Obit: George Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008)

Subject: Obit: George Carlin
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 01:07 AM

George died today of heart failure.
He was pushing 71

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 01:18 AM

Damn!!! That's not one of the seven words, so it's okay to vent with it.
In addition to being a pretty good actor, and a spot on comic commentator, he was an afficienado of Do-Wop. Heard him once on a local music show some years back expounding on the genesis, and development of the music.

RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 01:23 AM

He is one of a handfull of the most remarkable men in my lifetime.

Some other remarkable men I miss were Rod Serling, Carl Sagan and John Lennon.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Genie
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 01:24 AM

Just this afternoon I was looking for a Phil Ochs song on YouTube and I came across a montage set to Phil's "When I'm Gone," The montage was a series of names and faces of well-known people who have passed on - some of them many centuries ago - and mostly people who (in the minds of the collage maker as well as many others) had made important contributions to society via philosophy, politics, the arts, etc.   Among those listed and pictured was George Carlin, and I found myself scratching my head, wondering, "When did George die?   Did I somehow hear this on the news and then forget it?? Did whoever did this video get his/her facts mixed up?"

I'm sad to hear that it wasn't a mistake. (Also glad to be somewhat reassured that I'm not actually losing my mental faculties -- or at least today wasn't proof of that.)

I do think George contributed a lot both to the arts and entertainment world and to our societal and political discourse.   Seventy-one is way too soon!

Hope you're making the angels laugh, George.

Genie

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 01:32 AM

One very, very, funny man whose ability to entertain with "on the mark," as well as "on the edge" humor, spanned five decades on the big stage. You will be missed George - thanks so much for all you gave and for cornering us into thinking about what you were saying while we were laughing about what you said. Rest in peace.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 01:43 AM

His last HBO Special (Its Bad For Ya'.....in seven parts on YouTube) was even more cutting and pointed than ever. A good run but never long enough..........I can't find any words but to say he was one part of the Holy Trinity of Comedy and I loved him........

And before anyone blesses him and wishes him peace and other assorted bullshit.......Watch This.

"Thanks to the fear of death in this country I won't have to die . . . I'll pass away!"............and now he has. Rich life, rich legacy.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 01:50 AM

Hey his career and words were debated in the Supreme Court! :<)


but so was Anna Nichol's money :>(

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 01:52 AM

Follow the leader Mr. Spaw.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

This obit was spontanious...yours I have been working for all of seven year.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 02:04 AM

Your memory is growing faulty in your old age Garg......You've been championing my demise since '99.....That's 9 years, not 7!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: topical tom
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 06:42 AM

A very innovative, at-the-edge comedian. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 06:47 AM

One of the best. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: bobad
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 06:52 AM

Aw shit!

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 07:03 AM

$*^#,)#^@#,)#@*,*%@(,^(@),)#(^ and (%@#*...

Other than ***sniff*** that's all I have to say...

RIP, George...

B~

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 07:57 AM

Donuel. I was rather taken aback by the news and missed the joke in your starting post. George would smile about that one.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 08:41 AM

I just started another thread on this because I missed this one (well, it's early here!).

A wonderful comedian, and like all great comedians a commentator on the times he lived in. He ranks with Mark Twain (but doesn't equal him, but then no one can), Will Rogers, Red Skelton, Lenny Bruce, Redd Fox, Moms Mabley and the others who wrote their own material and ignored convention.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Bee
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 09:15 AM

Growing up, I often didn't find comedians very funny. Except for Red Skelton... and then George Carlin came along and made me laugh until my cheeks hurt.

Thanks, George, and goodbye.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 09:57 AM

Before George - comics were like Henny Youngman on the Ed Sullivan Show. George Carlin was the first comic I saw that spoke to a younger audience. Of course now that he's dead maybe I won't keep getting those e-mail polemics that claim to be written by George Carlin. Then again - maybe not. It wouldn't suprise me to find the next one revealing that George had "accepted Jesus as his lord and savior" on his death bed. THAT will be a load of crap too.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Mrrzy
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 10:01 AM

At leat this one I knew was alive.

We was robbed, again - we should have had another 15 years of his wise cracks.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 10:17 AM

Many years ago, at the famous Cellar Door club in Wash DC, various 'hot' acts were booked, from bands to comedians.

