George Carlin Changed Comedy And Made History
That is the theme of the fitting tribute in Time Magazine. When he stopped doing one-liners and commercial parodies and began talking about Vietnam, sex, and language, it was considered radical. Funny how today the things he was doing earlier in his career seem so tame.
Carlin saw the stand-up comic as a social commentator, rebel and truthteller. He challenged conventional wisdom and tweaked the hypocrisies of middle-class America. He made fun of society’s outrage over drugs, for example, pointing out that the “drug problem” extends to middle-class America as well, from coffee freaks at the office to housewives hooked on diet pills. He talked about the injustice of Muhammad Ali’s banishment from boxing for avoiding the draft - a man whose job was beating people up losing his livelihood because he wouldn’t kill people: “He said, ‘No, that’s where I draw the line. I’ll beat ‘em up, but I don’t want to kill ‘em.’ And the government said, ‘Well, if you won’t kill people, we won’t let you beat ‘em up.’”
George’s “Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television” wound up as a Supreme Court case when they were broadcast on WBAI in New York, resulting in television creating a “family hour.” In his own words:
“There are no bad words,” said Carlin. “Bad thoughts. Bad intentions. And woooords.”
A giant of brilliant commentary and social observation is gone. Thanks for the memories!
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:19 am
Man, this sucks. I really liked Carlin.
I take the pursuit of spiritual truth very seriously, as regulars to LL well know. Much of George’s religious commentary disturbed me… but it was all very memorable! I wonder what he felt at the end, and if he had any last smart ass comments like “I’m going to meet the imaginary giant in the sky”. :-)
I’m going to miss his comments. He was rather brilliant.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:41 am
George Carlin, Howard Stern, George Wallace, Redd Foxx, Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, and Rosie O’Donnell have all shared their social commentary at a great cost. Carlin was a Supreme Court case, Stern is in outer space, and Rosie just got her Earth card back. Where is the Liberal argument? It’s out of this world or frontlining for God. George Wallace and Chris Rock may not have decided which side they are actually going to share commentary for as of yet. That’s why they barely got a mention with these great names in comedy and history. Time will tell what they decide to do. Chris Rock’s “Seal” from “Head of State” is making some noise with Obama. George Wallace “Must Still Be Thinking.” I don’t mention people unless I’ve got love for them. I loved Carlin.
June 23rd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
George who? Had to read the article on FoxNews to figure out who he was, guess because of my age I have no idea who some of these people are. Yeah I know who Howard Stern is because he gets into trouble more than some of the other people in radio do.
And yes there are a few bad words. Just wish the FCC and Congress would regulate them more as would they some other things such as how little some people are actually wearing on tv. Congress needs to worry about things other than the so-called Fairness Doctrine.
June 23rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
From~ I can’t believe that you hadn’t at least heard about George Carlin before! Whoa…. :-)
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
George Carlin picked up where Lenny Bruce left off! A great and funny Man will be missed by Myself and alot of other people as well. Good bye George!
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:09 pm