George Carlin Dead at 71
June 22, 2008 10:14 PM Subscribe
George Carlin Dead at 71 Not sure if I really want to make a joke out of this one, but why not post your favorite quotes and routines of his.
"Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck. "
"I recently went to a new doctor and noticed he was located in something called the Professional Building. I felt better right away."
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posted by neilkod at 10:16 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
"I recently went to a new doctor and noticed he was located in something called the Professional Building. I felt better right away."
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posted by neilkod at 10:16 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits.
posted by nightchrome at 10:17 PM on June 22, 2008 [26 favorites]
posted by nightchrome at 10:17 PM on June 22, 2008 [26 favorites]
Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.
posted by Poolio at 10:17 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Poolio at 10:17 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.
A great comedian. I'm glad I got to see him live.
posted by saslett at 10:18 PM on June 22, 2008
A great comedian. I'm glad I got to see him live.
posted by saslett at 10:18 PM on June 22, 2008
Shit.
This pisses me off.
Fuck, the guy was only 71.
So many cunts wanted him silenced.
Now the cocksuck(ing) motherfucker is tits-up.
posted by tomierna at 10:18 PM on June 22, 2008 [45 favorites]
This pisses me off.
Fuck, the guy was only 71.
So many cunts wanted him silenced.
Now the cocksuck(ing) motherfucker is tits-up.
posted by tomierna at 10:18 PM on June 22, 2008 [45 favorites]
Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits!!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:19 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:19 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
. . . . . . .
posted by RavinDave at 10:19 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by RavinDave at 10:19 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
Well, shit. etc.
posted by infidelpants at 10:19 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by infidelpants at 10:19 PM on June 22, 2008
Weather forecast for tonight: dark. Continued dark overnight, with widely scattered light by morning.
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posted by fuse theorem at 10:20 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
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posted by fuse theorem at 10:20 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
Oh no. No . NO. This is a joke, isn't it? George is just kidding, right? Right? Please let this be a joke.
Please?
posted by dersins at 10:20 PM on June 22, 2008
Please?
posted by dersins at 10:20 PM on June 22, 2008
I guess a lot of people are gonna be posting those words, I'm so not used to those, working in radio you train yourself to never say them. Some powerful words.
posted by Del Far at 10:21 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by Del Far at 10:21 PM on June 22, 2008
Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits.
RIP, sir.
posted by ChrisR at 10:21 PM on June 22, 2008
RIP, sir.
posted by ChrisR at 10:21 PM on June 22, 2008
I saw this on ONTD, and I was really hoping it was a hoax. He was supposed to do a show in Newport next month, and I wanted to go. I guess I'm still in denial about this. This really, really sucks.
posted by Ruki at 10:22 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by Ruki at 10:22 PM on June 22, 2008
Saw him back in the day. Orpheum Theatre, Omaha, Nebraska. Two hours on a bare stage, just Carlin, a stool, and a bottle of Heineken.
And the fucker wouldn't share it.
posted by RavinDave at 10:23 PM on June 22, 2008
And the fucker wouldn't share it.
posted by RavinDave at 10:23 PM on June 22, 2008
I saw George Carlin in San Diego about 10 years ago. I remember he told a joke that didn't get a lot of laughs and to recover he said, "and that reminds me of something my grandfather used to say. He said, "I'm going to go upstairs and fuck your grandma now". His bit on airport security is a little dated after 9/11 though.
posted by bertrandom at 10:23 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by bertrandom at 10:23 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
At least he's with God now.
posted by Avenger at 10:24 PM on June 22, 2008 [24 favorites]
posted by Avenger at 10:24 PM on June 22, 2008 [24 favorites]
The guns and the bombs and the rockets all look like dicks! It's the bigger dick foreign policy at work!.
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posted by Dipsomaniac at 10:25 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
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posted by Dipsomaniac at 10:25 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
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posted by exlotuseater at 10:27 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by exlotuseater at 10:27 PM on June 22, 2008
Wow. With most celebrities, I just think "oh, that's too bad, they lived a good life", but this really sucks. I didn't even realize he was that old.
posted by stavrogin at 10:27 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by stavrogin at 10:27 PM on June 22, 2008
"In the unlikely event of a water landing . . ." Well, what exactly is a water landing? Am I mistaken, or does this sound somewhat similar to CRASHING INTO THE OCEAN!?
Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits.
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posted by Project F at 10:28 PM on June 22, 2008
Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits.
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posted by Project F at 10:28 PM on June 22, 2008
Folks, the C word comes before the F word...
I brought AM/FM home at twelve years old and played it for my somewhat scandalized parents. I think the peals of laughter out of their son assuaged the outrage.
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posted by OneOliveShort at 10:29 PM on June 22, 2008
I brought AM/FM home at twelve years old and played it for my somewhat scandalized parents. I think the peals of laughter out of their son assuaged the outrage.
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posted by OneOliveShort at 10:29 PM on June 22, 2008
Damn.
I saw him in 1979. I laughed so much my ribs hurt.
posted by marxchivist at 10:31 PM on June 22, 2008
I saw him in 1979. I laughed so much my ribs hurt.
posted by marxchivist at 10:31 PM on June 22, 2008
I remember the first routine I saw him do, which was a comparison of baseball and football. Not being American, it made almost no sense to me, but it was still pretty funny. That's one sign of a great comedian - someone who can convey "funny" with something being words. But I also saw him engage in some fantastic commentary that played with the English language in such a facile way that I could not only "get" it, but actually appreciate the depths of his linguistic abilities. Now I can really speak and understand English, and a lot of what impressed me in the early stages of learning the language seems a bit lame or contrived or clichéd, but George Carlin's material seems even funnier and more intriguing today. I don't know the history of American humor, but with his wit, social commentary and willingness to tackle divisive topics candidly, he seemed more like a Mark Twain figure than a "stand-up comedian." I've only ever seen him on television, but I will miss him.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 10:31 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 10:31 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
Rat shit, bat shit, dirty old twat!
Sixty-nine assholes tied in a knot!
Hooray! Lizard shit! Fuck!
posted by sleavestherabbit at 10:31 PM on June 22, 2008 [5 favorites]
Sixty-nine assholes tied in a knot!
Hooray! Lizard shit! Fuck!
posted by sleavestherabbit at 10:31 PM on June 22, 2008 [5 favorites]
What the fuck? This shit is totally fucking bogus. Shit, I'm really fucking pissed off about this. What the fuck kind of cocksucking piss-justice is this shit? I'm so mad I can't even piss, and If I fucking ever met that shithead motherfucker of a cruel God I'm going to punch him in the cunt. Even if I was totally pissed, fucking George Carlin wouldn't want me to say that kind of shit - he'd probably say "What, you're gonna punch an imaginary omnipotent guy in the cunt? Tough tits, motherfucker! I'm fucking dead. Deal with it. Life goes on!"
Profanity is the crutch of an inarticulate motherfucker.
posted by loquacious at 10:31 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
Profanity is the crutch of an inarticulate motherfucker.
posted by loquacious at 10:31 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
R.A.W., Gygax, and now George Carlin? I'm not gonna have any heroes left. :(
posted by rifflesby at 10:32 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by rifflesby at 10:32 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
I mean: That's one sign of a great comedian - someone who can convey "funny" with something beyond words.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 10:32 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 10:32 PM on June 22, 2008
He was so much more than the '7 words' skit, but I guess it's predictable that that's what he'd be remembered for. And it was an important part of the struggle for freedom of speech back in the day.
Still, he has been one of my favorite stand-up comics for a couple of decades, mostly because of his love for language, and his unrelenting anger at and lack of patience for the culture of stupidity and greed and 'continued pussification' of the country he loved, and everywhere else for that matter. He wasn't as funny as he was angry in recent years, and I guess this isn't so much of a surprise, but it's really a shame.
Here's a very long quote from his standup routine that is much more resonant for me than an arbitrary list of 'dirty' words, and sums up much of what made him great, for me :
Still, he has been one of my favorite stand-up comics for a couple of decades, mostly because of his love for language, and his unrelenting anger at and lack of patience for the culture of stupidity and greed and 'continued pussification' of the country he loved, and everywhere else for that matter. He wasn't as funny as he was angry in recent years, and I guess this isn't so much of a surprise, but it's really a shame.
Here's a very long quote from his standup routine that is much more resonant for me than an arbitrary list of 'dirty' words, and sums up much of what made him great, for me :
"You can't be afraid of words that speak the truth. I don't like words that hide the truth. I don't like words that conceal reality. I don't like euphemisms or euphemistic language. And American english is loaded with euphemisms. Because Americans have a lot of trouble dealing with reality. Americans have trouble facing the truth, so they invent a kind of a soft language to protect themselves from it. And it gets worse with every generation. For some reason it just keeps getting worse.posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:33 PM on June 22, 2008 [176 favorites]
I'll give you an example of that. There's a condition in combat. Most people know about it. It's when a fighting person's nervous system has been stressed to it's absolute peak and maximum, can't take any more input. The nervous system has either snapped or is about to snap. In the first world war that condition was called shell shock. Simple, honest, direct language. Two syllables. Shell shock. Almost sounds like the guns themselves. That was 70 years ago. Then a whole generation went by. And the second world war came along and the very same combat condition was called battle fatigue. Four syllables now. Takes a little longer to say. Doesn't seem to be as hard to say. Fatigue is a nicer word than shock. Shell shock...battle fatigue.
Then we had the war in Korea in 1950. Madison Avenue was riding high by that time. And the very same combat condition was called Operational Exhaustion. Hey we're up to 8 syllables now! And the humanity has been squeezed completely out of the phrase now. It's totally sterile now. Operational Exhaustion: sounds like something that might happen to your car. Then of course came the war in Vietnam, which has only been over for about 16 or 17 years. And thanks to the lies and deceit surrounding that war, I guess it's no surprise that the very same condition was called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Still 8 syllables, but we've added a hyphen. And the pain is completely buried under jargon. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I bet you, if we'd still been calling it shell shock, some of those Vietnam veterans might have gotten the attention they needed at the time. I bet you that.
But it didn't happen. And one of the reasons is because we were using that soft language, that language that takes out the life out of life. And it is a function of time it does keep getting worse.
Give you another example. Sometime during my life toilet paper became bathroom tissue. I wasn't notified of this. No one asked me if I agreed with it. It just happened. Toilet paper became bathroom tissue. Sneakers became running shoes. False teeth became dental appliances. Medicine became medication. Information became directory assistance. The dump became the land fill. Car crashes became automobile accidents. Partly cloudy became partly sunny. Motels became motor lodges. House trailers became mobile homes. Used cars became previously owned transportation. Room service became guest room dining. Constipation became occasional irregularity.
When I was a little kid if I got sick they wanted me to go to a hospital and see the doctor. Now they want me to go to a health maintenance organization. Or a wellness center to consult a health care delivery professional. Poor people used to live in slums. Now the economically disadvantaged occupy sub-standard housing in the inner cities. And they're broke! They're broke. They don't have a negative cash flow position. They're f--kin' broke! Because a lot of them were fired. You know, fired. Management wanted to curtail redundancies in the human resources area. So many people are no longer viable members of the work force.
Smug, greedy well-fed white people have invented a language to conceal their sins. It's as simple as that. The CIA doesn't kill people anymore, they neutralize people, or they depopulate the area. The government doesn't lie, it engages in disinformation. The pentagon actually measures radiation in something they call sunshine units. Israeli murderers are called commandos. Arab commandos are called terrorists. Contra killers are called freedom fighters. Well if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part of it to us, do they?
And some of this stuff is just silly. We know that. Like when the airlines tell us to pre-board. What the hell is pre-board? What does that mean? To get on before you get on?
They say they're going to pre-board those passengers in need of special assistance ...cripples! Simple honest direct language. There's no shame attached to the word cripple I can find in any dictionary. In fact it's a word used in Bible translations. "Jesus healed the cripples." Doesn't take seven words to describe that condition. But we don't have cripples in this country anymore. We have the physically challenged. Is that a grotesque enough evasion for you? How about differently-abled? I've heard them called that. Differently-abled! You can't even call these people handicapped anymore. They say: "We're not handicapped, we're handy capable!" These poor people have been bullsh-tted by the system into believing that if you change the name of the condition somehow you'll change the condition. Well hey cousin ... doesn't happen!
We have no more deaf people in this country. Hearing impaired. No more blind people. Partially sighted or visually impaired. No more stupid people, everyone has a learning disorder. Or he's minimally exceptional. How would you like to told that about your child? 'He's minimally exceptional.' Psychologists have actually started calling ugly people those with severe appearance deficits. It's getting so bad that any day now I expect to hear a rape victim referred to as an unwilling sperm recipient!
And we have no more old people in this country. No more old people. We shipped them all away and we brought in these senior citizens. Isn't that a typically American twentieth century phrase? Bloodless. Lifeless. No pulse in one of them. A senior citizen. But I've accepted that one. I've come to terms with it. I know it's here to stay. We'll never get rid of it. But the one I do resist, the one I keep resisting, is when they look at an old guy and say, "Look at him Dan, he's ninety years young." Imagine the fear of aging that reveals. To not even be able to use the word old to describe someone. To have to use an antonym.
And fear of aging is natural. It's universal, isn't it? We all have that. No one wants to get old. No one wants to die. But we do. So we con ourselves. I started conning myself when I got in my forties. I'd look in the mirror and say, "Well...I guess I'm getting ...older." Older sounds a little better than old, doesn't it? Sounds like it might even last a little longer. I'm getting old. And it's okay. Because thanks to our fear of death in this country I won't have to die. I'll pass away. Or I'll expire, like a magazine subscription. If it happens in the hospital they'll call it a terminal episode. The insurance company will refer to it as negative patient care outcome. And if it's the result of malpractice they'll say it was a therapeutic misadventure.
I'm telling ya, some of this language makes me want to vomit. Well, maybe not vomit ...makes me want to engage in an involuntary personal protein spill."
to acknowledge this sad moment, i give you the george carlin universal cheer:
ratshit, batshit
dirty old twat
sixty-nine assholes
tied in a knot.
hooray.
lizardshit.
FUCK!
posted by Hat Maui at 10:34 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
ratshit, batshit
dirty old twat
sixty-nine assholes
tied in a knot.
hooray.
lizardshit.
FUCK!
posted by Hat Maui at 10:34 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
beaten to the FUCK!
posted by Hat Maui at 10:35 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Hat Maui at 10:35 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
My all-time favorite line of his is "and then you cross the international date line", but his greatest insight, which really ought to be called Carlin's Law, is: "If you nail two things together that have never been nailed together before, some schmuck will buy it from you."
posted by ulotrichous at 10:37 PM on June 22, 2008 [8 favorites]
posted by ulotrichous at 10:37 PM on June 22, 2008 [8 favorites]
Lets all go hit some Toledo Windowbox and remember the Hippy Drippy Weatherman.
All I can think of is his Christmas card,
Peace
Love you Carlin, RIP
posted by real_paris at 10:38 PM on June 22, 2008
All I can think of is his Christmas card,
Peace
Love you Carlin, RIP
posted by real_paris at 10:38 PM on June 22, 2008
At least he's with God now
Quote re God: Everything he ever made... died!
I saw him perform in Cleveland in the mid-seventies. (fourteenth birthday present from me folks.) He slew me with his punchlines. Laugh? I thought I'd die.
posted by longsleeves at 10:38 PM on June 22, 2008
Quote re God: Everything he ever made... died!
I saw him perform in Cleveland in the mid-seventies. (fourteenth birthday present from me folks.) He slew me with his punchlines. Laugh? I thought I'd die.
posted by longsleeves at 10:38 PM on June 22, 2008
Well, I'm an ass... Not only am I wrong about the order, I botched the title of FM & AM.
How embarrassing.
Still sad.
posted by OneOliveShort at 10:39 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
How embarrassing.
Still sad.
posted by OneOliveShort at 10:39 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
Thanks, George. Thanks.
posted by longsleeves at 10:39 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by longsleeves at 10:39 PM on June 22, 2008
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Dee Xtrovert:
I don't know the history of American humor, but with his wit, social commentary and willingness to tackle divisive topics candidly, he seemed more like a Mark Twain figure than a "stand-up comedian."
This November he was actually to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
posted by PsychoKick at 10:40 PM on June 22, 2008
Dee Xtrovert:
I don't know the history of American humor, but with his wit, social commentary and willingness to tackle divisive topics candidly, he seemed more like a Mark Twain figure than a "stand-up comedian."
This November he was actually to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
posted by PsychoKick at 10:40 PM on June 22, 2008
S.P.F.C.CS.MF.T.
posted by ooga_booga at 10:40 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by ooga_booga at 10:40 PM on June 22, 2008
"If it’s true that our species is alone in the universe, then I’d have to say that the universe aimed rather low and settled for very little."
I got to see him once, in the early 90s. He was a great hero of mine and this is really sad news. However, anyone who saw his last special knows that he was well aware of what stage of life he was in (as well as the sorry state of our nation), and joked brutally and remorselessly about it. There are damn few voices as angry and sensible as his left in our culture, and if there were any justice he'd be canonized. RIP.
posted by arcanecrowbar at 10:45 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
I got to see him once, in the early 90s. He was a great hero of mine and this is really sad news. However, anyone who saw his last special knows that he was well aware of what stage of life he was in (as well as the sorry state of our nation), and joked brutally and remorselessly about it. There are damn few voices as angry and sensible as his left in our culture, and if there were any justice he'd be canonized. RIP.
posted by arcanecrowbar at 10:45 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
One of my favorites.
"Religion has convinced people that there’s an invisible man…living in the sky, who watches everything you do every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a list of ten specific things he doesn’t want you to do. And if you do any of these things, he will send you to a special place, of burning and fire and smoke and torture and anguish for you to live forever, and suffer and burn and scream until the end of time. But he loves you. He loves you and he needs money." -- George Carlin
posted by Mr_Zero at 10:47 PM on June 22, 2008 [51 favorites]
"Religion has convinced people that there’s an invisible man…living in the sky, who watches everything you do every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a list of ten specific things he doesn’t want you to do. And if you do any of these things, he will send you to a special place, of burning and fire and smoke and torture and anguish for you to live forever, and suffer and burn and scream until the end of time. But he loves you. He loves you and he needs money." -- George Carlin
posted by Mr_Zero at 10:47 PM on June 22, 2008 [51 favorites]
To paraphrase Vonnegut's joke, looks like Carlin is in heaven now.
(Really, they're both gone? Who the fuck is left to make me giggle?)
posted by brianvan at 10:49 PM on June 22, 2008
(Really, they're both gone? Who the fuck is left to make me giggle?)
posted by brianvan at 10:49 PM on June 22, 2008
Mime Rhyme
The party broke up when Marcel Marseau
Won seventy games of charades in a row.
Moon Fuck
a haiku
The Way I figure
Fuck the Moon
---
I actually gasped when I read that he died. He was one of those guys who seemed indestructible.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:51 PM on June 22, 2008
The party broke up when Marcel Marseau
Won seventy games of charades in a row.
Moon Fuck
a haiku
The Way I figure
Fuck the Moon
---
I actually gasped when I read that he died. He was one of those guys who seemed indestructible.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:51 PM on June 22, 2008
"The planet is fine - the people are fucked."
This is just crushing. Absolutely crushing. I knew we wouldn't have him much longer, but I sure as hell wasn't ready to lose him.
Thank you for making me laugh harder than anyone, George. Thank you for keeping me sane when I was young and in check when I was old.
posted by EatTheWeek at 10:52 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
This is just crushing. Absolutely crushing. I knew we wouldn't have him much longer, but I sure as hell wasn't ready to lose him.
Thank you for making me laugh harder than anyone, George. Thank you for keeping me sane when I was young and in check when I was old.
posted by EatTheWeek at 10:52 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
"The mayfly lives only one day. And sometimes it rains."
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posted by MrBadExample at 10:53 PM on June 22, 2008 [6 favorites]
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posted by MrBadExample at 10:53 PM on June 22, 2008 [6 favorites]
Goodbye, Mr. Conductor.
posted by Citizen Premier at 10:54 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Citizen Premier at 10:54 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
As stavros says, the Carlin of late had been more angry than funny, but, damn, the man was so right about so many things. He was right to be angry about what we've done to ourselves. I could totally see sitting there and rapping with that guy for hours about the ways in which stupidity has taken over and is running the country. I bet he loved Idiocracy.
Mr. Carlin, you were simultaneously one of the funniest and one of the smartest men in show business, and while I didn't agree with all of your stances, they all had a lot of thought behind them. I can tell you loved this country and what it once meant more than almost anyone. The silencing of your voice is a profound loss to the country, another step toward mass ignorant incompetence.
Because we're so far along already, far, far too few people will even notice.
posted by Malor at 10:55 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
Mr. Carlin, you were simultaneously one of the funniest and one of the smartest men in show business, and while I didn't agree with all of your stances, they all had a lot of thought behind them. I can tell you loved this country and what it once meant more than almost anyone. The silencing of your voice is a profound loss to the country, another step toward mass ignorant incompetence.