Some of them were kinda taken with their own supposed importance, and demanded various 'perks' to perform in addition to salary and 'cut'. They asked for stuff like cases of Champagne, lobster dinners, girls, etc....
George Carlin, too, was booked and had a request of his own......

.... a pitcher of cold water and a glass.

Tells you something about the quality of the man.....

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 10:23 AM

One of the great comic minds of all time. Loved his comparison of baseball and football, and many other bits as well. One routine that stuck with me was about business names. "You see Honest John's Used Cars why do you not see Honest John's Savings and Loan" or something to that effect.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Peace
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 10:26 AM

I saw this thread yesterday and felt a bit like I did when I heard Red Skelton or George Burns had died. I know that Carlin took humour to the edge, but there's funny stuff there, too. I'll miss his insights.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: pdq
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 10:38 AM

His routine about "stuff" should be required listening for all of us packrats.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 10:39 AM

The edgy made it better. Many have referred to him as I did above as one of the Holy Trinity.......Lenny and Richard being the other two. Each opened new doors and unlike other "funnymen" (or women) their humor often went over the edge and almost always made us laugh, cry, and squirm......all at the same time. All three came under the heading used by Mel Brooks in "History of the World,Pt.1,"......"Stand-Up Philosopher."

The whole thing just really sucks, ya' know? We're stuck with Bush and Bin Laden and hundreds of other worthless assholes and Carlin croaks............To me......and your mileage may vary greatly and you're welcome to it......but it seems like that's one more nail in the god coffin.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 11:10 AM

In your honor, George:

shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.

};-(

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 11:27 AM

Well, that about says it all.

I never met him, but I had the pleasure of attending one of his performances. A consummate performer and wit who could use words to make you laugh and think -- unlike so many today who seem to only want to shock or belittle.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 11:30 AM

What an act to follow, Wincing Devil. . .

One measure of Carlin's skill was his ability to span generations. My kids and I equally enjoyed his comedy, it wasn't aimed at just one age group (though I've always been a fairly liberal parent and didn't restrict the access to this that some parents might consider inappropriate). I remember one morning fixing breakfast for my ~14 year old son, and listening to an interview (on Fresh Air, probably) and he discussed life with his mother. She kept his toes to the fire as far as using the language. He told about her using the word "peruse," then sending him to the dictionary to look it up. The next day he took her the morning paper, suggesting she peruse it. "I'll give it a cursory glance" was the answer. I love that he could show that smart and funny aren't mutually exclusive.

We'll miss you, George.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 11:32 AM

Well said, WD.

I heard this on NPR this morning. Damn..and the other things Spaw has said. I was too young to know about Lenny, but Richard and George were right there and I loved the way they always pushed the envelope.

Spaw, thanks for the links at youtube.

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Bee
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 11:33 AM

Ron James is likely in mourning - I think he's been influenced by Carlin. Although his delivery is within an East Coast tradition, and has a wonderful rhythm, he is a careful craftsman of language, like Carlin.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 11:48 AM

Here's some stuff I didn't know about him:

George Carlin mourned as counterculture hero

By KEITH ST. CLAIR

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television. Some People Are Stupid. Stuff. People I Can Do Without.

George Carlin, who died of heart failure Sunday at 71, leaves behind not only a series of memorable routines, but a legal legacy: His most celebrated monologue, a frantic, informed riff on those infamous seven words, led to a Supreme Court decision on broadcasting offensive language.

The counterculture hero's jokes also targeted things such as misplaced shame, religious hypocrisy and linguistic quirks — why, he asked, do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?

Carlin, who had a history of heart trouble, went into St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica on Sunday afternoon complaining of chest pain and died later that evening, said his publicist, Jeff Abraham. He had performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.

"He was a genius and I will miss him dearly," Jack Burns, who was the other half of a comedy duo with Carlin in the early 1960s, told The Associated Press.

The actor Ben Stiller called Carlin "a hugely influential force in stand-up comedy. He had an amazing mind, and his humor was brave, and always challenging us to look at ourselves and question our belief systems, while being incredibly entertaining. He was one of the greats."

Carlin constantly breached the accepted boundaries of comedy and language, particularly with his routine on the "Seven Words" — all of which are taboo on broadcast TV to this day.

