Monday, June 23, 2008

George Carlin


I was deeply saddened to hear that George Carlin died today. He inspired a generation of comedians with his political and social comedy. He deliberately pushed the limits of language and his comedy was about language and ideas.
In the 70's, much of his comedy was head trips, playing with language and drug references. He challenged the FCC with his routine about the 7 little words that were forbidden. No matter how silly his work somettimes appeared on the surface, it was always rooted in an intellectual paradox and he used language to reveal the absurdities.
In the last 10 years of his life, his monologues became more of a lecture on government, society and the banality of oppression. He used his fame as a platform and never was a hypocrite. He fought a heroic fight of ideas with humor.
Just this week it was announced that he was to recieve the Mark Twain Lifetime Acheivment Award for humor.
This is just one of many routines I considered posting, but it is typical late Carlin, brilliant, hilarious and deadly!
Long may his memory and influence create extreme discomfort!

2 comments:

steve said...

oh wow! that was fucking scathing! I always wanted to see Carlin live, I guess I will never get to. My favorite bit is the one where he talks about planet earth. "The planets not going anywhere, the planet will be fine... It's the PEOPLE."

mud_rake said...

FoxNews ran a 2001 interview with Carlin and O'Reilly where O'Reilly is attacking Carlin.

And he wasn't yet in the ground.

Scumbags.