Because we're so far along already, far, far too few people will even notice.
posted by Malor at 10:55 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
.
posted by mrballistic at 10:56 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by mrballistic at 10:56 PM on June 22, 2008
A friend made me a mix tape long ago, and included the Carlin routine The Book Club on it. So I listened to this tape about 50 million times, and what this means is that whenever anybody begins a phrase like "Don't throw away" my mind's autocomplete is set to "Your old skin" and so on. George Carlin, you are for many reasons an important part of my mind.
(transcript stolen from elsewhere; listen to the audio if you can because it's much funnier that way:)
Join the Book Club!
As an introductory offer, we'll send you the following books absolutely free:
Eat, Run, Stay Fit And Die Anyway,
How To Seem Intelligent,
There's Big Money In Staying Put,
Peace Of Mind By Losing Complete Control For 16 Hours a Day,
Your Thighs Control Your Life,
How To Fillet A Panda,
Rid Yourself Of Doubt...Or Should You?,
Chances Are Your Sister's Full Of Shit,
How To Give Yourself A Complete Physical Without Getting Undressed,
64 Good Reasons For Giving Up Hope,
Why Jews Point,
100 Dead People Nobody Misses,
Backpacking For Shut-Ins,
My Dog Is A Real Fruit,
Your Shoes Are Worth Money,
Reorganizing Your Pockets,
What To Wear On The Toilet,
124 Simple Exercises For The Teeth,
The Stains In Your Shorts Can Indicate Your Future,
Tips On Getting Laid,
Self-Mutilation As An Attention Getter,
600 Ways To Give People The Shaft,
Tremble Your Way To Fitness,
You Give Me Six Weeks And I'll Give You Some Disease.
And if you join today, we'll send the following books absolutely free:
Poems for the Insane,
A Treasury of Poorly Understood Ideas,
Apartment Hunting For Devil Worshipers,
A Complete List of All The Things That Are Still Pending
And these books on food are yours:
The Intravenous Cookbook,
The Meaning Of Corn,
Fill Your Life With Croutons,
The Food Coloring Diet,
Cooking For The Paralyzed,
Cooking With Heat
And, if you join today, we'll send the following books absolutely free:
Controlling Fear Without Getting Frightened,
Things No One Can Help,
Understanding People You'll Never Meet,
6 Ways To Fuck Up Before Breakfast,
Marriage For One,
I Suck, You Suck,
Let's Change The Alphabet,
Famous Bullshit Stories,
Sport Fishing With Power Saws,
Why Hawaii And Norway Are Not Near Each Other
And if you join today, we'll send the following books absolutely free:
A List Of People Who Mean Well,
Don't Throw Away Your Old Skin,
10 Things We Don't Know Yet,
Caring For The Seated,
The Wrong Underwear Can Kill,
Trotting Across Zaire,
Why It Doesn't Snow Any More,
A Complete List Of Everyone's Personal Effects,
Six Cities No One Has Ever Been To,
I Gave Up Hope And Died And It Worked!,
Famous People Who Were Wiry,
The Lives Of Six Extremely Short Saints,
Anna May Wong's Tits Are Made Of Aluminum
And if you join today, we'll send the following instruction books absolutely free:
How To Do Everything At Once,
How To Give People Your Best Regards,
How To Spoil Other People's Fun,
How To Kill A Rat With An Oboe,
How To Organize A Tupperware Gang Bang,
How To Wave Goodbye Without Moving Your Arms,
How To Spot Truly Vicious People In Church,
How To Get Back From Boston,
How To Lease Out The Space Inside Your Nose,
How To Get A Tan With A Flashlight,
How To Start A Range War,
How To Spot A Creep From A Distance,
How To Give A King A Really Hard Time,
How To Kill Your Nephew,
How To Become A Greaseball and
How To Turn Unbearable Pain Into Extra Income.
So call now. Right now! Join the Book Club today!
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:56 PM on June 22, 2008 [19 favorites]
(transcript stolen from elsewhere; listen to the audio if you can because it's much funnier that way:)
Join the Book Club!
As an introductory offer, we'll send you the following books absolutely free:
Eat, Run, Stay Fit And Die Anyway,
How To Seem Intelligent,
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posted by LobsterMitten at 10:56 PM on June 22, 2008 [19 favorites]
George Carlin: Don't be so suburban! Gay, Straight, it's all the same. There's no lines anymore.
Jay: Well there's a line here, and on this side of it, we ain't gay.
posted by Talez at 10:57 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
Jay: Well there's a line here, and on this side of it, we ain't gay.
posted by Talez at 10:57 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
Shit.
posted by homunculus at 11:00 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by homunculus at 11:00 PM on June 22, 2008
Weeeeeuuueeuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuueu
dowwwwww dowwww dowwwwww
euuuuuuuu
eruuuuu
eu ueeuewueu
ooh!
dum da da dum da di di da di di da
dum da da dum da di di da di di da
da dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit
Jenny!
-- "WINO radio"
posted by crapmatic at 11:01 PM on June 22, 2008 [5 favorites]
dowwwwww dowwww dowwwwww
euuuuuuuu
eruuuuu
eu ueeuewueu
ooh!
dum da da dum da di di da di di da
dum da da dum da di di da di di da
da dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit dit
Jenny!
-- "WINO radio"
posted by crapmatic at 11:01 PM on June 22, 2008 [5 favorites]
"I don't have any beliefs or allegiances. I don't believe in this country, I don't believe in religion, or a god, and I don't believe in all these man-made institutional ideas."
Just thought that bears repeating.
posted by ZachsMind at 11:01 PM on June 22, 2008 [4 favorites]
Just thought that bears repeating.
posted by ZachsMind at 11:01 PM on June 22, 2008 [4 favorites]
Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits.
.
posted by mwhybark at 11:01 PM on June 22, 2008
.
posted by mwhybark at 11:01 PM on June 22, 2008
God motherfucking damn it. This completely fucking sucks. I can't believe how upset this makes me.
*
posted by Space Kitty at 11:02 PM on June 22, 2008
*
posted by Space Kitty at 11:02 PM on June 22, 2008
I thought I was going to be so original with my "seven words you can't say on TV". George was the first comedy album I paid for with my own money. Class Clown, indeed. Let's all get high on the plane. Good bye, George. I miss you already.
posted by wv kay in ga at 11:03 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by wv kay in ga at 11:03 PM on June 22, 2008
"I don't have any beliefs or allegiances. I don't believe in this country, I don't believe in religion, or a god, and I don't believe in all these man-made institutional ideas."
No way, Zach. If he said that, he was lying, very possibly to himself.
You don't get that angry about the decline of something unless you really care about it.
posted by Malor at 11:04 PM on June 22, 2008
No way, Zach. If he said that, he was lying, very possibly to himself.
You don't get that angry about the decline of something unless you really care about it.
posted by Malor at 11:04 PM on June 22, 2008
Didn't he make this phrase popular?
"Average comedians say funny things. Great comedians say things funny"
posted by Zangal at 11:04 PM on June 22, 2008
"Average comedians say funny things. Great comedians say things funny"
posted by Zangal at 11:04 PM on June 22, 2008
Fuck. I haven't been this upset since Joe Strummer died.
posted by Football Bat at 11:05 PM on June 22, 2008 [4 favorites]
posted by Football Bat at 11:05 PM on June 22, 2008 [4 favorites]
On the upside, you know he and HST are whacking Russert up on ether right now.
.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 11:05 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 11:05 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
Avenger: "At least he's with God now."
That would be perhaps a pleasant surprise to Mr. Carlin, and not a little bit embarrassing.
"Yeah, God? About all those jokes where I said I didn't think you exist, or if'n you did exist you're a ripe ass motherfucker? Would you believe I was kiddin'? All in good fun, right God? God? Oh come on! You made the fuckin' platypus you HAVE a sense of humor, don't deny it!"
posted by ZachsMind at 11:06 PM on June 22, 2008
That would be perhaps a pleasant surprise to Mr. Carlin, and not a little bit embarrassing.
"Yeah, God? About all those jokes where I said I didn't think you exist, or if'n you did exist you're a ripe ass motherfucker? Would you believe I was kiddin'? All in good fun, right God? God? Oh come on! You made the fuckin' platypus you HAVE a sense of humor, don't deny it!"
posted by ZachsMind at 11:06 PM on June 22, 2008
It's a big club and you ain't in it
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 11:08 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 11:08 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
Well, shit. Another comedy legend taken away from us. I bet he'd hate the fact most of his media eulogies are referring to him as a counter-culture comic. They still don't get him.
.
posted by Effigy2000 at 11:08 PM on June 22, 2008
.
posted by Effigy2000 at 11:08 PM on June 22, 2008
Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn.
Somehow, it doesn't feel like mourning George Carlin is the right thing to do. We should just be really, really irritated that he's gone off and died on us.
I wonder if any outlet will report that he died as a result of swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time.
posted by spira at 11:09 PM on June 22, 2008
Somehow, it doesn't feel like mourning George Carlin is the right thing to do. We should just be really, really irritated that he's gone off and died on us.
I wonder if any outlet will report that he died as a result of swallowing small amounts of saliva over a long period of time.
posted by spira at 11:09 PM on June 22, 2008
Wanda Sykes.We still have Wanda Sykes. google her
posted by longsleeves at 11:09 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by longsleeves at 11:09 PM on June 22, 2008
I can't adequately express how funny he was.
I used to listen to his albums over and over again when I was probably way too young to do so. George Carlin probably taught me to have Problems with Authority. I thank him for that, especially.
.
posted by louche mustachio at 11:10 PM on June 22, 2008 [5 favorites]
I used to listen to his albums over and over again when I was probably way too young to do so. George Carlin probably taught me to have Problems with Authority. I thank him for that, especially.
.
posted by louche mustachio at 11:10 PM on June 22, 2008 [5 favorites]
First Stan Winston, now this. Bad week for my heroes. John Carpenter better be looking over his shoulder.
posted by brundlefly at 11:10 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by brundlefly at 11:10 PM on June 22, 2008
.
And as for people posting his routines, I've pretty much got that covered for you.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:11 PM on June 22, 2008
And as for people posting his routines, I've pretty much got that covered for you.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:11 PM on June 22, 2008
Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits.
I'll wash your mouth out with soap.
posted by pracowity at 11:12 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'll wash your mouth out with soap.
posted by pracowity at 11:12 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
Dee Xtrovert: "I don't know the history of American humor, but with his wit, social commentary and willingness to tackle divisive topics candidly, he seemed more like a Mark Twain figure than a "stand-up comedian." I've only ever seen him on television, but I will miss him."
For someone who claims to not know the history of American humor, you got Carlin pegged pretty well there, Dee. Another comedian you might wanna look into if you're interested in American humor is Lenny Bruce.
George Carlin was there when Lenny Bruce got incarcerated. Some urban legends say they shared a paddywagon on the way to jail. Bruce for what he said on stage that night, and Carlin cuz when the police came in to get Bruce, they asked Carlin for his identification. Carlin was insulted, like they were wanting him to 'show his papers.' He refused, so they took Carlin too.
I dunno how much of that was true, but when Lenny Bruce died, seemed Carlin picked up the torch, and continued speaking truth to power. Sometimes he wasn't funny. Sometimes he was just right. Same goes for Mark Twain.
posted by ZachsMind at 11:13 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
For someone who claims to not know the history of American humor, you got Carlin pegged pretty well there, Dee. Another comedian you might wanna look into if you're interested in American humor is Lenny Bruce.
George Carlin was there when Lenny Bruce got incarcerated. Some urban legends say they shared a paddywagon on the way to jail. Bruce for what he said on stage that night, and Carlin cuz when the police came in to get Bruce, they asked Carlin for his identification. Carlin was insulted, like they were wanting him to 'show his papers.' He refused, so they took Carlin too.
I dunno how much of that was true, but when Lenny Bruce died, seemed Carlin picked up the torch, and continued speaking truth to power. Sometimes he wasn't funny. Sometimes he was just right. Same goes for Mark Twain.
posted by ZachsMind at 11:13 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
OW! Ow! ow! ow! ow! ow!
I SO did not post that six months ago!
*spins around three times and shakes himself all over*
I DID NOT JUST SEE THAT!
...okay. I'm better now.
posted by ZachsMind at 11:17 PM on June 22, 2008
I SO did not post that six months ago!
*spins around three times and shakes himself all over*
I DID NOT JUST SEE THAT!
...okay. I'm better now.
posted by ZachsMind at 11:17 PM on June 22, 2008
And now a message from the National Apple Council: "Fuck pears."
posted by nicwolff at 11:17 PM on June 22, 2008 [11 favorites]
posted by nicwolff at 11:17 PM on June 22, 2008 [11 favorites]
The roommate takes the milk carton out of the fridge, shakes it. "Not enough to drink. Better put it back."
.
oh, and tits.
posted by pointilist at 11:19 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
.
oh, and tits.
posted by pointilist at 11:19 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
Have you noticed that most of the women who are against abortion are women you wouldn’t want to fuck in the first place? There’s such balance in nature.
posted by nicwolff at 11:19 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by nicwolff at 11:19 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
Dibs on his stuff.
posted by aaronetc at 11:20 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by aaronetc at 11:20 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
The world is a whole lot less strange today.
posted by Clave at 11:22 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Clave at 11:22 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
My dad is also a gray-bearded, pissed-off, funny old atheist, and between losing Tim Russert (only a couple years older than the patriarch) and George Carlin...I am going to give my dad a good long bear hug next time I see him.
Carlin, old boy, you were like a member of my family.
.
posted by crinklebat at 11:22 PM on June 22, 2008
Carlin, old boy, you were like a member of my family.
.
posted by crinklebat at 11:22 PM on June 22, 2008
seven unprintable moments of silence.
posted by scody at 11:22 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by scody at 11:22 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'm having a hard time with this. I really am. This fucking sucks. Saying thank you just seems so trite compared to who this man was. It feels like my coolest uncle just died - the one you grew up with and couldn't imagine not being in your life.
Goddamn it!
.
posted by perilous at 11:23 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
Goddamn it!
.
posted by perilous at 11:23 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
Hearing Carlin for the first time was certainly one of those rite-of-passage moments, equivalent to buying your first Led Zeppelin album or getting your driver's license. I remember my first exposure to Carlin through an early HBO broadcast in the late 1970's.
This is a sad, sad loss.
One way to look at his humor was that he discovered that deep analysis of concepts is often funny. "If people climb Mt. Everest because it's so hard, why do they take the easiest route"? It's possible to think of Carlin as an analytic philosopher with very good stage presence.
posted by Tube at 11:24 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
This is a sad, sad loss.
One way to look at his humor was that he discovered that deep analysis of concepts is often funny. "If people climb Mt. Everest because it's so hard, why do they take the easiest route"? It's possible to think of Carlin as an analytic philosopher with very good stage presence.
posted by Tube at 11:24 PM on June 22, 2008 [3 favorites]
I grew up with his albums, I spoke with him on Rockline (remember that?), and saw him three times live in the '80s. I have almost all his albums to this day.
Was really hoping to catch him one more time. This sucks.
I'm really going to miss him.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:25 PM on June 22, 2008
Was really hoping to catch him one more time. This sucks.
I'm really going to miss him.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:25 PM on June 22, 2008
"I don't believe in this country, I don't believe in religion, or a god, and I don't believe in all these man-made institutional ideas."
as it bears repeating, may I please have the honor.
posted by mwhybark at 11:27 PM on June 22, 2008
as it bears repeating, may I please have the honor.
posted by mwhybark at 11:27 PM on June 22, 2008
Feces, urine, intercourse, vagina, fellatiator, Oedipus and breasts.
.
posted by iamkimiam at 11:29 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
.
posted by iamkimiam at 11:29 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
first vonnegut, now carlin. why are all my heroes crotchety old men? Joe Pesci rest his soul
posted by slapshot57 at 11:32 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by slapshot57 at 11:32 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
No one has mentioned Thomas the Tank Engine yet? I have heard his voice far more often portraying Thomas, Percy or Sir Toppam Hat than anything else. Actually, of all the people who've done voice work for that show, he's probably one of my favorites.
posted by ericales at 11:32 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by ericales at 11:32 PM on June 22, 2008 [1 favorite]
"Did you ever notice how anyone driving slower than you is an idiot and anyone driving faster than you is a maniac?"
Truer words were never spoke. Thanks for years of funny business George. I wonder if your soul is resting on top of a building somewhere now after being flung there by another Frisbeetarian....
posted by Lynsey at 11:39 PM on June 22, 2008
Truer words were never spoke. Thanks for years of funny business George. I wonder if your soul is resting on top of a building somewhere now after being flung there by another Frisbeetarian....
posted by Lynsey at 11:39 PM on June 22, 2008
I spent some time with him last year. He had an iPhone. He was a lot shorter than you'd think. He was as intelligent and engaged in the world as you'd imagine, and just as angry about how it was all going to hell in a handbasket. He was kind and generous (to me -- a relative stranger -- and to his friends). He has a fascinating history, check it out sometime: A poor Irish kid who came by his success honestly, with talent and a lot of hard work. If there is a god, I wish I could be there when these two meet.
posted by turducken at 11:41 PM on June 22, 2008 [5 favorites]
posted by turducken at 11:41 PM on June 22, 2008 [5 favorites]
"I wonder if your soul is resting on top of a building somewhere now after being flung there by another Frisbeetarian...."posted by Lynsey
Interesting to speculate on which building - Empire State? Graumann's Chinese? Congress? Weather Bureau?
posted by Cranberry at 11:47 PM on June 22, 2008
Interesting to speculate on which building - Empire State? Graumann's Chinese? Congress? Weather Bureau?
posted by Cranberry at 11:47 PM on June 22, 2008
I honestly don't get how he coulda died. He was born and raised in New Jersey. All children growing up there swim in raw fucking sewage. They're supposed to be immortal by the time they're twenty-three.
Me quoting from the Front Page Post link:
"I don't have any beliefs or allegiances. I don't believe in this country, I don't believe in religion, or a god, and I don't believe in all these man-made institutional ideas."
MaLor: "No way, Zach. If he said that, he was lying, very possibly to himself."
Sorry to bust yer bubble there MaLor, but he DID say that to Reuters in a 2001 interview. Read the front page post link.
MaLor: "You don't get that angry about the decline of something unless you really care about it."
Or unless you're mad about the fact your entire childhood was A LIE and everyone who you believed in who you cared about were telling you about a god that you later learn doesn't exist. Kinda like the tooth fairy, santa claus, and the easter bunny all rolled up into one and multiplied a couple googleplexes: I'd be fuckin' mad too. In fact, I think I AM.
To those of you favoriting the phrase "At least he's with God now" you DO realize George Carlin, if he could, would come back from the dead for the sole reason of kicking all your asses?
He was is and will be an atheist. So are a lot of other great thinkers and artists and creative types whose words and deeds I've come to respect and admire. But then a lot of people I respect and admire are also Christians, and Jews, and Muslims, and Buddhists.
I loved George Carlin for his perspective. I happen to share it in a lot of ways. In fact I happen to be contemplating atheism, and currently am kinda describing myself as a Deist -- I certainly no longer believe the Baptist pablum that was spoonfed me since childhood.
Still debating what to replace it with.
ArcaneCrowbar said with a straight face that Carlin should be canonized for Christ's sake. Were you guys actually listening to what George said?
Don't belittle or besmirch this man's life and work by pretending he was something he's not. Grant him that much respect.
George Carlin fucking hated religion, and more importantly what human beings did to one another in the name of religion; arguing over which god is the real god, as if any of them would fucking have a clue who God was if He walked up to any of them and asked to bum a smoke.
If there IS a God, I hope to God that George is up there right now, shouting at him like a raging pit bull. I hope George Carlin is tearing Him a new asshole. Everything from Cain slaying Abel to American Idol being renewed for yet another season.
How dare there be a god that allows humanity to fuck itself over this much.
If there were a kind just and fair god, the George Bushes of this world would die, and the George Carlins of this world would live. We live in a universe in which god has a serious fucking sick sense of humor. He lets the Bushes and the Simpsons and the Tyra Banks' of this world live and prosper, and he takes this man away from us.
Fuck God for taking Carlin away from us!
i miss him already.
=(
posted by ZachsMind at 11:48 PM on June 22, 2008 [13 favorites]
Me quoting from the Front Page Post link:
"I don't have any beliefs or allegiances. I don't believe in this country, I don't believe in religion, or a god, and I don't believe in all these man-made institutional ideas."
MaLor: "No way, Zach. If he said that, he was lying, very possibly to himself."
Sorry to bust yer bubble there MaLor, but he DID say that to Reuters in a 2001 interview. Read the front page post link.
MaLor: "You don't get that angry about the decline of something unless you really care about it."