When he uttered all seven at a show in Milwaukee in 1972, he was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace, freed on $150 bail and exonerated when a Wisconsin judge dismissed the case, saying it was indecent but citing free speech and the lack of any disturbance.

When the words were later played on a New York radio station, they resulted in a 1978 Supreme Court ruling upholding the government's authority to sanction stations for broadcasting offensive language during hours when children might be listening.

"So my name is a footnote in American legal history, which I'm perversely kind of proud of," he told The Associated Press earlier this year.

Despite his reputation as unapologetically irreverent, Carlin was a television staple through the decades, serving as host of the "Saturday Night Live" debut in 1975 — noting on his Web site that he was "loaded on cocaine all week long" — and appearing some 130 times on "The Tonight Show."

He produced 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, three books, a few TV shows and appeared in several movies, from his own comedy specials to "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" in 1989 — a testament to his range from cerebral satire and cultural commentary to downright silliness (sometimes hitting all points in one stroke).

"Why do they lock gas station bathrooms?" he once mused. "Are they afraid someone will clean them?"

He won four Grammy Awards for best spoken comedy album and was nominated for five Emmys. On Tuesday, it was announced that Carlin was being awarded the 11th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, which will be presented Nov. 10 in Washington and broadcast on PBS.

"Nobody was funnier than George Carlin," said Judd Apatow, director of recent hit comedies such as "Knocked Up" and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin." "I spent half my childhood in my room listening to his records experiencing pure joy. And he was as kind as he was funny."

Carlin started his career on the traditional nightclub circuit in a coat and tie, pairing with Burns to spoof TV game shows, news and movies. Perhaps in spite of the outlaw soul, "George was fairly conservative when I met him," said Burns, describing himself as the more left-leaning of the two. It was a degree of separation that would reverse when they came upon Lenny Bruce, the original shock comic, in the early '60s.

"We were working in Chicago, and we went to see Lenny, and we were both blown away," Burns said, recalling the moment as the beginning of the end for their collaboration if not their close friendship. "It was an epiphany for George. The comedy we were doing at the time wasn't exactly groundbreaking, and George knew then that he wanted to go in a different direction."

That direction would make Carlin as much a social commentator and philosopher as comedian, a position he would relish through the years.

"The whole problem with this idea of obscenity and indecency, and all of these things — bad language and whatever — it's all caused by one basic thing, and that is: religious superstition," Carlin told the AP in a 2004 interview. "There's an idea that the human body is somehow evil and bad and there are parts of it that are especially evil and bad, and we should be ashamed. Fear, guilt and shame are built into the attitude toward sex and the body. ... It's reflected in these prohibitions and these taboos that we have."

Carlin was born on May 12, 1937, and grew up in the Morningside Heights section of Manhattan, raised by a single mother. After dropping out of school in the ninth grade, he joined the Air Force in 1954. He received three court-martials and numerous disciplinary punishments, according to his official Web site.

While in the Air Force he started working as an off-base disc jockey at a radio station in Shreveport, La., and after receiving a general discharge in 1957, took an announcing job at WEZE in Boston.

"Fired after three months for driving mobile news van to New York to buy pot," his Web site says.

From there he went on to a job on the night shift as a deejay at a radio station in Fort Worth, Texas. Carlin also worked variety of temporary jobs, including carnival organist and marketing director for a peanut brittle.

In 1960, he left with $300 and Burns, a Texas radio buddy, for Hollywood to pursue a nightclub career as comedy team Burns & Carlin. His first break came just months later when the duo appeared on Jack Paar's "Tonight Show."

Carlin said he hoped to emulate his childhood hero, Danny Kaye, the kindly, rubber-faced comedian who ruled over the decade Carlin grew up in — the 1950s — with a clever but gentle humor reflective of the times.

It didn't work for him, and the pair broke up by 1962.

"I was doing superficial comedy entertaining people who didn't really care: Businessmen, people in nightclubs, conservative people. And I had been doing that for the better part of 10 years when it finally dawned on me that I was in the wrong place doing the wrong things for the wrong people," Carlin reflected recently as he prepared for his 14th HBO special, "It's Bad For Ya."

Eventually Carlin lost the buttoned-up look and changed to his trademark beard, ponytail and all-black attire.

But even with his decidedly adult-comedy bent, Carlin never lost his childlike sense of mischief, even voicing kid-friendly projects like episodes of the TV show "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" and the spacey Volkswagen bus Fillmore in the 2006 Pixar hit "Cars."

