George Carlin, R.I.P.
I was eleven when I first heard a George Carlin album. A friend of mine had "A Place For My Stuff" and "Class Clown," and I taped off copies of both. I remember listening to those tapes every day for months, listening to the way Carlin did things.In America, anyone can become president. That's the problem.
Outside of my dad, I don't think any man has had the influence on me that Carlin had. His unique viewpoints and unrelenting questioning of authority was a big eye-opener. The way he used language and carved holes in things we had just taken for granted for years just amazed me.
There are 400,000 words in the English language, and there are 7 you can't say on television. What a ratio that is! 399,993...to 7. They must really be bad. They must be outrageous to be separated from a group that large.
Some words are bad words. Why? He asked that question over thirty years ago, and no one's been able to give me a satisfactory explanation since then.
Don't you find it funny that all these tough-guy boxers are fighting over a purse? And how come none of these boxers seem to have a losing record?
The first time I ever saw him perform was in 1982 on his HBO special, Carlin at Carnegie. I remember sitting there with my mom and dad and all of us just laughing until we cried, al the while my mom trying to keep her compusure because when the special was over, we were going to have a long talk about which words she didn't find appropriate, even when used in a humorous fashion. My folks took me to see Carlin about fifteen years ago as a birthday present, and I remember sitting and laughing with them just like when I was a kid.
Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy.
His previous HBO special in 2006 was kind of sad. He was old and slow, and it seemed like things had passed him by. Later on he'd find out he had twelve pounds of fluid in his lungs during the special, and get that taken care of. His final special aired March 2, 2008, and he was in his old form again. It was good to see him in one last moment of glory, back closer to his prime.
A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.
Looking back at his last HBO show, he actually spent the first fifteen minutes doing a routine about death. Watching it now, it was strangely fitting.
The very existence of flamethrowers 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."
In his honor today, I will thoroughly examine what I am told to be true. I will distrust authority figures who are obviously dishonest.
And of course, I will use all seven words you can't say on television.
And of course, I will use all seven words you can't say on television.
4 Comments:
Why is it I seem to get my most important news from you? I STILL say Carlin didn't have to use those "7 words". He was the deepest, most creative, funniest man of the 20th Century. I saw his sad, heartbreaking special--will try to find the last one to keep him fresh in my mind.
Mom
You introduced me to George Carlin. I'm not sure I remember laughing that hard before, or since.
When I found out that Carlin died, I said everyone of those 7 words. I've had very few "heroes," Pryor, Carlin and Grizzard. All gone. Who the hell am I supposed to look up to for the rest of MY life?
He was amazing. Just amazing. No one is that honest and raw anymore. Every "angry" comedian today owes him a debt of gratitude. His stuff about growing up Catholic -- "I was an Irish Catholic, until I reached the age of reason" -- was some of the funniest, most right-on stuff I've ever heard. I feel like I've lost a friend. And those seven dirty words? F---, yeah.
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