Or unless you're mad about the fact your entire childhood was A LIE and everyone who you believed in who you cared about were telling you about a god that you later learn doesn't exist. Kinda like the tooth fairy, santa claus, and the easter bunny all rolled up into one and multiplied a couple googleplexes: I'd be fuckin' mad too. In fact, I think I AM.
To those of you favoriting the phrase "At least he's with God now" you DO realize George Carlin, if he could, would come back from the dead for the sole reason of kicking all your asses?
He was is and will be an atheist. So are a lot of other great thinkers and artists and creative types whose words and deeds I've come to respect and admire. But then a lot of people I respect and admire are also Christians, and Jews, and Muslims, and Buddhists.
I loved George Carlin for his perspective. I happen to share it in a lot of ways. In fact I happen to be contemplating atheism, and currently am kinda describing myself as a Deist -- I certainly no longer believe the Baptist pablum that was spoonfed me since childhood.
Still debating what to replace it with.
ArcaneCrowbar said with a straight face that Carlin should be canonized for Christ's sake. Were you guys actually listening to what George said?
Don't belittle or besmirch this man's life and work by pretending he was something he's not. Grant him that much respect.
George Carlin fucking hated religion, and more importantly what human beings did to one another in the name of religion; arguing over which god is the real god, as if any of them would fucking have a clue who God was if He walked up to any of them and asked to bum a smoke.
If there IS a God, I hope to God that George is up there right now, shouting at him like a raging pit bull. I hope George Carlin is tearing Him a new asshole. Everything from Cain slaying Abel to American Idol being renewed for yet another season.
How dare there be a god that allows humanity to fuck itself over this much.
If there were a kind just and fair god, the George Bushes of this world would die, and the George Carlins of this world would live. We live in a universe in which god has a serious fucking sick sense of humor. He lets the Bushes and the Simpsons and the Tyra Banks' of this world live and prosper, and he takes this man away from us.
Fuck God for taking Carlin away from us!
i miss him already.
=(
posted by ZachsMind at 11:48 PM on June 22, 2008 [13 favorites]
.
posted by podwarrior at 11:50 PM on June 22, 2008
posted by podwarrior at 11:50 PM on June 22, 2008
Oh man, I can't watch Thomas the Train with my nephews for a while...
Sad day....
posted by Kimothy at 11:51 PM on June 22, 2008
Sad day....
posted by Kimothy at 11:51 PM on June 22, 2008
Fuck. That's a blow. Carlin was a genius, something I'm confident history will bear out.
One of many, many favorites: "There's a lot of stupid people out there. Look at it this way--think about how stupid the average person is, and realize half of 'em are stupider than that."
There's not much else to say except
.
posted by zardoz at 11:53 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
One of many, many favorites: "There's a lot of stupid people out there. Look at it this way--think about how stupid the average person is, and realize half of 'em are stupider than that."
There's not much else to say except
.
posted by zardoz at 11:53 PM on June 22, 2008 [2 favorites]
To those of you favoriting the phrase "At least he's with God now" you DO realize George Carlin, if he could, would come back from the dead for the sole reason of kicking all your asses?
I'm pretty sure they do realize that.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 11:57 PM on June 22, 2008 [5 favorites]
FuriousXGeorge: "I'm pretty sure they do realize that."
Ah! So we think if we piss his spirit off enough we can get him to come back from the dead? Alright! I'm with dat. So long as we can get the bastard back, cuz we did NOT GIVE HIM PERMISSION TO DIE.
posted by ZachsMind at 12:04 AM on June 23, 2008
Ah! So we think if we piss his spirit off enough we can get him to come back from the dead? Alright! I'm with dat. So long as we can get the bastard back, cuz we did NOT GIVE HIM PERMISSION TO DIE.
posted by ZachsMind at 12:04 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 12:09 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 12:09 AM on June 23, 2008
For someone who claims to not know the history of American humor, you got Carlin pegged pretty well there, Dee. Another comedian you might wanna look into if you're interested in American humor is Lenny Bruce.
I've seen a Seinfeld episode in which Jerry falls for a Romanian gymnast, with all the sort of quasi-sexual implication that (seemingly) is wrapped up in the idea of Romanian gymnasts, at least for American men. And I can't recall precisely what happens, but the twist at the end of this (inevitably failed) relationship is that the Romanian gymnast reveals a personal psychology which invested American comedians with a similar sexual luster.
And do you know what? It's rather true that we Eastern Europeans hold a sort of special place in our hearts for American comedians (not so sexually, though!)
I can be pretty critical of America. But there's a sort of rebellious American spirit that a lot its writer-comedians hold which is particularly entrancing for those of us who weren't raised here. Mark Twain is known throughout Europe, and even I, at a youngish age, had at least some dim awareness of Lenny Bruce before coming here. As far as I know, Bruce didn't do much professionally except write and perform comedic material, and neither me nor most of my fellow Yugoslavs had enough English to know his material, but Lenny Bruce was at least recognized for his maverick elucidation on the incongruities and hypocrisies of the society in which he lived.
And George Carlin, ditto. I really admired Carlin, but as a cultural reference point, he's kind of blank for me. I didn't grow up seeing him, I don't know where he was from or how he started out or anything like that. But what are for me his best characteristics - a willingness to take on powers bigger than himself, an honesty in examining the contradictions in himself and his society, his stunning irreverence to everything, and the beauty, power and cleverness of his language . . . not to mention a really fantastic playfulness in his display of all these things - collectively create a sort of personality that is quintessentially American. And when people outside America's borders come across someone like George Carlin, well, it's hard for even the most cynical anti-American not to admit that, at least American came up with something unique like this.
Tonight I watched a clip of Sean Hannity spoon-feeding his gullible viewers some incredible pap about how America is "the greatest best country God put on the face of the Earth." It was rhetoric far too feeble for even Carlin to have tackled, one assumes. But thinking about it now, it saddens me that this is representative of the voice of America for much of the rest of the world. I know that many of his fans see George Carlin's death as the sad event that it is, but I wonder how many people realize that it's also another toll of the bell for quite a lot of what's so special about America.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 12:09 AM on June 23, 2008 [19 favorites]
I've seen a Seinfeld episode in which Jerry falls for a Romanian gymnast, with all the sort of quasi-sexual implication that (seemingly) is wrapped up in the idea of Romanian gymnasts, at least for American men. And I can't recall precisely what happens, but the twist at the end of this (inevitably failed) relationship is that the Romanian gymnast reveals a personal psychology which invested American comedians with a similar sexual luster.
And do you know what? It's rather true that we Eastern Europeans hold a sort of special place in our hearts for American comedians (not so sexually, though!)
I can be pretty critical of America. But there's a sort of rebellious American spirit that a lot its writer-comedians hold which is particularly entrancing for those of us who weren't raised here. Mark Twain is known throughout Europe, and even I, at a youngish age, had at least some dim awareness of Lenny Bruce before coming here. As far as I know, Bruce didn't do much professionally except write and perform comedic material, and neither me nor most of my fellow Yugoslavs had enough English to know his material, but Lenny Bruce was at least recognized for his maverick elucidation on the incongruities and hypocrisies of the society in which he lived.
And George Carlin, ditto. I really admired Carlin, but as a cultural reference point, he's kind of blank for me. I didn't grow up seeing him, I don't know where he was from or how he started out or anything like that. But what are for me his best characteristics - a willingness to take on powers bigger than himself, an honesty in examining the contradictions in himself and his society, his stunning irreverence to everything, and the beauty, power and cleverness of his language . . . not to mention a really fantastic playfulness in his display of all these things - collectively create a sort of personality that is quintessentially American. And when people outside America's borders come across someone like George Carlin, well, it's hard for even the most cynical anti-American not to admit that, at least American came up with something unique like this.
Tonight I watched a clip of Sean Hannity spoon-feeding his gullible viewers some incredible pap about how America is "the greatest best country God put on the face of the Earth." It was rhetoric far too feeble for even Carlin to have tackled, one assumes. But thinking about it now, it saddens me that this is representative of the voice of America for much of the rest of the world. I know that many of his fans see George Carlin's death as the sad event that it is, but I wonder how many people realize that it's also another toll of the bell for quite a lot of what's so special about America.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 12:09 AM on June 23, 2008 [19 favorites]
Too fucking soon.
(I know he'd put his body through the ringer and back again, but I am still shocked by this news.)
posted by squasha at 12:11 AM on June 23, 2008
(I know he'd put his body through the ringer and back again, but I am still shocked by this news.)
posted by squasha at 12:11 AM on June 23, 2008
My wife and I went to see Carlin in Columbus, Ohio last year... once we got there (a 90 minute drive), we found that Carlin had been snowed in elsewhere and could not make the show. Rather that reschedule, we got our money back and hoped we'd catch him again this year.
Luckily, we got to see him perform previously about 12 years ago, and it still remains the greatest comedy show I have ever seen, particularly because we seemed to be surrounded by people who were disgusted by Carlin's religious material. Ahhh, good times!
I kinda felt the end was near while watching his most recent HBO special. While his material was strong, his delivery was weak, I thought - he appeared to stumble a few times, almost forget where he was going, and I thought that maybe he was starting to lose his memory... but still, he pulled it all together in the end...
He will be missed - there will be nobody else quite like him.
posted by newfers at 12:15 AM on June 23, 2008
Luckily, we got to see him perform previously about 12 years ago, and it still remains the greatest comedy show I have ever seen, particularly because we seemed to be surrounded by people who were disgusted by Carlin's religious material. Ahhh, good times!
I kinda felt the end was near while watching his most recent HBO special. While his material was strong, his delivery was weak, I thought - he appeared to stumble a few times, almost forget where he was going, and I thought that maybe he was starting to lose his memory... but still, he pulled it all together in the end...
He will be missed - there will be nobody else quite like him.
posted by newfers at 12:15 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by LinusMines at 12:17 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by LinusMines at 12:17 AM on June 23, 2008
"'...or until you reach wherever your final destination might be.' All destinations are final. You haven't gotten where you are going...you aren't there yet." While I have other favorite lines, this one taken from his skit about airline travel always stayed with me and was, sadly, the first thing I thought of when I heard the news.
And I'm so with you ZachsMind. I've lost too many heroes this year, let's bring that bastard back.
Please.
posted by miss-lapin at 12:19 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
And I'm so with you ZachsMind. I've lost too many heroes this year, let's bring that bastard back.
Please.
posted by miss-lapin at 12:19 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Fuck.
.
I told a random stranger to fuck off last night, in the nicest, politest way. She was shocked. She richly deserved it, so richly. I'd never have done it without George Carlin, and it definitely had a strong effect on her. And I was extremely polite. ("What did you say?" "Oh, sorry, I said, 'Fuck off!'")
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 12:26 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
.
I told a random stranger to fuck off last night, in the nicest, politest way. She was shocked. She richly deserved it, so richly. I'd never have done it without George Carlin, and it definitely had a strong effect on her. And I was extremely polite. ("What did you say?" "Oh, sorry, I said, 'Fuck off!'")
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 12:26 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
I've been dripping fucking tears all over my math homework ever since I found out about this.
Damn it, damn it, damn it.
.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 12:29 AM on June 23, 2008
Damn it, damn it, damn it.
.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 12:29 AM on June 23, 2008
wow...I've been listening to him regularly on shoutcast comedy streams...
It's sad news.
RIP Mr. Carlin, you've made me laugh again and again.
posted by rmmcclay at 12:29 AM on June 23, 2008
It's sad news.
RIP Mr. Carlin, you've made me laugh again and again.
posted by rmmcclay at 12:29 AM on June 23, 2008
One of my all-time favourites by George Carlin, which was shortly after his first wife died back in 1997 -- I've kept on my computer all these years now as I've always thought it such an appropriate reminder of the important things in life:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
RIP George, you codgy and wise old fart, you'll be missed by more people than you could ever have thought possible...
posted by Jade Dragon at 12:34 AM on June 23, 2008 [20 favorites]
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
RIP George, you codgy and wise old fart, you'll be missed by more people than you could ever have thought possible...
posted by Jade Dragon at 12:34 AM on June 23, 2008 [20 favorites]
“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.
posted by netbros at 12:40 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by netbros at 12:40 AM on June 23, 2008
Wow, this caught me by surprise.
And right now he's laughing, because he wasn't on anyone's dead pool.
posted by bwg at 12:43 AM on June 23, 2008
And right now he's laughing, because he wasn't on anyone's dead pool.
posted by bwg at 12:43 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by felix betachat at 12:55 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by felix betachat at 12:55 AM on June 23, 2008
ZachsMind, you DO realize George Carlin, if he could, would come back from the dead for the sole reason of teaching you what irony is?
posted by heffalump at 12:56 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by heffalump at 12:56 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
Um ... Jade Dragon. Snope Phone's ringing.
posted by RavinDave at 12:58 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by RavinDave at 12:58 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 12:59 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by YoBananaBoy at 12:59 AM on June 23, 2008
.
This really sucks. I saw him last October and he was just a feisty as ever. I'm really glad I got that chance to see him live.
"White people oughta understand their job is to give people the blues, not to get them."
posted by C17H19NO3 at 1:10 AM on June 23, 2008
This really sucks. I saw him last October and he was just a feisty as ever. I'm really glad I got that chance to see him live.
"White people oughta understand their job is to give people the blues, not to get them."
posted by C17H19NO3 at 1:10 AM on June 23, 2008
Um ... Jade Dragon. Snope Phone's ringing.
Yeah, I was going to say that that didn't sound like Carlin at all, even back in his hippie-hair days. Sounds a little more like one of those things that would make him angry.
Of course, that was a pretty long list.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:17 AM on June 23, 2008
Yeah, I was going to say that that didn't sound like Carlin at all, even back in his hippie-hair days. Sounds a little more like one of those things that would make him angry.
Of course, that was a pretty long list.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:17 AM on June 23, 2008
Actually to be brutally honest Heffalump, he'd come back from the dead for the sole reason of ripping my head off and shitting down my neck.
Oh, and by the way, just in case anyone didn't already know this? George Carlin does not get to die!
posted by ZachsMind at 1:31 AM on June 23, 2008
Oh, and by the way, just in case anyone didn't already know this? George Carlin does not get to die!
posted by ZachsMind at 1:31 AM on June 23, 2008
ZachsMind - the "he's with God now" thing was ironic.
Tonight's forecast... dark. Tomorrow, dark, and more dark after that. It's pretty fucking dark, folks; I don't think there's anyone left.
posted by tzikeh at 1:35 AM on June 23, 2008
Tonight's forecast... dark. Tomorrow, dark, and more dark after that. It's pretty fucking dark, folks; I don't think there's anyone left.
posted by tzikeh at 1:35 AM on June 23, 2008
I think that the most amazing thing about the guy was how boldly prolific he was; never falling back on old material. He pushed himself and his craft very hard; much harder than most comics... it was all his own stuff.
His wisdom was his comedy, in a strange way.
A life well lived, by all accounts.
Wiki stuff:
Carlin also introduced the "Two Commandments", a revised "pocket-sized" list of the Ten Commandments in his HBO special Complaints and Grievances, ending with the additional commandment of "Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself."
posted by chuckdarwin at 1:37 AM on June 23, 2008 [5 favorites]
His wisdom was his comedy, in a strange way.
A life well lived, by all accounts.
Wiki stuff:
Carlin also introduced the "Two Commandments", a revised "pocket-sized" list of the Ten Commandments in his HBO special Complaints and Grievances, ending with the additional commandment of "Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself."
"I look at it this way... For centuries now, man has done everything he can to destroy, defile, and interfere with nature: clear-cutting forests, strip-mining mountains, poisoning the atmosphere, over-fishing the oceans, polluting the rivers and lakes, destroying wetlands and aquifers... so when nature strikes back, and smacks him on the head and kicks him in the nuts, I enjoy that. I have absolutely no sympathy for human beings whatsoever. None. And no matter what kind of problem humans are facing, whether it's natural or man-made, I always hope it gets worse."The man had some brass bollocks on him, you have to give him his due.
posted by chuckdarwin at 1:37 AM on June 23, 2008 [5 favorites]
"ZachsMind - the 'he's with God now' thing was ironic. "
No shit. Really? I never woulda guessed! Thank you for straightening me out. I had no idea what irony is until you explained it to me. Now I can die a happy guy!
You do realize I'm an asshole, a jackoff, AND a scumbag, don't you?
posted by ZachsMind at 1:53 AM on June 23, 2008
No shit. Really? I never woulda guessed! Thank you for straightening me out. I had no idea what irony is until you explained it to me. Now I can die a happy guy!
You do realize I'm an asshole, a jackoff, AND a scumbag, don't you?
posted by ZachsMind at 1:53 AM on June 23, 2008
Tah Rah de boom dee yay,
did you get yours today?
I got mine yesterday,
that's why I walk this way.
Once randomly caught his show in Austin, minutes before it started, because they had
one seat left front and center. Made my life.
.
posted by gcbv at 1:58 AM on June 23, 2008
did you get yours today?
I got mine yesterday,
that's why I walk this way.
Once randomly caught his show in Austin, minutes before it started, because they had
one seat left front and center. Made my life.
.
posted by gcbv at 1:58 AM on June 23, 2008
No shit. Really? I never woulda guessed!
Oh-kay, then. Only because you jumped on the people favoriting it, so it seemed like you'd missed... and I should have read on preview that heffalump had already pointed it out to you, but... y'know. Skip that bit and come snap at me. Heck, up til now, nobody had been rude to anybody--is this possibly a Blue record for length of thread before someone railed on someone else all out of proportion to reason?
I'm trying to come up with a witty way to link this to Carlin, but I'm too tired, and too sad.
posted by tzikeh at 2:12 AM on June 23, 2008
Oh-kay, then. Only because you jumped on the people favoriting it, so it seemed like you'd missed... and I should have read on preview that heffalump had already pointed it out to you, but... y'know. Skip that bit and come snap at me. Heck, up til now, nobody had been rude to anybody--is this possibly a Blue record for length of thread before someone railed on someone else all out of proportion to reason?
I'm trying to come up with a witty way to link this to Carlin, but I'm too tired, and too sad.
posted by tzikeh at 2:12 AM on June 23, 2008
One more thing, then I'm going to bed.
If I were to bother getting my ass out of bed this November to vote, it would be to write in George Carlin on the ballot. Fuck hope.
This country is finished. Carlin endorsed this MSNBC show, probably cuz they let him be on it to sell his wares. One could argue that was hypocritical of George. One could argue that it was foolish. One could also argue that it was capitalism at work. George needed a place to put his face and tell people to buy his stuff. MSNBC was available. George would diss politics and the media at every opportunity, but still needed these things in order to peddle his goods and as inspiration so he could have stuff to make fun of. Is THAT ironic?
Or maybe deep down in his heart he is was and ever shall be a diehard devoted irish Catholic, loved God with all his heart despite what he told people on stage every Saturday night, and in private he did attend Sunday mass regularly with his family, and no one outside a select few knew? Would THAT be ironic?
posted by ZachsMind at 2:14 AM on June 23, 2008
If I were to bother getting my ass out of bed this November to vote, it would be to write in George Carlin on the ballot. Fuck hope.
This country is finished. Carlin endorsed this MSNBC show, probably cuz they let him be on it to sell his wares. One could argue that was hypocritical of George. One could argue that it was foolish. One could also argue that it was capitalism at work. George needed a place to put his face and tell people to buy his stuff. MSNBC was available. George would diss politics and the media at every opportunity, but still needed these things in order to peddle his goods and as inspiration so he could have stuff to make fun of. Is THAT ironic?
Or maybe deep down in his heart he is was and ever shall be a diehard devoted irish Catholic, loved God with all his heart despite what he told people on stage every Saturday night, and in private he did attend Sunday mass regularly with his family, and no one outside a select few knew? Would THAT be ironic?
posted by ZachsMind at 2:14 AM on June 23, 2008
"I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a guy nailed to two pieces of wood."
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:24 AM on June 23, 2008 [5 favorites]
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:24 AM on June 23, 2008 [5 favorites]
"I don't have any beliefs or allegiances. I don't believe in this country, I don't believe in religion, or a god, and I don't believe in all these man-made institutional ideas."
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:27 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:27 AM on June 23, 2008
"Religion convinced the world that there's an invisible man in the sky who watches everything you do. And there's 10 things he doesn't want you to do or else you'll go to a burning place with a lake of fire until the end of eternity. But he loves you! ...And he needs money! He's all powerful, but he can't handle money!"
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:27 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:27 AM on June 23, 2008
Toledo Window Box was the first comedy record I ever bought when I was a kid and I listened to that record, along with An Evening With Wally Londo, endlessly. To this day, each time I make sandwich I think of that bit where he says (paraphrasing) "you know when you reach down into the pack of bread you always skip the first few slices. Why do we do that? It's kind of like a survival of the fittest thing (in sarcastic voice) "let MY FAMILY eat the shit bread!""