Carlin's first wife, Brenda, died in 1997. He is survived by wife Sally Wade; daughter Kelly Carlin McCall; son-in-law Bob McCall; brother Patrick Carlin; and sister-in-law Marlene Carlin.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: GUEST,guest bankley
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 12:16 PM

Hey George.....will miss you.....say hi to Richard Pryor...   RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 12:33 PM

Terry Gross' interview with him on Fresh Air interview, from 2004, was replayed today. Great interview. It's still playing now; I think the whole thing is about 45 minutes.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 12:41 PM

I have saved a high quality recording on hard drive of his obscure 1997 HBO performance for his 40th anniversery celebration, hosted by a 'teenage' John Stewart in a small 200 person theatre.

It is one of his all time best shows including the introductory anthology of rare clips.

pm me with required info if you want a burned copy.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 12:47 PM

Something else you might not know:

His grandfather was a policeman and self educated man who copied the entire works of Shakespear by hand for the joy and education of it.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Def Shepard
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 12:51 PM

spaw quoted and then said, ""Thanks to the fear of death in this country I won't have to die . . . I'll pass away!"............and now he has.

"If it happens in the hospital they'll call it a 'terminal episode"

It was a 'terminal' episode :-D

Make'em laugh and offend'em all you can, on the other side, George.

Goodnight.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Wesley S
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 01:25 PM

Here's an AP article from last Tuesday:

George Carlin to get Mark Twain humor award
Comedian makes people not only laugh, but think, chairman says

WASHINGTON - George Carlin will be awarded the 11th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Tuesday that Carlin will be honored for his 50-year career as a Grammy-winning standup comedian, writer and actor. The center will salute Carlin at a tribute performance by former colleagues November 10th, which will be broadcast later on PBS.
Kennedy Center Chairman Stephen Schwarzman says Carlin makes people laugh but also makes them think.
Carlin, 71, has released 22 solo albums and three best-selling books. He starred a variety of TV and movie roles and is famous for his "Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV" routine.
Last year the Kennedy Center honored Billy Crystal with the Mark Twain prize. Other past recipients include Whoopi Goldberg, Neil Simon and Steve Martin.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 02:05 PM

Oh, what terrible news! Way too early for George Carlin, and way too early for Tim Russert. What a week. R.I.P. George. From his early appearances on Ed Sullivan, he was really plugged into the times. His recent contribution to "The Aristocrats" was just brilliant.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 04:53 PM

Spaw-

Thanks for the link.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 05:01 PM

"Yeah... I see it too."

Thanks, George, for making many people "see it too."

If there really are Guardian Angels, I would like to see if his schedule is open for me on that long list... on acconta I have always aspired to what I heard him say so many years ago, "Please lord, I just wanna be a cool guy."

Just a cool guy. An average guy. A nice guy... like George.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 05:07 PM

LafKat

You know better - just give a link - with a tempting excerpt.

IF you MUST cut and paste an entire ariticle...PLEASE give the HTTP address you stole it from.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 05:51 PM

Garg, you could have found it easily enough yourself. Copy the title or the first line and drop it in Google news.

story

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Rapparee
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 05:57 PM

It's right there in the first couple of lines:

George Carlin mourned as counterculture hero

By KEITH ST. CLAIR

LOS ANGELES (AP)

"AP" means The Associated Press. One of places from which you can access the AP is at
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/fronts/HOME?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME

You can also access, in whole or in part, from the homepages of many newspapers around the US.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 07:09 PM

Yup.

Sometimes AP doesn't seem to let you go straight to their site. I tried it today and it had only the first paragraph of the story, but a link to the version I posted.

That Fresh Air interview was marvelous, for anyone wanting a really intelligent hour with the man. I bet he was on Charlie Rose also. I'll have to go look.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: LilyFestre
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 07:56 PM

I saw George Carlin perform in Providence, Rhode Island when I was 18 years old with a boy I later became engaged to....the concert was great...the boy was not.

:)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Janie
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 10:52 PM

Donuel,

Is that the show where he did the routine on the 2 minute warning before death? I've been remembering bits and pieces that monologue (appropriately) all day today.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 10:58 PM

Larry King is an ass but he had some fine folks on tonite including Bill Maher, a follower of Carlin. Bill said what I thought was the best thing all night.....along the lines of If George were here he'd be the first to ridicule the whole tribute thing.

