whats weird is that last night I was sorting through some of the Emmy screeners that we had borrowed from a friend and the HBO stand up of George Carlin was in there and I was about to watch it since I missed it when it was on, but I didnt want to be the first one to open it so i just left it and went to bed. then i wake up this morning of the news that he is dead. kind of strange coincidence.
I saw Carlin in Vegas about 10 years ago. He came out on the stage and after after the applause ended he says: "You ever notice that the women against abortion are the type you wouldn't want to f*** anyway?" The crowd roared in laughter. I couldn't breath I was laughing so hard.
"It's ok for Curt Gowdy to say, 'There's two balls on Roberto Clemente" but he can never say, 'Wow, looks like he hurt his balls on that play." Still cracks me up 30-some odd years later...
Like I mentioned earlier, I saw him twice and this is the highest compliment I can pay... he was as funny as another incredible comedian I saw perform 40 years ago, Jonathan Winters. Just completely different comedy, of course.
As much as I liked him, I felt he got too politcal over the past several years. He could do what he wanted, but I preferred his other observations on life.
I think you can be political and funny. He just seemed way too cynical and it was more ranting than comedy.
Carlin's last interview: http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/brainstorm/200806/george-carlins-last-interview
Dying Is Hard. Comedy Is Harder. By JERRY SEINFELD Published: June 24, 2008 THE honest truth is, for a comedian, even death is just a premise to make jokes about. I know this because I was on the phone with George Carlin nine days ago and we were making some death jokes. We were talking about Tim Russert and Bo Diddley and George said: “I feel safe for a while. There will probably be a break before they come after the next one. I always like to fly on an airline right after they’ve had a crash. It improves your odds.” 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. You could certainly say that George downright invented modern American stand-up comedy in many ways. Every comedian does a little George. I couldn’t even count the number of times I’ve been standing around with some comedians and someone talks about some idea for a joke and another comedian would say, “Carlin does it.” I’ve heard it my whole career: “Carlin does it,” “Carlin already did it,” “Carlin did it eight years ago.” And he didn’t just “do” it. 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. But his brilliance fathered dozens of great comedians. I personally never cared about “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” or “FM & AM.” To me, everything he did just had this gleaming wonderful precision and originality. I became obsessed with him in the ’60s. As a kid it seemed like the whole world was funny because of George Carlin. His performing voice, even laced with profanity, always sounded as if he were trying to amuse a child. It was like the naughtiest, most fun grown-up you ever met was reading you a bedtime story. I know George didn’t believe in heaven or hell. Like death, they were just more comedy premises. And it just makes me even sadder to think that when I reach my own end, whatever tumbling cataclysmic vortex of existence I’m spinning through, in that moment I will still have to think, “Carlin already did it.” Jerry Seinfeld is a writer and a comedian. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/opinion/24seinfeld.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
NBC is airing the very first SNL tonight with Carlin as host. NBC'S "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" REMEMBERS GEORGE CARLIN THIS WEEKEND "SNL" Honors Legendary Comedian George Carlin, Re-Airing Its 1975 Premiere Episode with Carlin as Host NEW YORK June 24, 2008 As hilarious and heartfelt tributes pour in marking the passing of groundbreaking comedian George Carlin, "Saturday Night Live" pays tribute on Saturday, June 28 (11:30 p.m.-1:00 a.m. ET), re-airing its premiere episode that featured Carlin as host. Remembering Carlin, "Saturday Night Live" creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels noted: "You never forget the people who were there at the beginning. George Carlin helped give 'Saturday Night Live' its start as our first host. He was gracious, fearless, and most important of all, funny." Typifying the show's "of-the-moment" sensibility that would continue throughout its over thirty-year history, Carlin was brought in as the first host of the groundbreaking comedy show. Carlin performed three individual monologues on the program that also introduced audiences to the now legendary "Not Ready For Prime-Time Players" Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Larraine Newman and Gilda Radner. The 1975 episode also features musical guests Janis Ian and Billy Preston as well as a landmark performance from comedian Andy Kaufman. http://thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080624nbc05
Man, I really wanted to see the Ellen Page episode again. The only good one this season. Go get mama some chicken nuggrets. It's up the esqualator!
You obviously didn't see the Shia Labeouf (sp?) episode. The Macgrubers in that episode were priceless, as was the Match Game spoof.
You might be able to find those clips at www.hulu.com Here's Carlin's monologue: <object width="512" height="296"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/5UXj_1U8rqIZU5URagz4lw"></param><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/5UXj_1U8rqIZU5URagz4lw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="512" height="296"></embed></object>