He'll be missed.
posted by gfrobe at 2:35 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
He'll be missed.
posted by gfrobe at 2:35 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
"The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."
posted by C17H19NO3 at 2:44 AM on June 23, 2008 [17 favorites]
posted by C17H19NO3 at 2:44 AM on June 23, 2008 [17 favorites]
I'm fighting the desire to go to a young woman's funeral to ask the bereaved if they won't consider donating her pussy to those who can't get any...
I think I'll just get drunk and not vote in the run off election here tomorrow instead.
posted by crataegus at 2:45 AM on June 23, 2008
I think I'll just get drunk and not vote in the run off election here tomorrow instead.
posted by crataegus at 2:45 AM on June 23, 2008
First Vonnegut, now Carlin. If Andy Rooney dies there will be no one left to mis-attribute our email quotes to!
This is a sad day; I'd like to interject a profanity-laden rant in his honor, but I'm just not up to it.
posted by TedW at 2:50 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
This is a sad day; I'd like to interject a profanity-laden rant in his honor, but I'm just not up to it.
posted by TedW at 2:50 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
His bit on airport security is a little dated after 9/11 though.
Oh no, it isn't. Oh no, it isn't.
posted by mcwetboy at 2:55 AM on June 23, 2008
Oh no, it isn't. Oh no, it isn't.
posted by mcwetboy at 2:55 AM on June 23, 2008
George Carlin Concert Performances Available on the Web:
On Location: George Carlin at USC (1977)
Carlin on Campus (1984)
What Am I Doing in New Jersey? (1988)
Doin' It Again (1990)
Jammin' in New York (1992)
Back in Town (1996)
You Are All Diseased (1999)
Complaints and Grievances (2001)
Life Is Worth Losing (2005)
posted by New Frontier at 2:57 AM on June 23, 2008 [22 favorites]
On Location: George Carlin at USC (1977)
Carlin on Campus (1984)
What Am I Doing in New Jersey? (1988)
Doin' It Again (1990)
Jammin' in New York (1992)
Back in Town (1996)
You Are All Diseased (1999)
Complaints and Grievances (2001)
Life Is Worth Losing (2005)
posted by New Frontier at 2:57 AM on June 23, 2008 [22 favorites]
I loved George Carlin for his staunch atheism (as mentioned above), and particularly for his bit about people who believe in angels:
"What is all this shit about angels? Have you heard this? Three out of four people believe in angels. Are you fucking stupid? Has everybody lost their mind? . . . And what about zombies? . . . I say if you're going to go for the angel bullshit you might as well go for the zombie package as well."
I was a newly "out" atheist when I heard this the first time, and it me laugh until I cried.
posted by theredpen at 3:22 AM on June 23, 2008 [5 favorites]
"What is all this shit about angels? Have you heard this? Three out of four people believe in angels. Are you fucking stupid? Has everybody lost their mind? . . . And what about zombies? . . . I say if you're going to go for the angel bullshit you might as well go for the zombie package as well."
I was a newly "out" atheist when I heard this the first time, and it me laugh until I cried.
posted by theredpen at 3:22 AM on June 23, 2008 [5 favorites]
Have you ever noticed their stuff is shit and your shit is stuff?
.
posted by elfgirl at 3:24 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by elfgirl at 3:24 AM on June 23, 2008
While looking for that quote, I found this page, which also included:
"Instead of school busing and prayer in schools, which are both controversial, why not a joint solution? Prayer in buses. Just drive these kids around all day and let them pray their fuckin´ empty little heads off."
Awful. And awesome!
posted by theredpen at 3:29 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
"Instead of school busing and prayer in schools, which are both controversial, why not a joint solution? Prayer in buses. Just drive these kids around all day and let them pray their fuckin´ empty little heads off."
Awful. And awesome!
posted by theredpen at 3:29 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
Her performed just last weekend. He was scheduled to get the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in November. The Imus Show is like a funeral this morning; both Bernard McGurk and Lou Rufino were pretty close to Carlin.
posted by RavinDave at 3:37 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by RavinDave at 3:37 AM on June 23, 2008
I woke up this this news this morning, and it hit me like a brick in the face.
George, you meant so very much to so very many of us, you will be sorely missed.
Say hi to Lenny, Sam, Rodney and Brother Theodore for me.
•
posted by dbiedny at 3:46 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
George, you meant so very much to so very many of us, you will be sorely missed.
Say hi to Lenny, Sam, Rodney and Brother Theodore for me.
•
posted by dbiedny at 3:46 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
.
posted by about_time at 3:47 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by about_time at 3:47 AM on June 23, 2008
My favorite is I used to be an Irish Catholic.
Farewell, George.
Now you can finally find out if God is omnipotent could He make a rock so big He couldn't lift it.
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 4:05 AM on June 23, 2008
Farewell, George.
Now you can finally find out if God is omnipotent could He make a rock so big He couldn't lift it.
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 4:05 AM on June 23, 2008
Woke up at three a.m., turned on the tv and this was on. I just lay there crying. The Hippy Dippy Weatherman. It will be dark tonight, with no increasing light toward morning. Gonna do my best to eat nothing but blue food all day.
posted by nax at 4:06 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by nax at 4:06 AM on June 23, 2008
George Carlin was really, really great and a favorite in my family. This makes me feel terrible, as though my favorite uncle has died.
"It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it."
posted by mewithoutyou at 4:11 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
"It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it."
posted by mewithoutyou at 4:11 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
FM & AM was the first comedy album I ever heard. I'm not even sure what to say.
Shit. I loved that guy.
posted by blixco at 4:17 AM on June 23, 2008
Shit. I loved that guy.
posted by blixco at 4:17 AM on June 23, 2008
Fuck fuck fuck fuck. He was just here, tits and fucks behind him!
This really sucks cunt.
.
posted by ifthe21stcentury at 4:19 AM on June 23, 2008
This really sucks cunt.
.
posted by ifthe21stcentury at 4:19 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by mygoditsbob at 4:21 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by mygoditsbob at 4:21 AM on June 23, 2008
And now a message from the National Apple Council: "Fuck pears."
posted by nicwolff at 2:17 AM on June 23
I first heard this joke in a cabin in Wisconsin when I was 13 years old and it blew my mind.
R.I.P., George.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 4:32 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by nicwolff at 2:17 AM on June 23
I first heard this joke in a cabin in Wisconsin when I was 13 years old and it blew my mind.
R.I.P., George.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 4:32 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
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posted by sunshinesky at 4:39 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by sunshinesky at 4:39 AM on June 23, 2008
Dee Xtrovert: ... George Carlin's material seems even funnier and more intriguing today. I don't know the history of American humor, but with his wit, social commentary and willingness to tackle divisive topics candidly, he seemed more like a Mark Twain figure than a "stand-up comedian."
Don't know if anyone's commented on this yet, but last week it was announced he was to be awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humour by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
I'm really gonna miss that guy.
posted by Koko at 4:43 AM on June 23, 2008
Don't know if anyone's commented on this yet, but last week it was announced he was to be awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humour by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
I'm really gonna miss that guy.
posted by Koko at 4:43 AM on June 23, 2008
Somebody did comment on that, but I never commented back. Interesting - if only my powers extended to calling lottery numbers, then we'd all be in business!
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 4:48 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 4:48 AM on June 23, 2008
"In football the object is for the quarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz, even if he has to use the shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy's defensive line.
In baseball the object is to go home!"
Go Home, you brilliantly sick motherfucker. I'll miss you.
posted by jonmc at 4:50 AM on June 23, 2008
In baseball the object is to go home!"
Go Home, you brilliantly sick motherfucker. I'll miss you.
posted by jonmc at 4:50 AM on June 23, 2008
"We're gonna fuck you now, sheriff. But we're a-gonna fuck you slow....."
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posted by mmahaffie at 4:57 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
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posted by mmahaffie at 4:57 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
Awful news to get in the morning. Sorry to see you go, George. You were truly one of the best.
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posted by purephase at 5:02 AM on June 23, 2008
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posted by purephase at 5:02 AM on June 23, 2008
I saw him visiting once with Johnny Carson after his routine and they talked a bit...it turned out he had worked with the Firesign Theater guys under the table. He was a genius,
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posted by RussHy at 5:02 AM on June 23, 2008
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posted by RussHy at 5:02 AM on June 23, 2008
"You know the one thing we don't talk about much anymore? PUSSY FARTS!"
I saw him in Vegas in 2000, and he opened with that line. I will miss him.
posted by Fat Elvis at 5:05 AM on June 23, 2008
I saw him in Vegas in 2000, and he opened with that line. I will miss him.
posted by Fat Elvis at 5:05 AM on June 23, 2008
Worth noting that his material didn't just flow out of him, he worked really hard creating it.
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:07 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:07 AM on June 23, 2008
What a shitty way to start the week.As long as I can remember I've been laughing my ass off at George Carlin.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 5:08 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 5:08 AM on June 23, 2008
Yeah, JohnMC. Seven Words will get all the attention, but Baseball and Football is almost as famous, I think.
Bad news to wake up to on a Monday, wow.
.
posted by rokusan at 5:10 AM on June 23, 2008
Bad news to wake up to on a Monday, wow.
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posted by rokusan at 5:10 AM on June 23, 2008
Man that book club piece is a real sidesplitter. Even well into his 60's he was as crazy as ever (and in a good way). Will be missed, without doubt.
I have no idea if there's anybody around to fill these shoes... world needs a laugh, right?
R.I.P. George, you magnificent bastard.
posted by phylum sinter at 5:15 AM on June 23, 2008
I have no idea if there's anybody around to fill these shoes... world needs a laugh, right?
R.I.P. George, you magnificent bastard.
posted by phylum sinter at 5:15 AM on June 23, 2008
Carlin did a (fairly) recent episode of XM Comedy's "Unmasked" - live audience interview format, and definitely worth seeking out.
shit
posted by ersatzkat at 5:17 AM on June 23, 2008
shit
posted by ersatzkat at 5:17 AM on June 23, 2008
I was hoping this was just a minor freak accident.
.
posted by tommasz at 5:19 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
.
posted by tommasz at 5:19 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
In a few moments, I will get up from this chair and drive to work, but in a mechanical kind of way, knowing that just a little bit of the joy and laughter has been sucked out of the rest of my life.
Fuck.
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:21 AM on June 23, 2008
Fuck.
posted by Devils Rancher at 5:21 AM on June 23, 2008
sows speckled seeds
posted by longsleeves at 5:21 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by longsleeves at 5:21 AM on June 23, 2008
In a few moments, I will get up from this chair and drive to work, but in a mechanical kind of way, knowing that just a little bit of the joy and laughter has been sucked out of the rest of my life.
Laugh!
posted by longsleeves at 5:24 AM on June 23, 2008
I hope you enjoy your big comfy seat next to god, you magnificent bastard.
posted by jcterminal at 5:26 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by jcterminal at 5:26 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by cyrusdogstar at 5:28 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by cyrusdogstar at 5:28 AM on June 23, 2008
"You ever get that thing where you eat ice cream too fast, and you get that headache, and you have to wait for the headache to go away, and then, whaddya do? Eh? EAT MORE FUCKIN' ICE CREAM! What, are ya fuckin' STUPID?"
Genius for far greater lines than that on far more important topics, but that one still gets me every time.
posted by LondonYank at 5:28 AM on June 23, 2008
Genius for far greater lines than that on far more important topics, but that one still gets me every time.
posted by LondonYank at 5:28 AM on June 23, 2008
Sigh. Sad news indeed.
Thanks for the laughs George.
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posted by a3matrix at 5:31 AM on June 23, 2008
Thanks for the laughs George.
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posted by a3matrix at 5:31 AM on June 23, 2008
On Inside the Actor's Studio, when asked If Heaven exists, what would he like to hear God say when he arrives at the pearly gates. George Carlin's answer was, "Now we're going to have some fun around here."
Hear, hear.
posted by czechmate at 5:37 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
Hear, hear.
posted by czechmate at 5:37 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
I sent my sinuses to Arizona
I sent my liver to Peru
I sent my lungs and my kidney for the summer to Sydney
But I'm sendin' my heart to you...
I had the entire Wonderful WINO (in Western Walla Walla) routine memorized in the 5th grade. I learned early on the benefits and problems of being the Class Clown, especially when I got to the nursery rhymes part of Toledo Window Box.
Dammit, I hate hate hate making the "X is dead while Y lives on" statements, but there's no justice in the world if Carlos Mencia lives while George Carlin lies dead. NO JUSTICE I TELLS YA.
posted by Spatch at 5:42 AM on June 23, 2008
I sent my liver to Peru
I sent my lungs and my kidney for the summer to Sydney
But I'm sendin' my heart to you...
I had the entire Wonderful WINO (in Western Walla Walla) routine memorized in the 5th grade. I learned early on the benefits and problems of being the Class Clown, especially when I got to the nursery rhymes part of Toledo Window Box.
Dammit, I hate hate hate making the "X is dead while Y lives on" statements, but there's no justice in the world if Carlos Mencia lives while George Carlin lies dead. NO JUSTICE I TELLS YA.
posted by Spatch at 5:42 AM on June 23, 2008
When I won the National Spelling Bee in 1986, I got to go on the Johnny Carson Show on the same night that George Carlin was a guest, so I got to shake George Carlin's hand while he was sitting in the make-up chair I can confirm that he is a nice guy and a mensch in person as well. Since Carlin's routine was much cleaner on the Carson Show and my Mom didn't have any idea how "blue" his comedy could get, they eventually took me to see George Carlin live in Harrisburg. Needless to say, my mother was informed very quickly how central profane language was to Carlin's act. Fortunately, my mother was a good sport allowed me to see the whole performance. I kind of viewed it as poetic justice for the time my Mom dragged me to an Up with People concert at the same venue.
posted by jonp72 at 5:53 AM on June 23, 2008 [10 favorites]
posted by jonp72 at 5:53 AM on June 23, 2008 [10 favorites]
George Carlin had a pretty solid career. Put any of his albums or specials next to any of the others, and you'll find that they're all very cohesive and very consistent and timeless. He didn't really change much at all in forty years. It's odd to see that constant flow stop so suddenly.
.
(Mr Conductor, though, will never truly be dead as long as Ringo's still kicking around.)
posted by Sys Rq at 5:57 AM on June 23, 2008
.
(Mr Conductor, though, will never truly be dead as long as Ringo's still kicking around.)
posted by Sys Rq at 5:57 AM on June 23, 2008
.
I bet this thread is going to drive Navelgazer apeshit. 230 comments! why can't those fucks just stay alive!
posted by krautland at 5:59 AM on June 23, 2008
I bet this thread is going to drive Navelgazer apeshit. 230 comments! why can't those fucks just stay alive!
posted by krautland at 5:59 AM on June 23, 2008
"We're gonna kill ya sheriff. But we're gonna kill ya slow."
posted by zzazazz at 6:02 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by zzazazz at 6:02 AM on June 23, 2008
this totally sucks.
I listen to George Carlin on my iPod to make it through the day without killing my coworkers or losing my mind. :(
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 6:09 AM on June 23, 2008
I listen to George Carlin on my iPod to make it through the day without killing my coworkers or losing my mind. :(
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 6:09 AM on June 23, 2008
I still love to hear it, said with obvious glee - "Ferrrr-berger!"
His timing was always impeccable, and considering the shit we're all gonna taste in the next couple months, he showed that timing once again.
posted by notsnot at 6:14 AM on June 23, 2008
His timing was always impeccable, and considering the shit we're all gonna taste in the next couple months, he showed that timing once again.
posted by notsnot at 6:14 AM on June 23, 2008
rokusan: "Yeah, JohnMC. Seven Words will get all the attention, but Baseball and Football is almost as famous, I think.
Bad news to wake up to on a Monday, wow.
."
I read a transcript of that bit this morning and it was amusing but not LOL and now I just watched the link you posted and it's amazing how much his performance adds to it. The class is missing its best clown. .
posted by octothorpe at 6:16 AM on June 23, 2008
Bad news to wake up to on a Monday, wow.
."
I read a transcript of that bit this morning and it was amusing but not LOL and now I just watched the link you posted and it's amazing how much his performance adds to it. The class is missing its best clown. .
posted by octothorpe at 6:16 AM on June 23, 2008
Stay classy Yahoo, posting a "What?" expression of Carlin on the top of your page to announce he's dead.
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posted by cavalier at 6:17 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by cavalier at 6:17 AM on June 23, 2008
Oh, and,
Two in the mouth, boy-oh. Two in the mouth! [knock knock]
posted by cavalier at 6:20 AM on June 23, 2008
Two in the mouth, boy-oh. Two in the mouth! [knock knock]
posted by cavalier at 6:20 AM on June 23, 2008
Goodbye, unproductive airman. You'll be sorely missed.
posted by Nabubrush at 6:21 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by Nabubrush at 6:21 AM on June 23, 2008
Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits.
posted by Skorgu at 6:22 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by Skorgu at 6:22 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by Debaser626 at 6:24 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by Debaser626 at 6:24 AM on June 23, 2008
the world makes a little less fucking sense right now.
.
posted by _dario at 6:25 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by _dario at 6:25 AM on June 23, 2008
"post your favorite quotes and routines of his. "
Fuck you, you can't tell me what to do!
There is, however, this.
posted by Eideteker at 6:31 AM on June 23, 2008
Fuck you, you can't tell me what to do!
There is, however, this.
posted by Eideteker at 6:31 AM on June 23, 2008
There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.
- George Carlin
posted by arimathea at 6:32 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
- George Carlin
posted by arimathea at 6:32 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
And "tits" doesn't even belong on the list! It's such a friendly word!
Just the other day I read that Carlin was supposed to receive some sort of lifetime achievement award and thought to myself "He's probably thinking 'you mean the you're gonna die soon, so here's an award award'," but I didn't think he'd try to sucker them at their own game. I guess he showed them.
Rest well, funny man.
posted by briank at 6:33 AM on June 23, 2008
Just the other day I read that Carlin was supposed to receive some sort of lifetime achievement award and thought to myself "He's probably thinking 'you mean the you're gonna die soon, so here's an award award'," but I didn't think he'd try to sucker them at their own game. I guess he showed them.
Rest well, funny man.
posted by briank at 6:33 AM on June 23, 2008
"We still have Wanda Sykes."
Great, two reasons to be upset this morning.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:37 AM on June 23, 2008 [4 favorites]
Great, two reasons to be upset this morning.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:37 AM on June 23, 2008 [4 favorites]
"There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls."
Goddamnit, George. Don't leave us here in the dark.
Also guys, it's cunt fuck, not fuck cunt. How hard it is to get that right?
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:41 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Goddamnit, George. Don't leave us here in the dark.
Also guys, it's cunt fuck, not fuck cunt. How hard it is to get that right?
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:41 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
all i know is that carlin has been a constant in my life since i was a teenager. his political observations were spot on and he was funny as hell. it's a tremendous loss.
posted by msconduct at 6:43 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by msconduct at 6:43 AM on June 23, 2008
I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older; then it dawned on me - they're cramming for their final exam.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a guy nailed to two pieces of wood.
Thank you Mr. Carlin for providing insight and humor in such a fucked up world.
posted by dasheekeejones at 6:43 AM on June 23, 2008
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
I would never want to be a member of a group whose symbol was a guy nailed to two pieces of wood.
Thank you Mr. Carlin for providing insight and humor in such a fucked up world.
posted by dasheekeejones at 6:43 AM on June 23, 2008
"cuz' I don't have pet peeves, I have major psychotic fucking hatreds!"
And it was those hatreds that gave us laughs and made us think.
.
posted by shoebox at 6:44 AM on June 23, 2008
And it was those hatreds that gave us laughs and made us think.
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posted by shoebox at 6:44 AM on June 23, 2008
We need far more plain speaking bastards and far fewer spit shining assholes. I'm sorry for me, George, and sorry for the rest of us that you're not here to paint our verbal excrecens--- BULLSHIT as you did so adeptly before.
Still feel pretty strongly that if our systems of government held an official Jester position, that George should have been it. And still feel pretty strongly that any system of government that can't abide a Jester is fundamentally flawed.
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:44 AM on June 23, 2008
Still feel pretty strongly that if our systems of government held an official Jester position, that George should have been it. And still feel pretty strongly that any system of government that can't abide a Jester is fundamentally flawed.
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:44 AM on June 23, 2008
I'll wash your mouth out with soap.
I'll blow bubbles out my ass!!!
there ya go. sorry you had to wait so long, pracowity
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 6:45 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'll blow bubbles out my ass!!!
there ya go. sorry you had to wait so long, pracowity
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 6:45 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
"The two big mistakes were the belief in a sky god - that there's a man in the sky with 10 things he doesn't want you to do and you'll burn for a long time if you do them - and private property, which I think is at the core of our failure as a species. That's the source of my indignations, my dissatisfactions, however it comes out on the stage. I feel betrayed by the people I'm part of, these creatures, these magnificent creatures."