I think he's right........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 11:07 PM

Yes, I do, too. Spaw.

I just watched a rerun of an interview of Carlin on Bravo's Inside the Actor's Studio. When asked, IF there really was a God, what he would want "God" to say when he reached the "Pearly Gates." He said, "Now we'll have some fun around here!"

I was also struck with how sweet and positive he was. He said he was very much an optimist and positive person in his personal life. He also expressed credulity over all of the "lucky breaks" he had throughout his career, several times saying he did "believe in dreams" that they "do come true." It sounds as though his mom and his educators really had an incredible and positive influence on him.

I really enjoyed this interview...learned much more about the man behind the humour.

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Jun 08 - 11:24 PM

His website if great!

"War is a whole lot of men, standing out in a field, waving their pricks at one another!" - Geo. Carlin -

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Becca72
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 10:21 AM

I'm absolutely bummed by this news. George was my favorite comedian, hands down. I never saw him live (no pun intended) but he was supposed to play in Hampton Beach, NH this summer and I had debated going. Waited too long, damn it.

I'll not get over this one any time soon.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 10:39 AM

Janie, there is no 2 minute warning in the Stewart hosted show.
owners of america
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMqJvhmD5Yg



airport security
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBxzvSbGJ2w&feature=related

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Donuel
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 10:41 AM

mind control
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD5L2CxRMG4&feature=related

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 11:15 AM

In our parish we know a LOT of 71-year old people. I love thinking of George Carlin as being one exemplar of that age.

~S~

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: PoppaGator
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 02:18 PM

My friend Chandler Travis, of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, toured with his band The Incredible Casuals as George Carlin's opening act on more than one occasion.

Chandler has billed himself as a "writer/songsinger" and incorporaates a lot of humor in his songwriting; as you might imagine, he has always been justifiably proud to have been employed by this truly great comic.

I'm looking forward to a conversation about the late Mr. Carlin next time I see Mr. Travis.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 04:42 PM

My brother is 71 and doesn't act his age, either!:-)

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Bill H //\\
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 04:45 PM

Lovely article in today's NY TImes by Jerry Seinfeld---the gist of which is---"....many comics come up with ideas and realize that George already did that--or did this--or that--and now when I go to my reward---George did that first too".

Bill H

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Def Shepard
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 04:50 PM

I STILL want to know why people drive on a parkway, and park on a drive way!! :-D

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 04:54 PM

George said, in that Bravo interview, that he had about 2000 files of lines/ideas/etc. that he kept current on his computer and would sift through them once per week to keep them fresh and to see what to use as he was always writing new material. He also considered himself lucky to be the one who wrote his material.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 05:16 PM

George's "headlines" routine.

"   1. Like to take a look at the news. First of all, the headlines. Twenty-one killed in twenty-one gun salute.
   2. Off-duty policeman shot by on-duty criminal.
   3. And a man with a power saw has been hit by a falling tree.
   4. Police fired over the heads of rioters today; However, they killed 200 people living on the second floor.
   5. A physician in Florida claims that he is treating a 107 year old woman who is pregnant. He claims that because of her advanced age, she will have a grown-up.
   6. A man has barricaded himself inside his house. However, he is not armed and nobody is paying any attention to him.
   7. A Milwaukee man has been arrested for trying to use food stamps to mail a watermelon.
   8. The Food and Drug Administration has announced that saliva causes stomach cancer. However, only when swallowed in small amounts over a long period of time.
   9. Here are the results of the latest Gallup poll: 48% of the people were not home, 32% of the people made believe they weren't home and 20% of the people have no front door.
10. Seventy-one people suffered numerous gunshot wounds in the feet today as two armed midgets ran amok in a downtown bar. Patrons of the tavern claim that the two entered riding horsey-back and the trouble started when the one on the bottom began to get drunk. In addition to the foot wounds, extensive damage to the baseboards and electrical outlets was also reported.
11. Out at the lake at City Park today, police arrested a one armed man who was bothering the other boaters by continuously rowing in a circle.
12. A dog exploded on a busy downtown street corner. No one was killed, however twenty people were overcome by fur. In addition, police estimate that between a hundred and a hundred fifty fleas also lost their lives in the blast.
13. To kind of wind up the news tonight, a team of medical scientists announced today that they have discovered a cure for apathy. However, they claim that no one has shown the slightest bit of interest in it.


