GEORGE CARLIN DEAD AT 71

[biggordie]

The world has become a lesser place with the passing of George Carlin, who brought a little self-awareness to those who paid attention.

He was only 71, and it brings home our own mortality. I keep thinking that I am immortal; but every time someone of about my own age passes on, I stop for a moment, and think - but then I say to myself "Nah."

I'm sure that we all have our favorite Carlin routines - I loved his discussion of football, which had me peeing my pants, and staining the sofa - and mine was his one man radio station:

"H Bombs rain on Moscow and Washington!!! - millions die in nuclear holocaust!!! - these and other stories in a moment; but first a word from our sponsor......"

"Have you tried the new Prest Toothpaste? Surveys at high schools across the country show that although Prest does not prevent or reduce cavities, 47% of the girls got pregnant,,,,,"

"And now over to Al Sleet, the Hippy-dippy weather man:"

"Que pasa, man? I mean, Que whatcha call your pasa, man? The forecast for tonight - Dark!!!............"

"Back to the news - There was a freak accident at Hastings and Cordoba this afternoon, when a Ford pickup, driven by one freak, slammed into a Volkswagen van carrrying four freaks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"

"Last week it was number 120, Today, it's Number One Wth A Bullet, and tomorrow a Golden Oldie. Here's................"

A prayer for all his friends and his family, and for his soul, wherever it might be headed. That place will be better for his arrival, and a helluva lot funnier.

Gordie

[clw]

It does bring home our own mortality, Gordie. Especially when the one who passes on is a individual who has shaped our lives.

Carlin is one, Tim Russert was another. Carlin could make me laugh from the deepest gloom. If it's possible to love a person you've never met, I loved George. He recently issued a collection of his life's work and I need -- really need -- to have it.

I believe that if you are selling me a Big Mac, you'd better do it in English.

My heroes are John Wayne, the Simpsons, and whoever canceled Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.

I think if you are too stupid to know how a ballot works, I don't want you deciding who should be running the most powerful nation the world for the next four years.

I'm not in touch with my feelings and I like it that way, damn it.

Good journey, George.

[crzhrs]

Too bad about Carlin . . . he made you think! He wasn't an in-your-face comedian and used "words" not for shocking people but to expound on the hypocrisy of things that make the world go round.

Al Sleet . . . the Hippy-Dippy Weather man: Radar shows a line of thunderstorms coming our way. Radar also shows a line of Russian bombers. You won't have to worry about the thunderstorms!

[BrokenSword]

There were two Carlins. The earlier young and clean-cut one who first came unto the scene, and the older acid-tongued and bitter one with whom I delevoped a love/hate relationship. Both were equally funny, and equally intelligent in their observations.

Does Carlin's evolution of mood and tone remind anyone here of... oh, say... Frederick Benteen?

M

[Dark Cloud]

One of Carlin's first solo TV acceptable routines was about Custer.

He was hysterical more than not, and you can't find many in his ballpark. It's also embarrassing to listen to the old Carlin and Pryor routines and recall how - really - shocking they were back in the day and how family hour they seem now. Carlin's Seven Words or Pryor's "Where da white women at?" as he entered stopped not a few hearts for a beat.

Like music, technology has allowed niche comedians to prosper unknown to the majority of us, and that's both good and bad. Good because they get to do their stuff, bad because it segments society, or rather caters to segments to the deliberate exclusion of others.

Carlin supposedly was influenced by Lennie Bruce, but I suspect he saw how to do it right: remain oddly mainstream, yet remain cutting edge controversal, make a difference, and have both the outlaw persona and the star income. He did it right, his influence is immense, and he was a genuine wit fully equal to Wilde or Shaw or Mencken within his sphere.

We'll miss him more the older we get.

[crawdaddo]

Yes a prayer for George Carlin a very funny man,we didn't see or hear much of him in Australia but what we did get was good value.Also a thought for Tim Russert another who you had to look for to find in Oz,usually in the early hours of the morning on Meet the Press I thought he wasn a talented and unbiased reporter........I'm with you gordie when you stop in those moments to reflect . 'nah' ......cheers craw