- Carlin, Orange County Register, March 1997
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:53 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
- Carlin, Orange County Register, March 1997
posted by CunningLinguist at 6:53 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
[expletive deleted]
posted by kirkaracha at 7:00 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by kirkaracha at 7:00 AM on June 23, 2008
Awww, batshit.
posted by ohcanireally at 7:02 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by ohcanireally at 7:02 AM on June 23, 2008
I heard about this on the radio on my way in to work this morning. My immediate thought was "Fuck this fucking world." I think Carlin would have approved of that.
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posted by cerebus19 at 7:02 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by cerebus19 at 7:02 AM on June 23, 2008
I grew up in the late 70s and early 80s listening to my mom's Carlin and Cosby 8-tracks. *KACHUNK*
Carlin and Dennis Leary kept me sane during college, and Bill Hicks tempered that humor once I was out in the real world.
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posted by mrbill at 7:04 AM on June 23, 2008
Carlin and Dennis Leary kept me sane during college, and Bill Hicks tempered that humor once I was out in the real world.
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posted by mrbill at 7:04 AM on June 23, 2008
I am not very familiar with Carlin's work, but one thing he said really stuck with me. I'll paraphrase: "I am a pragmatist, when people ask me if the glass is half full or half empty, I reply by telling them the glass is twice as large as it needs to be."
I heard that as a little kid, and that shit still cracks me up. It is how I respond when people ask me that very silly little question. I always cite him, though. I can't take credit for that gem myself.
posted by msali at 7:08 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
I heard that as a little kid, and that shit still cracks me up. It is how I respond when people ask me that very silly little question. I always cite him, though. I can't take credit for that gem myself.
posted by msali at 7:08 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
FUCK YOU DAD I'M GETTING IN THE PLANE
posted by WolfDaddy at 7:11 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by WolfDaddy at 7:11 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
Shit, that sucks. I always liked how he was so very good at putting things in perspective; his work with words and euphemisms has been mentioned, but I also liked his take on environmentalism:
posted by PontifexPrimus at 7:11 AM on June 23, 2008 [4 favorites]
"The planet has been through a lot worse than us. Been through all kinds of things worse than us. Been through earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics, continental drift, solar flares, sun spots, magnetic storms, the magnetic reversal of the poles...hundreds of thousands of years of bombardment by comets and asteroids and meteors, worlwide floods, tidal waves, worldwide fires, erosion, cosmic rays, recurring ice ages...And we think some plastic bags, and some aluminum cans are going to make a difference? The planet...the planet...the planet isn't going anywhere. WE ARE!Just says it all, really. Makes me smile to think that he'd probably be amused that we care one iota about the death of one more of those insignificant creatures crawling on this earth...
We're going away. Pack your shit, folks. We're going away. And we won't leave much of a trace, either. Thank God for that. Maybe a little styrofoam. Maybe. A little styrofoam. The planet'll be here and we'll be long gone. Just another failed mutation. Just another closed-end biological mistake. An evolutionary cul-de-sac. The planet'll shake us off like a bad case of fleas. A surface nuisance."
posted by PontifexPrimus at 7:11 AM on June 23, 2008 [4 favorites]
I think my favorite bit is from Life is Diseased when he's talking about the irrational fear of germs. Here.
Another favorite quote:
"But what about the children? Fuck the children!"
posted by signalandnoise at 7:12 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
Another favorite quote:
"But what about the children? Fuck the children!"
posted by signalandnoise at 7:12 AM on June 23, 2008 [3 favorites]
I am not a starstruck kinda guy. I've met some pretty serious big names -- chatted up a couple genuine legends with no problem. Even partied with one. But I was reduced to a gibbering pile of goo when George Carlin once brushed passed me in a backstage hallway after a show. I can't even say I actually met him, unless you consider nodding, pointing and giggling like Beavis "meeting" someone.
I was lucky he didn't call security.
posted by RavinDave at 7:14 AM on June 23, 2008
I was lucky he didn't call security.
posted by RavinDave at 7:14 AM on June 23, 2008
Tonight's forcast: DARK
posted by ahimsakid at 7:17 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by ahimsakid at 7:17 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
An update on the comedian health sweepstakes. I currently lead Richard Pryor in heart attacks 2 to 1. But Richard still leads me 1 to nothing in burning yourself up. See, it happened like this. First Richard had a heart attack. Then I had a heart attack. Then Richard burned himself up. And I said, 'Fuck that. I'm having another heart attack!'
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posted by Mitheral at 7:25 AM on June 23, 2008 [7 favorites]
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posted by Mitheral at 7:25 AM on June 23, 2008 [7 favorites]
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Thank you, George. No other comedian has made me laugh as hard. A brilliant wordsmith and thought provoker. The world is a slightly dimmer place.
posted by pixlboi at 7:28 AM on June 23, 2008
Thank you, George. No other comedian has made me laugh as hard. A brilliant wordsmith and thought provoker. The world is a slightly dimmer place.
posted by pixlboi at 7:28 AM on June 23, 2008
Goddamn it, I was just watching his last few HBO specials on Friday. Shit, shit, shit!
posted by porn in the woods at 7:29 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by porn in the woods at 7:29 AM on June 23, 2008
As 12 year olds, my cousin and I shared a cassette of "Class Clown," which we played over and over and over til we had the entire thing memorized. We laughed as hard the last time as we did the first time.
Years later, we caught him live, and when some older folks got offended early in the act, we took advantage and jumped in their front-row seats. He quickly pointed this out -- "Look at these young fuckers -- you might say they're cheap assholes, but I think they're future corporate executives!"
Thanks, George.
.
posted by VicNebulous at 7:29 AM on June 23, 2008 [5 favorites]
Years later, we caught him live, and when some older folks got offended early in the act, we took advantage and jumped in their front-row seats. He quickly pointed this out -- "Look at these young fuckers -- you might say they're cheap assholes, but I think they're future corporate executives!"
Thanks, George.
.
posted by VicNebulous at 7:29 AM on June 23, 2008 [5 favorites]
Good thing I was already drinking when I read this.
Fuck, I never got to see him live.
.
posted by Talanvor at 7:33 AM on June 23, 2008
Fuck, I never got to see him live.
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posted by Talanvor at 7:33 AM on June 23, 2008
The Aristocrats!
Stranger than fiction, my friend. Stranger than fiction.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 7:34 AM on June 23, 2008
Stranger than fiction, my friend. Stranger than fiction.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 7:34 AM on June 23, 2008
I'm late to the thread, but I can't not comment. AM/FM was the first album I bought for myself at age 14 - thank you, George, for so much fun for so many years.
posted by qldaddy at 7:36 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by qldaddy at 7:36 AM on June 23, 2008
I'm only like 100 comments in to this thread, but I had to pop out and say something (and I apologize if it was said previously).
This is why we have obit threads. I know George Carlin's work. I could recite "Icebox Man" from heart at age 14. But I had never considered George Carlin. What a remarkable life! And he was a bit of a loon towards the end, and that's also part of what made him interesting. There's probably nothing but praise for him above this comment, but if our comments were limited to praise by design, this would be a much less interesting place and Carlin himself would have called bullshit the loudest. I am sorry if your favorite celebrity obit had more critical comments than you would have liked, but the MeFi bar is high for universal admiration.
And to just balance things out because George would have wanted it that way: Fuck you Carlin, you were a crazy old bastard, and probably a pervert.
.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:39 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
This is why we have obit threads. I know George Carlin's work. I could recite "Icebox Man" from heart at age 14. But I had never considered George Carlin. What a remarkable life! And he was a bit of a loon towards the end, and that's also part of what made him interesting. There's probably nothing but praise for him above this comment, but if our comments were limited to praise by design, this would be a much less interesting place and Carlin himself would have called bullshit the loudest. I am sorry if your favorite celebrity obit had more critical comments than you would have liked, but the MeFi bar is high for universal admiration.
And to just balance things out because George would have wanted it that way: Fuck you Carlin, you were a crazy old bastard, and probably a pervert.
.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:39 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
.
posted by Reverend John at 7:43 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by Reverend John at 7:43 AM on June 23, 2008
No more having to put up with the bullshit of life. Good for you, George.
posted by hojoki at 7:43 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by hojoki at 7:43 AM on June 23, 2008
I always appreciated the way he observed life and its trappings.
I couldn't pick a favorite piece if I had a month to listen to them all again, but I'll mention the first piece that hooked on him: A Place for My Stuff
"That's all your house is - a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get...more stuff!"
posted by Kip at 7:47 AM on June 23, 2008
I couldn't pick a favorite piece if I had a month to listen to them all again, but I'll mention the first piece that hooked on him: A Place for My Stuff
"That's all your house is - a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get...more stuff!"
posted by Kip at 7:47 AM on June 23, 2008
I wish I could hear his opinion of obit dots. A riot, I'm betting.
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:49 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:49 AM on June 23, 2008
"Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist. "
The last of my three heroes to go: Bugs Bunny, RAW and Carlin. Motherfucker.
posted by Aversion Therapy at 7:50 AM on June 23, 2008
The last of my three heroes to go: Bugs Bunny, RAW and Carlin. Motherfucker.
posted by Aversion Therapy at 7:50 AM on June 23, 2008
Sadly, this was the first thing I heard when I turned on the news at 8 this morning. What a drag.
I got Toledo Window Box for Christmas from my older brother when I was 11 years old or so and understood about half of it but laughed at everything. As a kid, all his material about the ridiculous of words or stuff like 'Water sez who cares. "Drink me, I don't give a shit. Put me on your ass! I don't care."' was really accessible and hilarious to me and kept me laughing until the more political and intellectual stuff crept into my brain.
I was privileged to see him once in the early '90's at the Pantages here in Toronto. He was on some weird bill with Rita Rudner and Louis Anderson that I got to go to because my wife worked for Ticketmaster at the time. Needless to say, he blew them both out of the water.
posted by chococat at 7:56 AM on June 23, 2008
I got Toledo Window Box for Christmas from my older brother when I was 11 years old or so and understood about half of it but laughed at everything. As a kid, all his material about the ridiculous of words or stuff like 'Water sez who cares. "Drink me, I don't give a shit. Put me on your ass! I don't care."' was really accessible and hilarious to me and kept me laughing until the more political and intellectual stuff crept into my brain.
I was privileged to see him once in the early '90's at the Pantages here in Toronto. He was on some weird bill with Rita Rudner and Louis Anderson that I got to go to because my wife worked for Ticketmaster at the time. Needless to say, he blew them both out of the water.
posted by chococat at 7:56 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by paulus andronicus at 8:04 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by paulus andronicus at 8:04 AM on June 23, 2008
Kaa-kaa, pee-pee, makin' whoopee, Special Flower, fellatio, Oedipus, funbags.
posted by CynicalKnight at 8:13 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by CynicalKnight at 8:13 AM on June 23, 2008
Seven words you can't say in this thread:
I am glad George Carlin is dead.
posted by flarbuse at 8:17 AM on June 23, 2008
I am glad George Carlin is dead.
posted by flarbuse at 8:17 AM on June 23, 2008
Oh fuck it all sideways anyway.
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:21 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:21 AM on June 23, 2008
"Our thrust is to prick holes in the stiff front erected by the smut dealers. We must keep mounting an offensive to penetrate any crack in his defenses, so we can lay to rest his dominate position. We want him hung and we want stiff action. Let's get on him. Let's ram through a stiff bail law so it'll be hard for him to get it up. We've got to come together so we can whip this thing into submission. It'll be hard on us but we can't lick it by being soft!"
Pre-suck my genital situation! Rest in total fucking chaos George.
posted by edverb at 8:21 AM on June 23, 2008
Pre-suck my genital situation! Rest in total fucking chaos George.
posted by edverb at 8:21 AM on June 23, 2008
And we just have time for a few quick baseball scores - 3 to 2, 6 to 4, 7 to 1.
posted by yhbc at 8:24 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by yhbc at 8:24 AM on June 23, 2008
“The Control Freaks
Hello. We’re the ones who control your lives. We make the decisions that affect all of you. Isn’t it interesting to know that those who run your lives would have the nerve to tell you about it in this manner? Suffer, you fools. We know everything you do, and we know where you go. What do you think the cameras are there for? And the global-positioning satellites? And the Social Security numbers? You belong to us. And it can’t be changed. Sign your petitions, walk you picket lines, bring your lawsuits, cast your votes, and write your stupid letters to whomever you please; you won’t change a thing. Because we control your lives. And we have plans for you. Go back to sleep.”
--from “When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops”
‘Nuff said.
posted by Francis7 at 8:24 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Hello. We’re the ones who control your lives. We make the decisions that affect all of you. Isn’t it interesting to know that those who run your lives would have the nerve to tell you about it in this manner? Suffer, you fools. We know everything you do, and we know where you go. What do you think the cameras are there for? And the global-positioning satellites? And the Social Security numbers? You belong to us. And it can’t be changed. Sign your petitions, walk you picket lines, bring your lawsuits, cast your votes, and write your stupid letters to whomever you please; you won’t change a thing. Because we control your lives. And we have plans for you. Go back to sleep.”
--from “When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops”
‘Nuff said.
posted by Francis7 at 8:24 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Well fuck.
My mom was at the Summerfest show in 1972 when he was arrested for the Seven Words piece. I grew up in a very pro-Carlin household, and because of it, he was important to me. Like changed-the-direction-of-my-life important. When I was a junior in high-school, we had a mandatory class on public speaking, which I hated. I didn't like the preparation, I didn't like the uncomfortable feeling of being alone in front of a crowd, I just didn't want anything to do with it.
The grade in the class was almost exclusively based on the final speech, which we were given almost the entire semester to prepare for. Naturally, I didn't do anything. I didn't like the class and had resigned myself to doing poorly.
Finally, a day or two before I was due to speak, I realized I was going to have to come up with something, as it happened, I was watching Carlin and I saw this:
"The FCC, an appointed body, not elected, answerable only to the President, decided on its own that radio and television were the only two parts of American life not protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution."
This one line provided me with that something.
On the day of, instead of standing behind the podium, I walked in front of it, and sat down on the table; I didn't want to formally lecture, like everyone else had, I wanted to speak with my class, student to student. I then did thirty minutes off the cuff. No notes other than Carlin's quote.
I got an A-. (I wasn't expecting to pass, so this was pretty good.)
After the grades had been released (and couldn't be changed), I told my teacher the truth, that it was all bullshit and I didn't have a clue what I was talking about. She laughed and said I was damn convincing. She then offered me a spot in a pilot program for video production that only the smart kids had been able to score.
The stuff I learned in that class inspired passions in me that led me to where I am today. All of which I can attribute directly back to a single quote from a genius, which gave me the confidence to do something I shouldn't have been able to do.
I can, without hesitation, say that if it weren't for Carlin, I wouldn't be the person I am today.
posted by quin at 8:30 AM on June 23, 2008 [24 favorites]
My mom was at the Summerfest show in 1972 when he was arrested for the Seven Words piece. I grew up in a very pro-Carlin household, and because of it, he was important to me. Like changed-the-direction-of-my-life important. When I was a junior in high-school, we had a mandatory class on public speaking, which I hated. I didn't like the preparation, I didn't like the uncomfortable feeling of being alone in front of a crowd, I just didn't want anything to do with it.
The grade in the class was almost exclusively based on the final speech, which we were given almost the entire semester to prepare for. Naturally, I didn't do anything. I didn't like the class and had resigned myself to doing poorly.
Finally, a day or two before I was due to speak, I realized I was going to have to come up with something, as it happened, I was watching Carlin and I saw this:
"The FCC, an appointed body, not elected, answerable only to the President, decided on its own that radio and television were the only two parts of American life not protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution."
This one line provided me with that something.
On the day of, instead of standing behind the podium, I walked in front of it, and sat down on the table; I didn't want to formally lecture, like everyone else had, I wanted to speak with my class, student to student. I then did thirty minutes off the cuff. No notes other than Carlin's quote.
I got an A-. (I wasn't expecting to pass, so this was pretty good.)
After the grades had been released (and couldn't be changed), I told my teacher the truth, that it was all bullshit and I didn't have a clue what I was talking about. She laughed and said I was damn convincing. She then offered me a spot in a pilot program for video production that only the smart kids had been able to score.
The stuff I learned in that class inspired passions in me that led me to where I am today. All of which I can attribute directly back to a single quote from a genius, which gave me the confidence to do something I shouldn't have been able to do.
I can, without hesitation, say that if it weren't for Carlin, I wouldn't be the person I am today.
posted by quin at 8:30 AM on June 23, 2008 [24 favorites]
A’ight, so I was eleven or twelve; we lived in the Carriage House slum- we didn’t have AC and come summer, it was so hard to get to sleep. It was loud outside; people talking, people laughing- we didn’t have cable, most of us didn’t have tvs. So sitting on the porch in the summer to catch the breeze, that’s what we did. That’s what my mom did, after bedtime.
Windows thrown open to try to catch that same elusive breeze, all that sound filtered in on top of the hot. But I was still supposed to get to sleep. I had inherited my dad’s records when he left. Among them, George Carlin’s “Class Clown.” So I’d put on George and try to fall to sleep.
Carlin’s voice on this record was soothing, and in 1972 when he recorded it, he was still philosophical; he loved words. The rhythm of them, the music of them- what they meant, what they should mean. And the power simple sounds from our mouths could have.
George Carlin taught me to love words; and he encouraged me to think about what they *mean*. I’m going to miss him.
posted by headspace at 8:30 AM on June 23, 2008 [4 favorites]
Windows thrown open to try to catch that same elusive breeze, all that sound filtered in on top of the hot. But I was still supposed to get to sleep. I had inherited my dad’s records when he left. Among them, George Carlin’s “Class Clown.” So I’d put on George and try to fall to sleep.
Carlin’s voice on this record was soothing, and in 1972 when he recorded it, he was still philosophical; he loved words. The rhythm of them, the music of them- what they meant, what they should mean. And the power simple sounds from our mouths could have.
George Carlin taught me to love words; and he encouraged me to think about what they *mean*. I’m going to miss him.
posted by headspace at 8:30 AM on June 23, 2008 [4 favorites]
The obits keep referring to George as a subversive comic. And he was a subversive comic, in a very important way: he understood, and continually pointed out, the power of words. Words can be weapons and are constantly used by the powerful to obfuscate and confuse and justify. ( "Surgical strike", anyone?)
He understood that the people who control the words control the debate. Subversive, and very important to keep in mind.
Bon voyage, George. Tell Hunter and Kurt "hi", if you see them.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 8:35 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
He understood that the people who control the words control the debate. Subversive, and very important to keep in mind.
Bon voyage, George. Tell Hunter and Kurt "hi", if you see them.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 8:35 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
.......
posted by Schlimmbesserung at 8:40 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by Schlimmbesserung at 8:40 AM on June 23, 2008
I have nothing intelligent to say about this, but I felt the whoosh when I heard. He leaves behind a vacuum. Grateful for what he gave me in terms of critical thinking, sorry he won't be available for further commentary in my lifetime.
I'm adding one more "Fuck!" to the chorus.
posted by froggmaiden at 8:42 AM on June 23, 2008
I'm adding one more "Fuck!" to the chorus.
posted by froggmaiden at 8:42 AM on June 23, 2008
Awww batshit!
posted by autodidact at 8:48 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by autodidact at 8:48 AM on June 23, 2008
The first I ever knew of George Carlin was watching Shining Time Station as a kid.
I like that PBS was planting the seed at such a young age.
posted by AV at 8:48 AM on June 23, 2008
I like that PBS was planting the seed at such a young age.
posted by AV at 8:48 AM on June 23, 2008
Goddammit. Bye, George.
posted by valentinepig at 8:48 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by valentinepig at 8:48 AM on June 23, 2008
AHHHH DAMMIT! Now I have to pretend George Harrison, Kurt Vonnegut and George Carlin are still alive!!!! I don't think the world is better without them :( and I don't want my reality to be without thinking they are in the world.
posted by eatdonuts at 8:53 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by eatdonuts at 8:53 AM on June 23, 2008
Nice to see that everything from Wonderful WINO to You Are All Diseased to The Aristocrats has already been mentioned. The magnitude of the man's work is astounding, for all definitions of magnitude.
Hail and farewell, Maestro!
posted by whuppy at 8:56 AM on June 23, 2008
Hail and farewell, Maestro!
posted by whuppy at 8:56 AM on June 23, 2008
Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part to us, do they?
The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
posted by caddis at 8:56 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.
posted by caddis at 8:56 AM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cocksucker, Motherfucker and Tits
.
posted by Mental Wimp at 8:58 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by Mental Wimp at 8:58 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by steelbuddha at 9:10 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by steelbuddha at 9:10 AM on June 23, 2008
We all gotta go sometime. Farewell Mr. Carlin. Heaven(jk)'s, literally, funnier than hell now!
posted by Flex1970 at 9:16 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by Flex1970 at 9:16 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by schyler523 at 9:16 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by schyler523 at 9:16 AM on June 23, 2008
Wow, the world is without one less hero. Loved this guy.