Now THAT's original stuff..
Gonna miss that guy.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Becca72
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 05:39 PM

George on religion:


" I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don't have as many people who believe it".

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 06:42 PM

Bill Maher commented that after seeing his last HBO Special (the one I linked above) that he said, "Damn......I'm still behind him."

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jun 08 - 04:33 PM

My 16-year-old got out the Class Clown LP and played it yesterday. It took him a few minutes to remember how the phonograph works, but he finally got it.   ;-D

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 11:39 AM

For once, in recent times, SNL will be worth watching again this Saturday night. They are going to run Carlin's past SNL apprearances, including his first:

In 1975, George Carlin hosted the very first episode of Saturday Night Live, and so it is only fitting that this landmark episode will be shown again the Saturday after his unfortunate passing. Airing this Saturday, June 28, at 11:30pm, the show will begin with another classic George Carlin monologue. The episode will also features musical guests Janis Ian and Billy Preston, as well as a performance by comedian Andy Kaufman.

Without George Carlin, Saturday Night Live executive producer Lorne Michaels doesn't know if the series would have had as much momentum.

"You never forget the people who were there at the beginning," he is reported as saying in TV Guide. "George Carlin helped give Saturday Night Live its start as our first host. He was gracious, fearless, and most important of all, funny."

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Becca72
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 12:42 PM

Thanks for the info, Kat. I stopped watchin SNL in the 90s when it became too painful to watch. I will definitely tune in for this one, though.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: GUEST,Hummer
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 12:52 PM

This is great news, what SNL is doing as a tribute! Thanks for posting that information. I hadn't heard it, and I never watch the program any more. I'll definitely tune in on Saturday AND set the Tivo up for it!

I finally got a little sassy over on the Talkin White Talkin Black thread, at all the racial absurdity surrounding the presidential race this year. Made me immediately flash on another deeply subversive comedian from the Carlin school, Dave Chapelle.

I can't think of any comics left standing, except Chapelle, who are as astoundingly good at subversive comedy as Carlin and Pryor were.

And if any of you know someone who does subversive comedy like they do I haven't thought or heard of--give it up to the rest of us, here and now!

All this absurdly self-censorial, didactic, politically reverential talk surrounding the US elections has me down!

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Jun 08 - 02:53 PM

We quit watching SNL many years ago, too, same as I quit buying MAD Magazine when Wm. Gaines died, BUT this one will be worth it!

I can think of one comedian whom I like more than Chapelle, and who flies in the face of all social conventions: Carlos Mencia who does "Mind of Mencia" on Comedy Channel. As he calls himself "An Equal Opportunity Offender" it sometimes can cause discomfort, but he is all about tearing those dividing walls down and, imo, does it brilliantly.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: gnu
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 05:39 PM

AND.... I was just out for a walk in the garden with me mum and she said that Larry King is doing a two parter tonight and tomorrow night with lots of great guests.

Thanks again George... yer a cool guy.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Jun 08 - 11:26 PM

HBO is running all of his specials again on several different HBO channels. I've seen them all before and I generally tune in one of them anytime they do replays.

What's really amazing in watching right now is to see just how much he's improved over the years. I mean, he was always good and a groundbreaker but his shows just got soooo damn much better with age. Watch his early 80's work compared to the later stuff and finally to his two latest..............simply unbelievable

You expect that of course with experience and all but Carlin's routines are far more than just a guy learning his craft. I guess it relates to his subject matter as much as anything and his willingness to go over the top and never look back. At the end you can see just how far his genius had come........and make no mistake, he was a genius.

What a bitch..............

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Stringsinger
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 01:27 PM

Carlin accurately described the role of organized religion in shaping the prejudices of
the people of the US. He was more than a comedian, he was a historian.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: bald headed step child
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 02:01 PM

Hummer, on a recent interview on xm radio, Carlin was asked which current comedians he liked, and he responded with just one name, Lewis Black.

Kat, Mencia has a few funny bits, but unfortunately has stolen most of his good material,going all the way back to near word for word version of Bill Cosby routines from 30 years ago. Many examples of this on youtube. Start here menciasteals

For those of you who can't get xm because of where you live, it is available online thru xmradio.com. check out xm150 comedy. Also very good folk,blues, and bluegrass stations.

