George Carlin, Last Of The Originals, Dies At 71

Proof • June 23, 2008

It’s been said that there are only three comedians and everyone else has spun their acts from them. Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, and George Carlin. Having been a fan of comedy – and especially political comedy – my whole life I can’t say I disagree.
Now George Carlin, the last of the three truly original cutting edge comics, has died of what appears to be a heart attack.
Whether you’re from the polical left, right, or middle of the road, you have to admit that Carlin could make you laugh out loud – or piss you off which, really accomplishes the same thing when you’re doing political humor. He had a brilliant mind.
I didn’t link to any news stories about this because most of what I could find this morning are from The News Organization That Shall Remain Nameless And Unlinked, at least by me, but it’s all over the place so you can find more details almost anywhere.
I hope he rests in peace.
Much more over at the Reader’s Blog, , along with one of his videos.

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http://Array Neiman

Comparing Bob Hope and these other morons, people that made other people of very low intellect laugh, is ridiculous. At least Carlin had an intellect, as much as I hated his politics and resorting to bathroom humor for laughs, he appealed to people far above the Bowery Boys low class audience. Next we’ll read of the value of The Three Stooges to our national humor! I’ll bet Archie & Veronica are not far behind!
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

Angels With Dirty Faces
Neiman

Doesn’t change the fact that he had a huge impact on political humor and satire.

There is no doubt about the truth of that statement!

Carlin’s comedy was politically oriented and slanted way to the left, but no less valid.

I have no idea what that means!
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

He did a show at Cal State Northridge…maybe it was still called Valley State College at the time…His 4′ tall â€˜stage’ was set up at one end of the gym. I got there early, sat on the floor right down in front with my feet touching the stage. I though I was going to die. He had us (me) laughing so hard that I could not breathe. Really, I could not breathe. I don’t know about that short list of 3, but he certainly was one of the greats. Certainly Abbott and Costello, Dean and Martin, Groucho Marx and brothers would make some list as well.
http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

And the Dead End Kids!
http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof_positive

By the way….does anyone but me remember the Bowery Boys?

Would someone please inform the officer that I cannot answer questions about old movies until I’ve been Carmen Mirandized!
docdave

pil, I guess you didn’t know Bob Hope, Red Skeltons, Jack Benny, George Burns and Gracy Allen and a few others of that era who I think were the REAl original comedians, and the beauty of their comedy is that they didn’t have to use obscenities to get a laugh.
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

He made me chuckle at times, but for the most part I just found him annoying.

Found stick, send mud.
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob
ellinas

Will miss him. Great comedy. Thanks for the laughs and god bless.
Pilgrim

pil, I guess you didn’t know Bob Hope, Red Skeltons, Jack Benny, George Burns and Gracy Allen

I knew and loved them all, including the Marx Brothers and Stooges, the Bowery Boys (bet you don’t remember them) and the like.

The three I mentioned made their mark through political stand-up, not on the TV or big screen in skit comedy or movies. Political observational humor.

THAT’S the difference. Apples to oranges.
Pilgrim

You have the right to wear bananas on your head. You have the right to make pretty awful movies but get away with it if you have great legs. You have the right to have an agent present.

There. That better?

Now, answer the question, Carmen: Do you remember the Bowery Boys?
Neiman

DocDave: Pilgrim does not get it! Carlin was famous mostly because he used a lot of dirty language in his act and spoke about sexual conduct to excite the Sixties crowd that were rebelling against everything. He was also an atheist of the first degree, he hated everything Christian. He was anti-military and the only America he loved was a liberal, socialist one.

I met Bob Hope in Lake Tahoe many years ago, a few decades ago actually. Not only was he funny and very popular his whole life, he didn’t have to tell dirty jokes or attack his own country in pursuit of that fame. He was a gentlemen towards me, invited me to spend about 15 minutes with him and some friends and never made me feel inferior. Carlin on the other hand did not like being close to the fans, he was an intellectual that felt he was superior to his audience.

Despite these differences, he did gain a certain amount of second class fame, money and drugs. I hope he is resting in peace, I truly do.
Pilgrim

Nieman,

No, I do get it.

Carlin and Hope were alike only in that they were both bipedal mammmals. Their acts and political philosophies couldn’t have been any different.

Hope’s comedy was great – his early movies were hilarious and his support of our troops legendary. He was a great man.

Carlin’s comedy was politically oriented and slanted way to the left, but no less valid. Was he a great man like Hope. Probably not. Doesn’t change the fcat that he had a huge impact on political humor and satire.
Pilgrim

By the way….does anyone but me remember the Bowery Boys?
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

HQ…

second stick found…
send more mud…

that is all…
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

da mawk a da squeela
Neiman

Pilgrim:

I wasn’t comparing the two.

Okay! I might have taken it too seriously!

Just reminiscing. And I DO post on the Stooges once in a while. Did you miss the Curly Shuffle last week?

I never liked the Stooges, or the Marx Brothers, Keystone Cops or any slapstick humor that involves hurting or humiliating people for laughs. I cannot stand much of the new comedy for those reasons and for their using scatological humor. I don’t judge those that do like it, I just don’t enjoy it myself and will leave the room.
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

I use to think that the tall blond guy grew up to be Gruber.
Pilgrim

Nieman: I wasn’t comparing the two. Just reminiscing. And I DO post on the Stooges once in a while. Did you miss the Curly Shuffle last week?

And RBB…That was Satch. I thought he was Gruber, too, but he wasn’t.
Pilgrim

Same bunch of guys, more or less. Slip Mahoney and Satch….good stuff.

Of course, most people out there don’t have a clue what I’m talking about.
Pilgrim

RBB wins!

Angels With Dirty Faces. Pretty good stuff.
http://www.poorschmuck.net/ John D

I think you forgot Jonathan Winters. Robin Williams has based his entire comedy career on imitatin Jonathan…and gladly admits it.

Then there was the great Gracie Allem. George Burns said that he never had to be funny, all he had to do was come out and talk to Gracie.
http://sayanythingblog.com/readers/author/realitybasedbob/ realitybasedbob

I don’t judge those that do like it

he appealed to people far above the Bowery Boys low class audience.
http://sayanythingblog.com robport

And here I was about to add Carlin to the list of celebrities I would like to see move to Canada if McCain gets elected.

He made me chuckle at times, but for the most part I just found him annoying. But annoying in a sort of endearing way, if that makes any sense.

Sorry to see him go.

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George Carlin, Last Of The Originals, Dies At 71

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