His bit about beating Mickey Mouse with a dildo kills me every time.
posted by PHINC at 9:25 AM on June 23, 2008
His bit about beating Mickey Mouse with a dildo kills me every time.
posted by PHINC at 9:25 AM on June 23, 2008
What a loss to society. Carlin was a fantastic philosopher, comedian, and political activist.
posted by wmeredith at 9:35 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by wmeredith at 9:35 AM on June 23, 2008
George Carlin from The Aristrocrats
Saw him in Louisville many years ago. His Seven Dirty Words caused me to greatly re-think censorship and language in general.
A pioneer. Nestled in his comedy, a real desire to transcend his medium. Glad to have known him.
.
posted by benATthelocust at 9:40 AM on June 23, 2008
Saw him in Louisville many years ago. His Seven Dirty Words caused me to greatly re-think censorship and language in general.
A pioneer. Nestled in his comedy, a real desire to transcend his medium. Glad to have known him.
.
posted by benATthelocust at 9:40 AM on June 23, 2008
My mom used to say that part of getting old is getting used to all the great people in your life dying. I guess I'm not old enough to have gotten used to it yet.
I've always thought George was a little off his game in recent years... he sort of stopped being funny and was mostly just angry. I imagine it's hard to be the hippy dippy weatherman for 40 years and not become a little bitter.
posted by Dave Faris at 9:45 AM on June 23, 2008
I've always thought George was a little off his game in recent years... he sort of stopped being funny and was mostly just angry. I imagine it's hard to be the hippy dippy weatherman for 40 years and not become a little bitter.
posted by Dave Faris at 9:45 AM on June 23, 2008
He was one of the greats, there's really not much else to say. I wanted a few more decades of stuff from him.
Shit.
.
posted by sotonohito at 9:53 AM on June 23, 2008
Shit.
.
posted by sotonohito at 9:53 AM on June 23, 2008
“How come when it’s us it’s an abortion, and when it’s a chicken it’s an omelet?"
posted by xjudson at 10:12 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by xjudson at 10:12 AM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
Words can't describe how important he was to all aspects of my social development.
My only hope is that dropping the seven words into an obit thread instead of "." will carry over into all obit threads from now on.
posted by SpiffyRob at 10:17 AM on June 23, 2008
My only hope is that dropping the seven words into an obit thread instead of "." will carry over into all obit threads from now on.
posted by SpiffyRob at 10:17 AM on June 23, 2008
Hey George! What do You want on your Tombstone?
Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.
You got it dude.
posted by doctorschlock at 10:32 AM on June 23, 2008
Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.
You got it dude.
posted by doctorschlock at 10:32 AM on June 23, 2008
Jump on a cushion and free a fart.
And remember: Meatcake doesn't have a smell.
posted by Darth Meatloaf at 10:38 AM on June 23, 2008
And remember: Meatcake doesn't have a smell.
posted by Darth Meatloaf at 10:38 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by VulcanMike at 10:46 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by VulcanMike at 10:46 AM on June 23, 2008
Forgot one:
FUCK MICKEY MOUSE. FUCK HIM IN THE EAR WITH A BIG RUBBER DILDO!
(in response to Mickey Mouse's birthday being proposed as a national holiday)
posted by Darth Meatloaf at 10:47 AM on June 23, 2008
FUCK MICKEY MOUSE. FUCK HIM IN THE EAR WITH A BIG RUBBER DILDO!
(in response to Mickey Mouse's birthday being proposed as a national holiday)
posted by Darth Meatloaf at 10:47 AM on June 23, 2008
Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.
One of the funniest Carlin routines I ever saw was also hands-down the simplest comedy routine anyone could possibly have devised. He walked out on stage and Just. Stood. There. He looked around, with a generally pissed-off and sardonic expression on his face. He. Just. Stood. There.
And somehow -- somehow -- he made it funny. It took a while but the audience got with it and started laughing. And. He. Just. Stood. There.
Don't ask me how, but he made it work.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 10:48 AM on June 23, 2008
One of the funniest Carlin routines I ever saw was also hands-down the simplest comedy routine anyone could possibly have devised. He walked out on stage and Just. Stood. There. He looked around, with a generally pissed-off and sardonic expression on his face. He. Just. Stood. There.
And somehow -- somehow -- he made it funny. It took a while but the audience got with it and started laughing. And. He. Just. Stood. There.
Don't ask me how, but he made it work.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 10:48 AM on June 23, 2008
One of my very first self-discovered-comedy memories was when I was 10 or 11, watching the "Carlin at Carnegie" special on HBO (it was more listening than watching, actually. We didn't get HBO, but that was back in the day when they scrambled the video signal, but let the audio through unadulterated).
To me NOTHING was funnier than Carlin reading his "extended" list of the original seven dirty words. It was my primary source of plagiarized adolescent comedy material until well into my teenage years. I plundered my uncle's record collection, and stole all of his George Carlin comedy records. Until I was in my early 20's, the idea of Carlin being unfunny was unthinkable.
But while Carlin was responsible for my early appreciation for sarcastic, acerbic, quasi-intellectual humor, your tastes change as you get older and start discovering other stuff. If I had never let go of my worship of the man, I would be willingly subjecting myself to the likes of Dane Cook and Carlos Mencia today. It's kinda like listening to "2112" or "Surfing with the Alien" in 2008. I can no longer relate to the person I was back when I worshiped that stuff, but I certainly don't/won't disown them, even today.
So while I don't think George Carlin is any less unfunnier now because he's dead, but I will give him megaprops for sparking my love for non-stupid standup comedy.
.
posted by melorama at 10:56 AM on June 23, 2008
To me NOTHING was funnier than Carlin reading his "extended" list of the original seven dirty words. It was my primary source of plagiarized adolescent comedy material until well into my teenage years. I plundered my uncle's record collection, and stole all of his George Carlin comedy records. Until I was in my early 20's, the idea of Carlin being unfunny was unthinkable.
But while Carlin was responsible for my early appreciation for sarcastic, acerbic, quasi-intellectual humor, your tastes change as you get older and start discovering other stuff. If I had never let go of my worship of the man, I would be willingly subjecting myself to the likes of Dane Cook and Carlos Mencia today. It's kinda like listening to "2112" or "Surfing with the Alien" in 2008. I can no longer relate to the person I was back when I worshiped that stuff, but I certainly don't/won't disown them, even today.
So while I don't think George Carlin is any less unfunnier now because he's dead, but I will give him megaprops for sparking my love for non-stupid standup comedy.
.
posted by melorama at 10:56 AM on June 23, 2008
This is one of those very rare celebrity deaths when I genuinely have to ask myself, "Well, what're we gonna do now?"
.
posted by cmoj at 11:01 AM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by cmoj at 11:01 AM on June 23, 2008
FWIW tits doesn't even belong on the list.
. goodnight Toots.
posted by Gungho at 11:13 AM on June 23, 2008
. goodnight Toots.
posted by Gungho at 11:13 AM on June 23, 2008
ArcaneCrowbar said with a straight face that Carlin should be canonized for Christ's sake. Were you guys actually listening to what George said?
I suggested it because of my fondness for his material about growing up Roman Catholic in New York - his insights about the foolish contradictions of religion are near to my heart, as I was raised an unwilling Catholic myself. Didn't mean to imply that sainting Carlin was a logical or reasonable idea, just that it would be a beautiful and appropriate irony.
posted by arcanecrowbar at 11:18 AM on June 23, 2008
I suggested it because of my fondness for his material about growing up Roman Catholic in New York - his insights about the foolish contradictions of religion are near to my heart, as I was raised an unwilling Catholic myself. Didn't mean to imply that sainting Carlin was a logical or reasonable idea, just that it would be a beautiful and appropriate irony.
posted by arcanecrowbar at 11:18 AM on June 23, 2008
To those of you favoriting the phrase "At least he's with God now" you DO realize George Carlin, if he could, would come back from the dead for the sole reason of kicking all your asses?
Anything to bring him back...
posted by Darth Meatloaf at 11:35 AM on June 23, 2008
Anything to bring him back...
posted by Darth Meatloaf at 11:35 AM on June 23, 2008
Shit.
I remember hearing his routines on KSFO's Comedy Hour in the 1970s. My husband & I quote from "Ice Box Man" when we find mystery items in the fridge: "It has absolutely no smell whatsoever!" "It's good! Put it back! Somebody is saving it. It'll turn up in something."
posted by mogget at 11:52 AM on June 23, 2008
I remember hearing his routines on KSFO's Comedy Hour in the 1970s. My husband & I quote from "Ice Box Man" when we find mystery items in the fridge: "It has absolutely no smell whatsoever!" "It's good! Put it back! Somebody is saving it. It'll turn up in something."
posted by mogget at 11:52 AM on June 23, 2008
Roller fucking!
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 11:54 AM on June 23, 2008
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 11:54 AM on June 23, 2008
I saw him about 10 years ago in Vegas. He started out with some little observational bits that barely drew a chuckle from my husband and me, but absolutely killed the middle-aged, middle class, middle America couples we were seated with. It was sorely disappointing. When he turned to the well-worn subject of "bad hair days," we had pretty much given up on him. Until he yelled, "Bad hair day? SHUT UP YOU FUCKING CUNT!!"
The rest of the routine was basically an obscenity-laden tirade. I cannot for the life of me remember a single funny thing he said, but I do remember the look of confusion and betrayal on the faces of those couples who had been laughing along so easily just a few moments before. Their collective squirming remains one of the funniest things I have ever seen.
posted by jrossi4r at 11:59 AM on June 23, 2008
The rest of the routine was basically an obscenity-laden tirade. I cannot for the life of me remember a single funny thing he said, but I do remember the look of confusion and betrayal on the faces of those couples who had been laughing along so easily just a few moments before. Their collective squirming remains one of the funniest things I have ever seen.
posted by jrossi4r at 11:59 AM on June 23, 2008
FWIW, I just noticed that GeorgeCarlin.com has the only worthwhile flash intro on the whole internet.
Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.
(dammit, this really really sucks.)
.
posted by joe defroster at 12:03 PM on June 23, 2008
Shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits.
(dammit, this really really sucks.)
.
posted by joe defroster at 12:03 PM on June 23, 2008
.
We quote him every so often around here, especially certain lines from "What Am I Doing in New Jersey". However, my favorite routine of his will always be "Airline Announcements", for this line and several others:
"About this time someone is telling you to get on the plane - 'Get on the plane, get on the plane.' I say, 'Fuck you, I'm getting IN the plane!'"
He was tremendously gifted with words and language, which was what separated him from other comedians for me.
Really wish I could've seen him live...
posted by May Kasahara at 12:09 PM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
We quote him every so often around here, especially certain lines from "What Am I Doing in New Jersey". However, my favorite routine of his will always be "Airline Announcements", for this line and several others:
"About this time someone is telling you to get on the plane - 'Get on the plane, get on the plane.' I say, 'Fuck you, I'm getting IN the plane!'"
He was tremendously gifted with words and language, which was what separated him from other comedians for me.
Really wish I could've seen him live...
posted by May Kasahara at 12:09 PM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
To me NOTHING was funnier than Carlin reading his "extended" list of the original seven dirty words.
I saw him perform this when I was 17, and it was at "Mongolian cluster fuck" that I stopped breathing.
.
posted by chuq at 12:20 PM on June 23, 2008
I saw him perform this when I was 17, and it was at "Mongolian cluster fuck" that I stopped breathing.
.
posted by chuq at 12:20 PM on June 23, 2008
Damn! I saw this on the news this morning, and was floored.
He was one of the greats. And not just a comedian. A great thinker, observer, speaker. A few of my favorite bits; baseball vs. football, stuff, seven words. He was one of those people who made me laugh until I hurt. And made me think. Some people complain about how, as he got older, he was "less funny, and more angry". Maybe. But I think he got smarter. And that made him funnier.
.
My brother and I still refer to "meatcake".
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 12:34 PM on June 23, 2008
He was one of the greats. And not just a comedian. A great thinker, observer, speaker. A few of my favorite bits; baseball vs. football, stuff, seven words. He was one of those people who made me laugh until I hurt. And made me think. Some people complain about how, as he got older, he was "less funny, and more angry". Maybe. But I think he got smarter. And that made him funnier.
.
My brother and I still refer to "meatcake".
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 12:34 PM on June 23, 2008
poop, pee-pee, f-word, girl thing, hee hee hee, MOM!, and boobs
posted by Snyder at 12:44 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by Snyder at 12:44 PM on June 23, 2008
I snooze, I lose. Overslept. Went to sleep soon after this was posted (and not checking MeFi last thing before bed? Stupid.) and woke to a world without George Carlin and 300 "."s and "fuck"s to read. I was worrying about some of my own worrysome heart-based symptoms at the time. Fuck.
Saw him live the day before my birthday last year and blogged about it. The thing that was most notable to me was how he had backed away from the Angry Old Man personna in recent years to a more philosophical - the world is screwed but I'm getting through my own life pretty good so fuck 'em - attitude. Note the evolution in this set of pictures.
My defining "Carlin Moment" was when I was in college and Saturday Night Live debuted with him as it's first Guest Host. He did a few separate monologue bits, including his comparison of Football and Baseball, a bit that included Airport Security, Weird Bacon and Are They Dead Yet?, another that went from Blue Food to Jumbo Shrimp and one of his earliest zings on Religion.
Oddly, the one thing that inspired me the most was his few words on Oxymorons: "The term Jumbo Shrimp has always amazed me. JUMBO shrimp. What is a Jumbo Shrimp? I mean, it's like Military Intelligence - the words don't go together, man." It inspired me to start collecting Oxymorons - I didn't even know the word, Carlin didn't use it yet, I just called them Paradoxes - by 1983 I had a list of nearly 500 that I kept tacked to my cublicle wall. In 1999, I fleshed out the list to over 2,000 so I could publish on the Web "2000 Oxymorons for the Year 2000: The OXY2K". I REALLY apologize for the self-link, the eye-bleeding design of the list and misspelling Millennium. In George's honor, I should fix that.
But then, it just proved to me that there was more to his skillful use of language than just Seven Words... In retrospect, the Religion bit was also food for thought that took hold much more subtly, hung around my self-conscious and made it really easy to accept that one of my future in-laws, a librarian, had founded an organization for "Evangelical Agnostics".
I wasn't all that upset when Bill Hicks died, because Carlin, IMO, did it better and was still around. Now that he's gone, Lewis Black and Patton Oswalt and all the other comics I can't remember off the top of my head who are following in George's footsteps have so much more work to do.
posted by wendell at 12:45 PM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Saw him live the day before my birthday last year and blogged about it. The thing that was most notable to me was how he had backed away from the Angry Old Man personna in recent years to a more philosophical - the world is screwed but I'm getting through my own life pretty good so fuck 'em - attitude. Note the evolution in this set of pictures.
My defining "Carlin Moment" was when I was in college and Saturday Night Live debuted with him as it's first Guest Host. He did a few separate monologue bits, including his comparison of Football and Baseball, a bit that included Airport Security, Weird Bacon and Are They Dead Yet?, another that went from Blue Food to Jumbo Shrimp and one of his earliest zings on Religion.
Oddly, the one thing that inspired me the most was his few words on Oxymorons: "The term Jumbo Shrimp has always amazed me. JUMBO shrimp. What is a Jumbo Shrimp? I mean, it's like Military Intelligence - the words don't go together, man." It inspired me to start collecting Oxymorons - I didn't even know the word, Carlin didn't use it yet, I just called them Paradoxes - by 1983 I had a list of nearly 500 that I kept tacked to my cublicle wall. In 1999, I fleshed out the list to over 2,000 so I could publish on the Web "2000 Oxymorons for the Year 2000: The OXY2K". I REALLY apologize for the self-link, the eye-bleeding design of the list and misspelling Millennium. In George's honor, I should fix that.
But then, it just proved to me that there was more to his skillful use of language than just Seven Words... In retrospect, the Religion bit was also food for thought that took hold much more subtly, hung around my self-conscious and made it really easy to accept that one of my future in-laws, a librarian, had founded an organization for "Evangelical Agnostics".
I wasn't all that upset when Bill Hicks died, because Carlin, IMO, did it better and was still around. Now that he's gone, Lewis Black and Patton Oswalt and all the other comics I can't remember off the top of my head who are following in George's footsteps have so much more work to do.
posted by wendell at 12:45 PM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Bogus.
posted by mazola at 1:16 PM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by mazola at 1:16 PM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Thats how you really live a life...
posted by Fupped Duck at 1:16 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by Fupped Duck at 1:16 PM on June 23, 2008
"I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond!
I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
Behind the eight ball, ahead of the curve, ridin the wave, dodgin the bullet and pushin the envelope. I’m on-point, on-task, on-message and off drugs. I’ve got no need for coke and speed. I've got no urge to binge and purge. I’m in-the-moment, on-the-edge, over-the-top and under-the-radar. A high-concept, low-profile, medium-range ballistic missionary. A street-wise smart bomb. A top-gun bottom feeder. I wear power ties, I tell power lies, I take power naps and run victory laps. I’m a totally ongoing big-foot, slam-dunk, rainmaker with a pro-active outreach. A raging workaholic. A working rageaholic. Out of rehab and in denial!
I’ve got a personal trainer, a personal shopper, a personal assistant and a personal agenda. You can’t shut me up. You can’t dumb me down because I’m tireless and I’m wireless, I’m an alpha male on beta-blockers.
I’m a non-believer and an over-achiever, laid-back but fashion-forward. Up-front, down-home, low-rent, high-maintenance. Super-sized, long-lasting, high-definition, fast-acting, oven-ready and built-to-last! I’m a hands-on, foot-loose, knee-jerk head case pretty maturely post-traumatic and I’ve got a love-child that sends me hate mail.
But, I’m feeling, I’m caring, I’m healing, I’m sharing-- a supportive, bonding, nurturing primary care-giver. My output is down, but my income is up. I took a short position on the long bond and my revenue stream has its own cash-flow. I read junk mail, I eat junk food, I buy junk bonds and I watch trash sports! I’m gender specific, capital intensive, user-friendly and lactose intolerant.
I like rough sex. I like tough love. I use the “F” word in my emails and the software on my hard-drive is hardcore--no soft porn.
I bought a microwave at a mini-mall; I bought a mini-van at a mega-store. I eat fast-food in the slow lane. I’m toll-free, bite-sized, ready-to-wear and I come in all sizes. A fully-equipped, factory-authorized, hospital-tested, clinically-proven, scientifically- formulated medical miracle. I’ve been pre-wash, pre-cooked, pre-heated, pre-screened, pre-approved, pre-packaged, post-dated, freeze-dried, double-wrapped, vacuum-packed and, I have an unlimited broadband capacity.
I’m a rude dude, but I’m the real deal. Lean and mean! Cocked, locked and ready-to-rock. Rough, tough and hard to bluff. I take it slow, I go with the flow, I ride with the tide. I’ve got glide in my stride. Drivin and movin, sailin and spinin, jiving and groovin, wailin and winnin. I don’t snooze, so I don’t lose. I keep the pedal to the metal and the rubber on the road. I party hearty and lunch time is crunch time. I’m hangin in, there ain’t no doubt and I’m hangin tough, over and out!"
posted by banshee at 1:22 PM on June 23, 2008 [5 favorites]
I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
Behind the eight ball, ahead of the curve, ridin the wave, dodgin the bullet and pushin the envelope. I’m on-point, on-task, on-message and off drugs. I’ve got no need for coke and speed. I've got no urge to binge and purge. I’m in-the-moment, on-the-edge, over-the-top and under-the-radar. A high-concept, low-profile, medium-range ballistic missionary. A street-wise smart bomb. A top-gun bottom feeder. I wear power ties, I tell power lies, I take power naps and run victory laps. I’m a totally ongoing big-foot, slam-dunk, rainmaker with a pro-active outreach. A raging workaholic. A working rageaholic. Out of rehab and in denial!
I’ve got a personal trainer, a personal shopper, a personal assistant and a personal agenda. You can’t shut me up. You can’t dumb me down because I’m tireless and I’m wireless, I’m an alpha male on beta-blockers.
I’m a non-believer and an over-achiever, laid-back but fashion-forward. Up-front, down-home, low-rent, high-maintenance. Super-sized, long-lasting, high-definition, fast-acting, oven-ready and built-to-last! I’m a hands-on, foot-loose, knee-jerk head case pretty maturely post-traumatic and I’ve got a love-child that sends me hate mail.
But, I’m feeling, I’m caring, I’m healing, I’m sharing-- a supportive, bonding, nurturing primary care-giver. My output is down, but my income is up. I took a short position on the long bond and my revenue stream has its own cash-flow. I read junk mail, I eat junk food, I buy junk bonds and I watch trash sports! I’m gender specific, capital intensive, user-friendly and lactose intolerant.