BHSC

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 29 Jun 08 - 09:59 PM

I've seen Carlin on HBO a lot in the last few days and I may have not given him enough credit in my earlier comment. Let me just say here that George Carlin was "The Comedian" of my generation. There have been a few great ones in my lifetime such as Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl and maybe even Robin Williams, but no one has come close to the broad expanse of talent that George Carlin exhibited - he was a "master," simply a master. An earlier comment stated that we should have had him for ten more years or so - I could not agree more. BTW - I was very glad to read that George mentioned Lewis Black in an interview - Lewis Black is my current "fave rave" of comedians. RIP George Carlin, you were loved and respected on a grand scale.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Donuel
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 10:36 AM

When two planes nearly collide they call it a near miss. Its not a near miss, its a 'near hit'.
"Hey Joe look those two planes just hit each other!"
"Yeah, they nearly missed each other".

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 11:02 AM

BHSC, thanks for the links. I had no idea. I have lost any respect I may have had for Mencia, but I do think the bit with Joe Rogan sounded like a routine they cooked up between them.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: bald headed step child
Date: 30 Jun 08 - 11:38 AM

No,I,ve heard several interviews with both of them and several other people who are upset with Mencia. Check out Gabriel Iglesias tho if you like that type of stuff. Much funnier anyway, and you can see where Mencia gets more of his material. Maybe we should start a new thread on this sometime, but I have to get on the road, be back in a week or so. Carlin was definitely an original. Probably in my trinity too, and will be missed very much. BHSC

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 12:01 AM

This will be on PBS, next Wednesday. I am glad to read that he knew about it.

George Carlin
2008 Prize Recipient

The Kennedy Center will posthumously award The Mark Twain Prize to the late George Carlin at the eleventh annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The evening will recognize the life and achievements of the late comedian. Carlin passed away on June 22, 2008.

Leading American entertainers Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, Garry Shandling, Lily Tomlin, Denis Leary, Joan Rivers, Lewis Black, Richard Belzer, and Margaret Cho will honor the late George Carlin in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall at the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor on Monday, November 10 at 8 p.m. The evening will recognize the life and achievements of the beloved comedian.

The announcement of Carlin's receiving the Mark Twain Prize was made a week before the comedian's passing. He was delighted with the honor, and was looking forward to attending the ceremony. The award is now being presented posthumously for the first time in its eleven years.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of this great American comedian," said Kennedy Center Chairman Stephen A. Schwarzman. "At this year's Mark Twain Prize, we will celebrate his many contributions to the world of comedy in a special tribute."

It's a great loss, not only to the world of humor but to America's conscience," said Bob Kaminsky, Peter Kaminsky, Mark Krantz, and Cappy McGarr, Executive Producers of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, in a collective statement." George kept us honest. Of this sad day he might have said that the only truly "dirty word" is death. George Carlin is as deserving as ever of our nation's highest award for humor."

The program, to be taped by WETA Washington, D.C. as George Carlin: The 2008 Mark Twain Prize, will air on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings).

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 12:22 AM

PBS has been playing a series for a couple of weeks (it was on again tonight) about American comedy. Carlin appears throughout.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008)
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 03:44 PM

And next week (here, at least) PBS is (re- ?)running the Nov. 2008 Mark Twain Prize award to Carlin.

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008)
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 09:11 PM

Maggie.....That's a pretty good series and I find it has some subtle things that are not always mentioned even though well known. I've enjoyed every segment.

Becky......That's what kat's posting is about!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin (May 12, 1937 � June 22, 2
From: Sawzaw
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 12:28 AM

Do you think George went to Heaven?

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008)
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 12:33 AM

We've really enjoyed that series, too. It's how I found about next week's program on George.

Becky, I see that the award ceremony was last Nov., but I don't see where it was broadcast on PBS before next week, so maybe not a re-broadcast? It's entirely possible I missed it though.:-)

Subject: RE: Obit: George Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008)
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 10:22 AM

Duh - guilty, guilty, guilty of reading the last post (which was Stilly's) and nothing before it!

And, after I posted, I found more info which clarified that it's a premier, not a re-broadcast.

I'll shut up now... and enjoy the programs!

~ Becky in Tucson