put out. I have not watched his HBO specials, but I can only imagine how masterful they were. And I'm a young fan who only started listening to his material a few years ago! But I always liked his rants when he was on talk shows.
The difference between baseball and football.
Seven dirty words.
Things you never want to hear.
I was very shocked when I heard the news and could not believe it. He was quite popular here in Vegas, and he will definitely be missed.
Knowing George, he is somewhere either performing on a stage, or he is reunited with his dog Tippy.
Rest in peace man.....
Shaun | Jun 24, 2008 11:58:02 PM | #have a nice da-ayyyyy....
| Jun 26, 2008 9:55:21 PM | #have a nice da-ayyyyy....
| Jun 26, 2008 9:55:21 PM | #i accidently sent the above and i meant to add i'll miss you, george. raise a little hell up there george, luv ya!
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