I like rough sex. I like tough love. I use the “F” word in my emails and the software on my hard-drive is hardcore--no soft porn.
I bought a microwave at a mini-mall; I bought a mini-van at a mega-store. I eat fast-food in the slow lane. I’m toll-free, bite-sized, ready-to-wear and I come in all sizes. A fully-equipped, factory-authorized, hospital-tested, clinically-proven, scientifically- formulated medical miracle. I’ve been pre-wash, pre-cooked, pre-heated, pre-screened, pre-approved, pre-packaged, post-dated, freeze-dried, double-wrapped, vacuum-packed and, I have an unlimited broadband capacity.
I’m a rude dude, but I’m the real deal. Lean and mean! Cocked, locked and ready-to-rock. Rough, tough and hard to bluff. I take it slow, I go with the flow, I ride with the tide. I’ve got glide in my stride. Drivin and movin, sailin and spinin, jiving and groovin, wailin and winnin. I don’t snooze, so I don’t lose. I keep the pedal to the metal and the rubber on the road. I party hearty and lunch time is crunch time. I’m hangin in, there ain’t no doubt and I’m hangin tough, over and out!"
posted by banshee at 1:22 PM on June 23, 2008 [5 favorites]
Y'know, he was awesome all the way to the end. Certainly he was angry as hell, but with good reason. I was hoping for Carlin HBO specials to drop yearly until the end of time.
posted by porn in the woods at 1:57 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by porn in the woods at 1:57 PM on June 23, 2008
You can prick your finger, but you can't finger your prick.
Thanks, George.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 2:17 PM on June 23, 2008
Thanks, George.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 2:17 PM on June 23, 2008
I saw him in Las Vegas back in '92. It was the same day I lost my virginity. I always looked at that show as something special.
posted by pathighgate at 2:34 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by pathighgate at 2:34 PM on June 23, 2008
I always loved his advertising lullaby. Safe for work, unless you work with consumer whores.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 2:36 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 2:36 PM on June 23, 2008
He was one of the last iconoclastic voices of that generation that gave a fuck enough to actually talk about what went so horribly wrong. Plus, damn he was funny.
I'll never forget being in about 3rd grade and hearing my parents play a Carlin album after they thought I'd gone to bed. I crept up as close to the living room as I could get and listened and laughed and laughed. I got caught because I couldn't stop laughing.
Or 7th grade when knowing the 7 dirty words you couldn't say was enough to make Sister Bernadette Mary clutch her rosary and swear that we were all doomed....dooooooomed to eternal perdition.
Or post 9-11 when he seemed to be the only baby-boomer willing to talk about what a complete and utter cluster fuck the Bush administration was.
He was raw and powerful and funny and irreverent, and it is the suck that he is dead.
I've been weepy all day.
posted by dejah420 at 2:44 PM on June 23, 2008
I'll never forget being in about 3rd grade and hearing my parents play a Carlin album after they thought I'd gone to bed. I crept up as close to the living room as I could get and listened and laughed and laughed. I got caught because I couldn't stop laughing.
Or 7th grade when knowing the 7 dirty words you couldn't say was enough to make Sister Bernadette Mary clutch her rosary and swear that we were all doomed....dooooooomed to eternal perdition.
Or post 9-11 when he seemed to be the only baby-boomer willing to talk about what a complete and utter cluster fuck the Bush administration was.
He was raw and powerful and funny and irreverent, and it is the suck that he is dead.
I've been weepy all day.
posted by dejah420 at 2:44 PM on June 23, 2008
aw, fuck.
posted by smoothvirus at 2:47 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by smoothvirus at 2:47 PM on June 23, 2008
The monologue banshee posted turned me off from Carlin. Hearing him do that bit was just disappointing and a little depressing. Here George was, the anti-consumerist, spouting off cute little turns of phrase and dancing around like a trained monkey. I thought to myself "Oh well, I guess he's not a youngin' anymore."
George was a funny guy, especially so when he was young, but that little ejaculation of buzzwords turned me off from him forever.
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 2:49 PM on June 23, 2008
George was a funny guy, especially so when he was young, but that little ejaculation of buzzwords turned me off from him forever.
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 2:49 PM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by hap_hazard at 3:10 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by hap_hazard at 3:10 PM on June 23, 2008
I remember hearing his routines on KSFO's Comedy Hour in the 1970s. My husband & I quote from "Ice Box Man" when we find mystery items in the fridge: "It has absolutely no smell whatsoever!" "It's good! Put it back! Somebody is saving it. It'll turn up in something."
That's what frightens me. That someone will consider it a challenge and use it, just because it's in there.
It's a "leftover."
What a sad word that is. Leftover. How would you like to be...a "leftover"?
Well, it wouldn't be so bad if they were taking people out to be shot. I might even volunteer.
But you know, leftovers give you two good feelings. Did you ever think about that? Leftovers give you two separate good feelings. At first, when you put them away, you feel really intelligent: "I'm saving food!"
And then, 3 months later, when hair is growing out of them, and you throw them away, you feel really intelligent: "I'm saving my life!"
I can't believe I did that from memory.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 3:44 PM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
7 words you can't say on TV ... unless it's HBO and you're watching The Sopranos.
posted by bwg at 3:59 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by bwg at 3:59 PM on June 23, 2008
.
Well, he got to be 31 years older than John Lennon, and he wasn't killed by anything more violent than the consequences of his own cocaine abuse, so I guess that's some consolation.
Miss ya, George. You were part of my entire adult life.
posted by sighmoan at 4:03 PM on June 23, 2008
Well, he got to be 31 years older than John Lennon, and he wasn't killed by anything more violent than the consequences of his own cocaine abuse, so I guess that's some consolation.
Miss ya, George. You were part of my entire adult life.
posted by sighmoan at 4:03 PM on June 23, 2008
standing in awe at sighmoan's deep understanding of cardiology
posted by Fupped Duck at 4:20 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by Fupped Duck at 4:20 PM on June 23, 2008
Not that I think he would have ever done this, but reading all these excerpts from his routines and seeing them in print, does anyone else think he could have been the best blogger ever?
.
posted by rooftop secrets at 4:55 PM on June 23, 2008
.
posted by rooftop secrets at 4:55 PM on June 23, 2008
hal9k: Well, I guess George is with God now...
Dammit, we're NOT going to go through all that again! will you people stop favoriting that one? You're all diseased!
posted by ZachsMind at 5:27 PM on June 23, 2008
Dammit, we're NOT going to go through all that again! will you people stop favoriting that one? You're all diseased!
posted by ZachsMind at 5:27 PM on June 23, 2008
I think I first heard Carlin on Dr. Demento: "Ice Box Man" (which I can still recite), and some of his "WINO Radio" bits. Not too much later I saw "Carlin at Carnegie." And saw it again. And again. And again. I can still recite large parts of it and it's not just the words; it's Carlin's delivery that I hear in my head, and I doubt I'll ever really forget it. That's the kind of a voice he was.
posted by Songdog at 6:00 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by Songdog at 6:00 PM on June 23, 2008
jrossi4r writes "I cannot for the life of me remember a single funny thing he said, but I do remember the look of confusion and betrayal on the faces of those couples who had been laughing along so easily just a few moments before. Their collective squirming remains one of the funniest things I have ever seen."
Oh, man, that would have been golden. All three times I saw him was to appreciative fans, so he did his full-fledged touring routine at the time, and of course he was very good at it each time (although the first two times the routine was similar, so really I just saw two different acts). But I wish I had seen him work a hostile room, because somewhere I knew he could turn the tables on an audience like that, especially if they looked like they were just a little to comfortable with the easy jokes. As he said, "I like to piss off any group that takes itself a little bit too seriously."
And, something that should also be mentioned, if nobody has done so yet. The man worked hard at his craft and was one of the very few comedians who made it his full time career for his whole career. Many of the greats move on to acting and leave comedy behind, but Carlin's appearances in films and television only seemed to cement the idea that he was just moonlighting from his regular job of being on stage in front of an audience, making them laugh. That's where he always looked most at home to me, and that's how I will always remember him. If he had not worked as hard as he did, he would have peaked with Seven Words, and his career would have forever been rehashing that one routine. But he made album after album, tour after tour and then the HBO specials. He built on some ideas and discarded others, but each new album would be a new act, which would change slightly over the course of the tour in which it appeared (sometimes more than one tour). He did have his peaks and valleys, and any fan could tell you where they were, but he never stopped working. You knew if the recent tour/album wasn't so hot, the next one probably would be, and you wouldn't have to wait too long.
I never knew how much it would hurt to miss the idea of his voice narrating the ridiculous shit we deal with. I'm still sort of in denial about it, hoping he'd have something funny to say about this sad mess, but now I just have to imagine how it would be, and the things he'd say. And that's how it will be from now on.
posted by krinklyfig at 6:26 PM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
Oh, man, that would have been golden. All three times I saw him was to appreciative fans, so he did his full-fledged touring routine at the time, and of course he was very good at it each time (although the first two times the routine was similar, so really I just saw two different acts). But I wish I had seen him work a hostile room, because somewhere I knew he could turn the tables on an audience like that, especially if they looked like they were just a little to comfortable with the easy jokes. As he said, "I like to piss off any group that takes itself a little bit too seriously."
And, something that should also be mentioned, if nobody has done so yet. The man worked hard at his craft and was one of the very few comedians who made it his full time career for his whole career. Many of the greats move on to acting and leave comedy behind, but Carlin's appearances in films and television only seemed to cement the idea that he was just moonlighting from his regular job of being on stage in front of an audience, making them laugh. That's where he always looked most at home to me, and that's how I will always remember him. If he had not worked as hard as he did, he would have peaked with Seven Words, and his career would have forever been rehashing that one routine. But he made album after album, tour after tour and then the HBO specials. He built on some ideas and discarded others, but each new album would be a new act, which would change slightly over the course of the tour in which it appeared (sometimes more than one tour). He did have his peaks and valleys, and any fan could tell you where they were, but he never stopped working. You knew if the recent tour/album wasn't so hot, the next one probably would be, and you wouldn't have to wait too long.
I never knew how much it would hurt to miss the idea of his voice narrating the ridiculous shit we deal with. I'm still sort of in denial about it, hoping he'd have something funny to say about this sad mess, but now I just have to imagine how it would be, and the things he'd say. And that's how it will be from now on.
posted by krinklyfig at 6:26 PM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
Geckwoistmeinauto writes "George was a funny guy, especially so when he was young, but that little ejaculation of buzzwords turned me off from him forever."
Well, I do agree that it was one of his weaker pieces, but I forgave him, as he was just coming out of rehab. He had been through it once before, but it was back in the '70s, and this time he was a much older man. Sure, you choose your own road and live with that, but it's sort of a soul-destroying mission to clean yourself up, and it makes you kind of unfunny for a while even as it helps you. I figured he'd work that stuff out and would be back to more interesting or truly goofy shit before too long, and in the interviews I saw of him last year and this one, seemed like that was happening. Really pisses me off that this had to happen now, but at least he did live a pretty long life, making so many people think and laugh.
posted by krinklyfig at 6:41 PM on June 23, 2008
Well, I do agree that it was one of his weaker pieces, but I forgave him, as he was just coming out of rehab. He had been through it once before, but it was back in the '70s, and this time he was a much older man. Sure, you choose your own road and live with that, but it's sort of a soul-destroying mission to clean yourself up, and it makes you kind of unfunny for a while even as it helps you. I figured he'd work that stuff out and would be back to more interesting or truly goofy shit before too long, and in the interviews I saw of him last year and this one, seemed like that was happening. Really pisses me off that this had to happen now, but at least he did live a pretty long life, making so many people think and laugh.
posted by krinklyfig at 6:41 PM on June 23, 2008
Now we will never know where the all the blue food is.
posted by tkchrist at 6:54 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by tkchrist at 6:54 PM on June 23, 2008
A Christian says thank you to George Carlin.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 6:55 PM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Pater Aletheias at 6:55 PM on June 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
I had to send an audio link to "Join the Book Club" to a some friends today. How can you hear the title, "How to Fillet a Panda" and not laugh. Thanks to whoever posted that above; I missed it the first time around.
I remember sitting alone in a San Francisco hotel room, watching him on HBO, and laughing so hard I thought security would come a-knockin' or I'd stroke out or piss my pants or something. And he was that good every time.
This afternoon on the XM radio comedy channel, they played a clip from the interview show he taped recently. They're going to play him all day on Wednesday. Guess I won't get much work done. One question:
"What would you want on your tombstone?"
"He was just here!"
Damn, George. I know you were as atheist as they come, but I hope someone, somewhere is getting entertained tonight.
posted by VicNebulous at 6:59 PM on June 23, 2008
I remember sitting alone in a San Francisco hotel room, watching him on HBO, and laughing so hard I thought security would come a-knockin' or I'd stroke out or piss my pants or something. And he was that good every time.
This afternoon on the XM radio comedy channel, they played a clip from the interview show he taped recently. They're going to play him all day on Wednesday. Guess I won't get much work done. One question:
"What would you want on your tombstone?"
"He was just here!"
Damn, George. I know you were as atheist as they come, but I hope someone, somewhere is getting entertained tonight.
posted by VicNebulous at 6:59 PM on June 23, 2008
I've seen many a snapper in my day, but not one that could cut grass.
Goodbye and thank you, George.
posted by dr_dank at 7:14 PM on June 23, 2008
Goodbye and thank you, George.
posted by dr_dank at 7:14 PM on June 23, 2008
I stood three feet from George Carlin as he walked off the stage of the Tonight Show, and I walked out of the audience. I wanted to tell him everything I want to write now, but had the same problem then as I do now, there are no words. Genius. Legend. These are so overused as to be trite and universally insincere. Idiots are called geniuses and so-called legends are forgotten as soon as the next flavor of the month comes along. But even if you had saved those adjectives for the most deserving, you'd lavish them on George Carlin.
It's easy to note his humor, philosophy, and observational skill. Each superhuman in its own right. But he didn't do it once. He didn't have one film, or book, or show. His career didn't peak. His talent didn't wane. He earned his place in the pantheon early, and he only solidified his standing, year after year, right up to the day he died. Doubtlessly, his throw-away can is filled with material that would have made careers for others.
People like him come along only rarely, and I can only hope that his philosophical work will be remembers as much as his profanity, because the man understood human nature at it's most basic level. That's why his act was so profane. He was out there, on stage, as pure human-being George Carlin. Free to say whatever, push all boundaries, stab all sacred cows, think all thoughts, and say the unsayable as soon as it popped into his mind. He did it with an unabashed love of the English language, and no expectation of being a thought leader, or a legend, and I doubt he ever felt the pressure to perform or hold his place at the head of the class.
Goodbye George. Earth is a lesser place without you, but there is a small part of me that fully expects to see you in your next HBO Special, "I'm back to say I told you so."
posted by JWright at 8:01 PM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
It's easy to note his humor, philosophy, and observational skill. Each superhuman in its own right. But he didn't do it once. He didn't have one film, or book, or show. His career didn't peak. His talent didn't wane. He earned his place in the pantheon early, and he only solidified his standing, year after year, right up to the day he died. Doubtlessly, his throw-away can is filled with material that would have made careers for others.
People like him come along only rarely, and I can only hope that his philosophical work will be remembers as much as his profanity, because the man understood human nature at it's most basic level. That's why his act was so profane. He was out there, on stage, as pure human-being George Carlin. Free to say whatever, push all boundaries, stab all sacred cows, think all thoughts, and say the unsayable as soon as it popped into his mind. He did it with an unabashed love of the English language, and no expectation of being a thought leader, or a legend, and I doubt he ever felt the pressure to perform or hold his place at the head of the class.
Goodbye George. Earth is a lesser place without you, but there is a small part of me that fully expects to see you in your next HBO Special, "I'm back to say I told you so."
posted by JWright at 8:01 PM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
My favorite wasn't even a bit of his stand-up, it was an observation he made:
"There are two ways to think about this existence we have. One of them is that it's Wednesday and it's three fifteen and we're talking here in my home, and at four o'clock I have to leave for another meeting. Now, that's a reality. But there's another reality. We're in the solar system of a second-rate star, three quarters of the way out on a spiral arm of an average galaxy in a thing called the Local Group. And ours is only one of billions of galaxies, each of which has billions of stars. Some star systems are binary, and there could be a planet that revolves around a center of gravity between two binary stars. So you'd have two sunrises and two sunsets every day. One could be a red giant, the other a white dwarf; two different-sized, -shaped, and -colored suns in the sky. And there might be other planets and comets. In other words, fuck Wednesday, fuck three fifteen, fuck four o'clock, fuck the United States, fuck the earth. It's all temporal bullshit. I like thinking about being out there and not thinking about the corporate structure, not worrying about freedom, and not worrying about guns. I chose a life of ideas. That entertains me. That nourishes me."
posted by ShawnStruck at 8:13 PM on June 23, 2008 [5 favorites]
"There are two ways to think about this existence we have. One of them is that it's Wednesday and it's three fifteen and we're talking here in my home, and at four o'clock I have to leave for another meeting. Now, that's a reality. But there's another reality. We're in the solar system of a second-rate star, three quarters of the way out on a spiral arm of an average galaxy in a thing called the Local Group. And ours is only one of billions of galaxies, each of which has billions of stars. Some star systems are binary, and there could be a planet that revolves around a center of gravity between two binary stars. So you'd have two sunrises and two sunsets every day. One could be a red giant, the other a white dwarf; two different-sized, -shaped, and -colored suns in the sky. And there might be other planets and comets. In other words, fuck Wednesday, fuck three fifteen, fuck four o'clock, fuck the United States, fuck the earth. It's all temporal bullshit. I like thinking about being out there and not thinking about the corporate structure, not worrying about freedom, and not worrying about guns. I chose a life of ideas. That entertains me. That nourishes me."
posted by ShawnStruck at 8:13 PM on June 23, 2008 [5 favorites]
He was a truth-teller.
These days the shock of hearing it is, - funny.
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posted by infomaniac at 9:04 PM on June 23, 2008
These days the shock of hearing it is, - funny.
.
posted by infomaniac at 9:04 PM on June 23, 2008
The custom of observing a moment of silence before an athletic event to honor dead people strikes me as meaningless. And arbitrary. Because, if you'll notice, only certain people get this special treatment. It's highly selective. Therefore I've decided that someday, when the time comes that every single person in the world who dies receives a moment of silence, I will begin paying attention. Until then, count me out. It's ridiculous. Here's what I mean.posted by not_on_display at 10:03 PM on June 23, 2008 [2 favorites]
Let's say you live in Cleveland, and you decide to go to the Browns game. There you are in the football stadium, with a hot dog and a beer, ready to enjoy action, and a somber-sounding public-address announcer interrupts the festivities, intoning darkly:
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, we ask that you remove your hats and join us in observing a moment of silence for the forty-three unattractive, mentally retarded, overweight Bolivian dance instructors who lost their lives this morning in a roller coaster accident at an amusement park near La Paz. Apparently, they all stood up on a sharp turn and went flying off, willy-nilly, into the cool, crisp, morning La Paz air. And, being heavier than air, crashed through the roof of the funhouse, landing on several clowns, killing them all and crushing their red noses beyond recognition."
Snickering is heard in the crowd. The American announcer continues:
"And, ladies and gentlemen, lest you think this amusing, lest you think this a time for laughter, I ask you please-please- to put yourself in the place of the bereaved Bolivian who may be seated near you this afternoon. Try reversing places. Imagine yourself visiting Bolivia and taking in a soccer game. Imagine yourself seated in the stadium with a burrito and a cerveza, ready to enjoy the action, and a somber-sounding, Spanish public-address announcer interrupts the festivities, intoning darkly:
" 'Senors y senoritas, we ask that you remove your sombreros and join us in observing un momento de silencio for the forty-three mentally retarded, overweigh, unattractive American meat inspectors who lost their lives this morning in a Ferris Wheel accident at at carnival near Ashtabula, Ohio.'
The Spanish announcer continues:
" 'Apparently, the huge wheel flew out of control, spinning madly, flinging the poor meat inspectors off, willy-nilly, into the hot, humid, Midwester air. And, being heavier than air, they crashed through the roof of the carnival freak show, crushing the dog-faced boy, and destroying many of his chew-toys.'
"And let's say, as you sit there in La Paz listening to this, you find yourself seated next to some Bolivian smart-ass who's giggling and poking his friend in the ribs. May I suggest you'd be highly pissed at this lack of respect for Americans? And, might I add, rightly so."
The American announcer continues his plea:
"And so, ladies and gentlemen, considering the many grieving Bolivians who may be seated among you today, and trying to keep in check that normal human impulse to laugh heartily when another person dies, let us try again-really hard this time- to observe a moment of silence for the forty-three unattractive, mentally retarded, overweight Bolivian dance instructors who went flying, willy-nilly, off the roller coaster in La Paz. Not to mention the poor, unsuspecting clowns who at the time were innocently filling their water pistols."
