Monday, June 23, 2008

George Carlin: RIP

George Carlin, who had suffered from heart problems for years, died yesterday at the age of 71. Carlin, best known for his comedy routine about the "seven words you can't say on television," was one of the brightest and wittiest comedians to ever grace a stage. Carlin's comedy made you think. He challenged your ideas and made you laugh at the same time. What better send off than to quote some of my favorite Carlinisms:
  • Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?

  • I'm not concerned about all hell breaking loose, but that a PART of hell will break loose... it'll be much harder to detect.

  • One can never know for sure what a deserted area looks like.

  • When someone is impatient and says, "I haven't got all day," I always wonder, How can that be? How can you not have all day?

  • If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted?

  • I think it's the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.

  • The whole meaning of life is trying to find a place for your stuff.
George Carlin repeatedly crossed the line and made me laugh every time. I miss him already. My best wishes go out to his family, friends and fans. I leave you with George Carlin's thoughts on death [do not click on the link if you are offended by profanity or jokes about religion].

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Comedian George Carlin, famed for his routines about drugs and dirty words, died of heart failure at a Los Angeles-area hospital Sunday, a spokesman said. He was 71.

Carlin, who had a history of heart and drug-dependency problems, died at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica about 6 p.m. PDT (9 p.m. EDT) after being admitted earlier in the afternoon for chest pains, spokesman Jeff Abraham told Reuters.

Known for his edgy, provocative material, Carlin achieved status as an anti-Establishment icon in the 1970s with stand-up bits full of drug references and a routine called "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television."

Carlin's comedic sensibility often came back to a central theme: humanity is doomed.

Carlin, who wrote several books and performed in many television comedy specials, is survived by his wife Sally Wade, and daughter Kelly Carlin McCall.

Oscar

Anonymous said...

I wasn't a huge fan of Carlin's for many of his rants I didn't agree with but it's sad to see him die. May he rest in peace.

SheriffFreddyHeflin

Anonymous said...

Another great entertainer gone.
:(

Saint Jaymz

Anonymous said...

REST IN PEACE, GOD BLESS THE DEAD LIKE MAKAVELI SAYS,thanx my fellow soldiers 4 honoring this entertainer,R.I.P.

Makaveli

Anonymous said...

I'm a fan of Carlin's. I've seen and recorded many of his stand-ups. He is one of the greatest comedians that ever lived.

The last show I saw him in was It's Bad For Ya on HBO. It seemed to me then that his age had taken its way with him.

Here's one of his best performances, the Seven Words you can't say on TV:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTyzTJTNhNk

This is Carlin on It's Bad For Ya, where he talks about death. I don't agree with what he's saying, but I thought you'd want to know what he believed in.

ssarhan

Anonymous said...

Another legend passes on.....he'll be missed.

jason93

Anonymous said...

I only know him from the appearances he made in a few of Kevin Smith's movies. He was good in Dogma and also in [/i]Jersey Girl[/i]. His cameo in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back wasn't bad either.

R.I.P. Cardinal Glick!! LOL!!

RockyManiac

Anonymous said...

i SAW him only once in Jersey Girl and he was great!

RIP

Oscar

Anonymous said...

Kevin Smith is a big fan of Carlin, which explains why he cast him in so many of his films.

Kevin even kinda looks like George, the beard is an obvious resemblance! And the stand-ups...if you have seen Kevin Smith doing stand-up in An Evening with Kevin Smith parts 1 and 2, his comic style is similar to George Carlin.

ssarhan

Anonymous said...

Very sad. One of the greatest comedic minds. One of the few who were so outspoken during his generation that actually made it big. Not many, if any, like him left. :'(


Peace,
RTS
http://www.myspace.com/paulmaged
http://www.paulmaged.com

Anonymous said...

I heard abou this at work yesterday, it came as a real shocker. I expected him to live 'til his 80's (Why? Because Carlin predicted that, he's never been wrong before). It really broke my heart, I couldn't even grasp the fact that he had passed, I still haven't.

I'm a big, BIG fan of stand-up comedy, and he's my second favorite stand-up comedian after Richard Pryor. Until yesterday he was the best living stand-up comedian, who can possibly fill his shoes? No one can.

R.I.P. George, we'll miss you :(

Axel Foley

Anonymous said...

I found this to be pretty shocking although Carlin did have some health problems in recent years. I wouldn't say that I was a huge fan of his but I always enjoyed his HBO specials. Several times the guy had me in tears from laughing so hard. And I can't say that about most comics.

JSL

Anonymous said...

Carlin was definitely one of the greats.

SpiderRicco

Anonymous said...

George was THE best - bar none!!!

papa
stas (who will remember him via his 'words':)

Anonymous said...

RIP :(

Night Slasher