You can see the problem either announcer would face; the fans would simply not be able to get into it. But I understand that; I can empathize with the fans. Because, frankly, I don't know what to do during a moment of silence, either. Do you? What are you supposed to do? What do they expect? Do they want us to pray? They don't say that. If you want me to pray, they should ask. I'll pray, but at least have the courtesy to make the formal request.
But no. They offer no guidance, no instruction at all. I honestly don't know what to do. Sometimes I resort to evil thoughts: I wish my seatmates ill fortune in days to come; I fantasize about standing naked in front of the Lincoln Memorial and becoming sexually aroused; I picture thousands of penguins being hacked to death by boatloads of graduate students. More often though, I wind up bored silly, searching for something to occupy my thoughts. One time I inventoried the pimples on the neck of the man in front of me, hoping to find one with a hair growing through it, so I could quietly pluck it out during the confusion of halftime. On a happier occasion, I once found myself staring at the huge but perfectly formed breasts of the woman to my left, her fleshy mounds rising and falling softly in the late October sun. And my thoughts turned tenderly romantic:
"Holy shit! Look at the fuckin' knobs on her! Great fuckin' knobs! I think I'm gonna go to the refreshment stand, buy myself a weenie and hide it in my pants. Then during halftime, I'm gonna whip out the weenie and force her to watch while I eat the bun and stuff the weenie up my.... naaah! She's probably one of those uptight chicks who'd think I'm weird. She doesn't know the problem is I'm shy."
Those are my thoughts, and I can't help it. During a moment of silence my imagination runs away with me. I don't know what to do. And why is it silence they're looking for? What good is silence? The ones being remembered are already dead, they're not going to wake up now. Why not a moment of screaming? Wouldn't that be more appropriate for dead people? Wouldn't you like to hear 60,000 fans screaming, "Aaaaaiiiiiieeeeeaaagghh!!" It sure would put me in the mood for football.
And one more criticism. Why honor only the dead? Why this favoritism? Why not the injured, as well? There are always more injured than there are dead in any decent tragedy. What about them? And what about those who aren't dead or injured, but are simply "treated and released"? How about, if not silence, at least a moment of muffled conversation for those who were treated and released? It's an honorable condition. Personally, I've always wanted to be treated and released. Usually, I'm treated and detained. Perhaps it's for the best.*
"..and it turns out to be one of those farts that would strip the varnish off a foot locker"
I don't know what else to say. George Carlin is a legend.
posted by clearly at 10:13 PM on June 23, 2008
I don't know what else to say. George Carlin is a legend.
posted by clearly at 10:13 PM on June 23, 2008
fine. dandy.
posted by Sam.Burdick at 10:23 PM on June 23, 2008
posted by Sam.Burdick at 10:23 PM on June 23, 2008
I have Carlin's phone number.
Should I take his advice and wait six weeks before deleting the old fuck from my database?
posted by bwg at 1:16 AM on June 24, 2008
Should I take his advice and wait six weeks before deleting the old fuck from my database?
posted by bwg at 1:16 AM on June 24, 2008
bwg, I was listening to a '99 recording of Carlin on Art Bell while doing my laundry this morning. He said that he intended to live until 94. You should probably keep the number for the next 23 years.
posted by crataegus at 3:18 AM on June 24, 2008
posted by crataegus at 3:18 AM on June 24, 2008
I had dinner with George Carlin in 1980 as a part of the memorial and funeral services for Joe Monroe. I worked for WTAW thanks to a family friend, Sam Jones. Joe and Sam hosted the Muck and Mire morning drive slot for the AM station. All the on-air talent joined Goerge for the dinner where he announced the Joe Monroe Journalism Scholarship
Joe had given George his first radio job, effectively starting his career. It was a sad but uplifting dinner as we all shared "Joe" stories. George spend time at the station the next day before his show. I've always had a deep respect for George Carlin.
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posted by michswiss at 4:41 AM on June 24, 2008 [1 favorite]
Joe had given George his first radio job, effectively starting his career. It was a sad but uplifting dinner as we all shared "Joe" stories. George spend time at the station the next day before his show. I've always had a deep respect for George Carlin.
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posted by michswiss at 4:41 AM on June 24, 2008 [1 favorite]
I was just looking the other past winners of the Mark Twain Prize and couldn't help but think: "Fuck you guys. George Carlin should have got this in back in 1999." (mutter, mutter)
posted by wobh at 6:05 AM on June 24, 2008
posted by wobh at 6:05 AM on June 24, 2008
I don't know if they ever crossed paths in life, but for some reason all I can think of is George and Warren Zevon, sitting at a battered table over 2 bottles of Jim Beam, sawdust at their feet, trading war stories.
posted by jalexei at 8:00 AM on June 24, 2008
posted by jalexei at 8:00 AM on June 24, 2008
Said good-bye last night. Watched an old HBO special.
.
posted by mrgroweler at 12:53 PM on June 24, 2008
.
posted by mrgroweler at 12:53 PM on June 24, 2008
.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 2:47 PM on June 24, 2008
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 2:47 PM on June 24, 2008
You should probably keep the number for the next 23 years.
So you're saying I should assign him to what he called "digital purgatory"?
posted by bwg at 3:12 PM on June 24, 2008
So you're saying I should assign him to what he called "digital purgatory"?
posted by bwg at 3:12 PM on June 24, 2008
Dave Faris writes "Seinfeld eulogizes Carlin"
Thanks for linking to that. I love this, and it definitely reinforces my idea of who he was:
I called him to compliment him on his most recent special on HBO. Seventy years old and he cranks out another hour of great new stuff. He was in a hotel room in Las Vegas getting ready for his show. He was a monster.
... He worked over an idea like a diamond cutter with facets and angles and refractions of light. He made you sorry you ever thought you wanted to be a comedian. He was like a train hobo with a chicken bone. When he was done there was nothing left for anybody.
posted by krinklyfig at 5:30 PM on June 24, 2008
Thanks for linking to that. I love this, and it definitely reinforces my idea of who he was:
I called him to compliment him on his most recent special on HBO. Seventy years old and he cranks out another hour of great new stuff. He was in a hotel room in Las Vegas getting ready for his show. He was a monster.
... He worked over an idea like a diamond cutter with facets and angles and refractions of light. He made you sorry you ever thought you wanted to be a comedian. He was like a train hobo with a chicken bone. When he was done there was nothing left for anybody.
posted by krinklyfig at 5:30 PM on June 24, 2008
To anyone still ignorant to Carlin's life, go watch his standup. And where you been the last fifty years???
To anyone who is still saddened by Carlin's death, go watch or listen to his standup. It helps.
Quit being sad. He wouldn't want us to be sad. He'd want us to laugh. He'd also want us to buy All His Stuff which is what he was peddling the last year or so of his life - a DVD collection of allmost all his HBO specials plus other junk. Of course, now he can't make money off us buying his stuff, but it's the thought that counts, y'know?
Okay, sure, Jerry Seinfeld writes a eulogy. Big deal! Seinfeld is a shadow of what Carlin might have become if he'd never met Lenny Bruce: cringeworthy just to think about.
Anyone know what Joe Pesci is gonna say? That's gonna be one heck of a eulogy!
posted by ZachsMind at 5:35 PM on June 24, 2008
To anyone who is still saddened by Carlin's death, go watch or listen to his standup. It helps.
Quit being sad. He wouldn't want us to be sad. He'd want us to laugh. He'd also want us to buy All His Stuff which is what he was peddling the last year or so of his life - a DVD collection of allmost all his HBO specials plus other junk. Of course, now he can't make money off us buying his stuff, but it's the thought that counts, y'know?
Okay, sure, Jerry Seinfeld writes a eulogy. Big deal! Seinfeld is a shadow of what Carlin might have become if he'd never met Lenny Bruce: cringeworthy just to think about.
Anyone know what Joe Pesci is gonna say? That's gonna be one heck of a eulogy!
posted by ZachsMind at 5:35 PM on June 24, 2008
Wobh, agreed. They coulda done Carl Reiner in 2000, Winters in 2001, Whoopi in 2002, et cetera until 2004. Lorne Michaels could have waited until 2007, and they coulda done Billy Crystal this year.
Carlin shoulda been honored the year immediately after Richard Pryor. He and Pryor were more Mark Twain than any of those other bozos, but what is Robin Williams? Is he like the Susan Lucci of the Mark Twain Prize? Always the bridesmaid never the bride, that one.
posted by ZachsMind at 5:57 PM on June 24, 2008
Carlin shoulda been honored the year immediately after Richard Pryor. He and Pryor were more Mark Twain than any of those other bozos, but what is Robin Williams? Is he like the Susan Lucci of the Mark Twain Prize? Always the bridesmaid never the bride, that one.
posted by ZachsMind at 5:57 PM on June 24, 2008
ZachsMind writes "Okay, sure, Jerry Seinfeld writes a eulogy. Big deal! Seinfeld is a shadow of what Carlin might have become if he'd never met Lenny Bruce: cringeworthy just to think about."
Yeah, but he knows that and said as much. Still, both these guys work hard at their craft and consider comedy to be their lifelong career, so it's good to hear the younger guy give credit where it's due, and I think he's expected to say something. Seinfeld is great at what he does, and it's looks like he'll probably be a stand up his whole life, same as Carlin. But he'll never have someone eulogize him by saying anything like, "You could certainly say that George downright invented modern American stand-up comedy in many ways."
posted by krinklyfig at 5:59 PM on June 24, 2008
Yeah, but he knows that and said as much. Still, both these guys work hard at their craft and consider comedy to be their lifelong career, so it's good to hear the younger guy give credit where it's due, and I think he's expected to say something. Seinfeld is great at what he does, and it's looks like he'll probably be a stand up his whole life, same as Carlin. But he'll never have someone eulogize him by saying anything like, "You could certainly say that George downright invented modern American stand-up comedy in many ways."
posted by krinklyfig at 5:59 PM on June 24, 2008
Seinfeld's okay. Carlin had on more than one occasion tipped his hat to Jerry. Jerry focused on what Carlin referred to as "the little world" and Seinfeld did that very well, but he ain't Joe Pesci!
I'm watching the Larry King Live tribute to Carlin on YouTube, and earlier I saw an article by E! Online where stars that ain't dead yet are talking about George. One thing that's fucking pissing me off is the censorship. Robin Williams calls George Carlin "the funniest mother fucker that ever lived," and Larry King can't say the quote. Instead he replaces "mother fucker" with "blank." Fuck you Larry King. You got millions of dollars. You can afford to pay FCC fines for one fuck. It's fucking George Carlin for fuck's sake! Say FUCK! It's not like George Carlin dies every day!
If you can't honor George Carlin without censoring him, you're not honoring him.
posted by ZachsMind at 7:15 PM on June 24, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'm watching the Larry King Live tribute to Carlin on YouTube, and earlier I saw an article by E! Online where stars that ain't dead yet are talking about George. One thing that's fucking pissing me off is the censorship. Robin Williams calls George Carlin "the funniest mother fucker that ever lived," and Larry King can't say the quote. Instead he replaces "mother fucker" with "blank." Fuck you Larry King. You got millions of dollars. You can afford to pay FCC fines for one fuck. It's fucking George Carlin for fuck's sake! Say FUCK! It's not like George Carlin dies every day!
If you can't honor George Carlin without censoring him, you're not honoring him.
posted by ZachsMind at 7:15 PM on June 24, 2008 [2 favorites]
"This country was founded by slave owners who wanted to be free! So they killed a lot of white English people, in order to continue owning their black African people, so they could wipe out the rest of the red Indian people, and move west and steal the rest of the land from the brown Mexican people, giving them a place to take off and drop their nuclear weapons on the yellow Japanese people. You know what the motto of this country oughtta be? YOU GIVE US A COLOR AND WE'LL WIPE IT OUT!"
posted by ZachsMind at 7:34 PM on June 24, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by ZachsMind at 7:34 PM on June 24, 2008 [2 favorites]
I loved that in his last special he called him self an "alpha male on a beta blocker". That just about says why growing old can be so tough. I never knew he was really on a beta blocker at that point, but in retrospect I guess you could see in that last act that something was missing -- not the spirit, the material, or the delivery -- nothing could take that away from him, but rather being "old" :).
I know Carlin would be the last to have wanted it, but I wish some of the more treasured celebrities would let on about how sick they really are, it could help us prepare for this type of news.
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posted by skepticallypleased at 8:58 PM on June 24, 2008
I know Carlin would be the last to have wanted it, but I wish some of the more treasured celebrities would let on about how sick they really are, it could help us prepare for this type of news.
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posted by skepticallypleased at 8:58 PM on June 24, 2008
James Lipton: "If God exists, what would you like to hear him say when you get to the Pearly Gates?"
George Carlin: "Now we're going to have some fun around here."
Sounds about right.
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:14 AM on June 25, 2008
George Carlin: "Now we're going to have some fun around here."
Sounds about right.
posted by CunningLinguist at 7:14 AM on June 25, 2008
Did someone already link to his last interview? If so, whoops. If not, there it is.
posted by miss lynnster at 8:38 PM on June 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by miss lynnster at 8:38 PM on June 25, 2008 [2 favorites]
I recently got a chance to watch Jersey Girl a couple days ago. I'd had opportunities before this, but purposefully avoided the film because many fans of Kevin Smith's previous work told me to skip it, many critics said it was bad, and what I'd read and seen in the previews describing the film made me think "predictable romantic comedy" so I just never gave it a shot, and made the presumption that it was a bad movie.
Then I found out after Carlin passed away, that he played Affleck's father in the movie. So I watched it, cuz I miss the old bastard. Everyone who said this movie sucks is wrong. It was incredible. I now owe Mr. Smith a beer.
Yes it's predictable. Yes everything from J.Lo's (character's) death to Will Smith's (real life) cameo is telegraphed from a long ways off. Yes it has all the trappings of a romantic comedy. Yes it's 'feel goody.' Yes it's got all the schmaltz of a chick flick. Yes it contains just enough crude humor to offend the straights and not enough to sufficiently appease the rest of us. Yes Affleck's performance vascillates from "surpasses expectations" to "the movie is happening over here Ben quit thinking about golf!" Yes it's impossible to believe people this beautiful live in New Jersey (even tho they do). Yes it is short on nudity, explosions, car chases, and fart jokes. Yes the movie actually has a trite message. Yes the movie's message doesn't tell you anything you didn't already know. Yes imdb gives it only 6.3 out of ten stars. Yes Rotten Tomato currently has it at forty percent. Yes Roger Ebert kinda liked it, which for some is the kiss of death.
Doesn't matter. It's a good film. It's not GREAT, but it's very good. I mean I could nitpick it. I could start with the casting. I woulda preferred Ollie be played by Jason Lee instead of Ben Affleck. That's just me. I woulda preferred giving Liv Tyler the "perfect trophy wife with a goofy name" part, and for the part of Maya I'd cast a woman with some weight and realism to her figure who actually looks like she was born and raised in New Jersey, and not cloned into perfection by a room full of geeky scientists then photoshopped into further perfection by another room full of geeky computer artists.
Kevin Smith KNOWS the plot of Jersey Girl has all the trappings of your usual romantic comedy. He KNOWS it's predictable. That's the point. He's making a film in a predictable genre so he follows the formula. He speaks to the viewer inside that formula cuz he knows we grok the language. It's the subtle places where he diverges from the formula that you have to spot. I cite two examples tho there are many others:
If you have seen it and you thought it was bad, you haven't seen it recently. Your opinion may have been clouded by the bad press it got when it came out do to the whole "Affleck/Lopez" hubbub stupidity. Your opinion wasn't affected by the fact George Carlin died, cuz if you saw it when it came out, that hadn't happened yet. I humbly suggest you give it a second chance now that some time has passed and you can revisit the film and judge it on its own merits.
Why? You have to ask why? I'll tell you why. For the rest of eternity, whenever you want, you get to see George Carlin ride a street sweeper and cuss out Ben Affleck. That alone is worth the price of admission.
Twelve hundred and thirty-eight stars. Joe Bob says check it out.
posted by ZachsMind at 8:59 AM on June 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
Then I found out after Carlin passed away, that he played Affleck's father in the movie. So I watched it, cuz I miss the old bastard. Everyone who said this movie sucks is wrong. It was incredible. I now owe Mr. Smith a beer.
Yes it's predictable. Yes everything from J.Lo's (character's) death to Will Smith's (real life) cameo is telegraphed from a long ways off. Yes it has all the trappings of a romantic comedy. Yes it's 'feel goody.' Yes it's got all the schmaltz of a chick flick. Yes it contains just enough crude humor to offend the straights and not enough to sufficiently appease the rest of us. Yes Affleck's performance vascillates from "surpasses expectations" to "the movie is happening over here Ben quit thinking about golf!" Yes it's impossible to believe people this beautiful live in New Jersey (even tho they do). Yes it is short on nudity, explosions, car chases, and fart jokes. Yes the movie actually has a trite message. Yes the movie's message doesn't tell you anything you didn't already know. Yes imdb gives it only 6.3 out of ten stars. Yes Rotten Tomato currently has it at forty percent. Yes Roger Ebert kinda liked it, which for some is the kiss of death.
Doesn't matter. It's a good film. It's not GREAT, but it's very good. I mean I could nitpick it. I could start with the casting. I woulda preferred Ollie be played by Jason Lee instead of Ben Affleck. That's just me. I woulda preferred giving Liv Tyler the "perfect trophy wife with a goofy name" part, and for the part of Maya I'd cast a woman with some weight and realism to her figure who actually looks like she was born and raised in New Jersey, and not cloned into perfection by a room full of geeky scientists then photoshopped into further perfection by another room full of geeky computer artists.
Kevin Smith KNOWS the plot of Jersey Girl has all the trappings of your usual romantic comedy. He KNOWS it's predictable. That's the point. He's making a film in a predictable genre so he follows the formula. He speaks to the viewer inside that formula cuz he knows we grok the language. It's the subtle places where he diverges from the formula that you have to spot. I cite two examples tho there are many others:
- 1) Sweeny Todd. Why the heck does he pick Sweeny Todd and contrast it to Cats? If you can find a suitable answer to that you're a better person than me. The only answer I can come up with is: cuz it was effin funny.
- 2) This isn't a romantic comedy between Affleck and Lopez or Affleck and Tyler. This is a comedy (purposefully encased in the wellworn and perhaps even dated genre of 'romantic' comedy) about the unconditional love between a father and his daughter. In that respect, it transcends the genre most spectacularly.
If you have seen it and you thought it was bad, you haven't seen it recently. Your opinion may have been clouded by the bad press it got when it came out do to the whole "Affleck/Lopez" hubbub stupidity. Your opinion wasn't affected by the fact George Carlin died, cuz if you saw it when it came out, that hadn't happened yet. I humbly suggest you give it a second chance now that some time has passed and you can revisit the film and judge it on its own merits.
Why? You have to ask why? I'll tell you why. For the rest of eternity, whenever you want, you get to see George Carlin ride a street sweeper and cuss out Ben Affleck. That alone is worth the price of admission.
Twelve hundred and thirty-eight stars. Joe Bob says check it out.
posted by ZachsMind at 8:59 AM on June 29, 2008 [2 favorites]
I was out of town when I heard Carlin died - in fact it came on the television when I was in the airport. So I cued up some Carlin on my ipod - I always carry about 6 Carlin albums with me on it, like some people carry photos of family. My father introduced me to Carlin when I was in elementary school, and I went to two of his shows with my parents. So this was a comedian I grew up with - and despite all the other comedians out there on Comedy Central, on sitcoms, in movies - I've never found one like Carlin who gave such great social commentary. I'll miss having someone point out all the things that are odd about our language, and who'll call bullshit when it's needed.
I didn't know Carlin was sick - he was only recently booked to do shows in southern California.
posted by batgrlHG at 1:49 PM on June 30, 2008
I didn't know Carlin was sick - he was only recently booked to do shows in southern California.
posted by batgrlHG at 1:49 PM on June 30, 2008
Well, he wasn't "sick" in the sense of "came down with something" so much as he was "sick" in the sense of having life-long (maybe congenital?) heart problems.
posted by RavinDave at 6:52 PM on June 30, 2008
posted by RavinDave at 6:52 PM on June 30, 2008
Joe Bob says check it out
I only listen to Big Jim McBob and Billy Sol Hurok, and they say no one got blowed up real good, so I ain't awatchin'!
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:04 PM on July 1, 2008
I only listen to Big Jim McBob and Billy Sol Hurok, and they say no one got blowed up real good, so I ain't awatchin'!
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:04 PM on July 1, 2008
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(The guy was a hero to me, I grew up on his comedy specials on HBO, and I've always been proud that we shared a birthday. This totally sucks.)
posted by retronic at 10:16 PM on June 22, 2008