George Carlin R.I.P

[Miranda]

George Carlin, the Grammy-Award winning standup comedian and actor who was hailed for his irreverent social commentary, poignant observations of the absurdities of everyday life and language, and groundbreaking routines like "Seven Words You Can Never Use on Television," died in Los Angeles on Sunday, according to his publicist, Jeff Abraham. He was 71.

The cause of death was heart failure, according to Abraham.

Carlin began his standup comedy act in the late 1950s and made his first television solo guest appearance on "The Merv Griffin Show" in 1965. At that time, he was primarily known for his clever wordplay and reminiscences of his Irish working-class upbringing in New York.

But from the outset their were indications of an anti-establishment edge to his comedy. Initially, it surfaced in the witty patter of a host of offbeat characters like the wacky sportscaster Biff Barf and the hippy-dippy weatherman Al Sleet. "The weather was dominated by a large Canadian low, which is not to be confused with a Mexican high. Tonight's forecast . . . dark, continued mostly dark tonight turning to widely scattered light in the morning."

Carlin released his first comedy album, "Take-Offs and Put-Ons," to rave reviews in 1967. He also dabbled in acting, winning a recurring part as Marlo Thomas' theatrical agent in the sitcom "That Girl" (1966-67) and a supporting role in the movie "With Six You Get Egg-Roll," released in 1968.

By the end of the decade, he was one of America's best known comedians. He made more than 80 major TV appearances during that time, including the Ed Sullivan Show and Johnny Carson's Tonight Show; he was also regularly featured at major nightclubs in New York and Las Vegas.

That early success and celebrity, however, was as dinky and hollow as a gratuitous pratfall to Carlin. "I was entertaining the fathers and the mothers of the people I sympathized with, and in some cases associated with, and whose point of view I shared," he recalled later, as quoted in the book "Going Too Far" by Tony Hendra, which was published in 1987. "I was a traitor, in so many words. I was living a lie."

In 1970, Carlin discarded his suit, tie, and clean-cut image as well as the relatively conventional material that had catapulted him to the top. Carlin reinvented himself, emerging with a beard, long hair, jeans and a routine that, according to one critic, was steeped in "drugs and bawdy language." There was an immediate backlash. The Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas terminated his three-year contract, and, months later, he was advised to leave town when an angry mob threatened him at the Lake Geneva Playboy Club. Afterward, he temporarily abandoned the nightclub circuit and began appearing at coffee houses, folk clubs and colleges where he found a younger, hipper audience that was more attuned to both his new image and his material.

By 1972, when he released his second album, "FM & AM," his star was again on the rise. The album, which won a Grammy Award as best comedy recording, combined older material on the "AM" side with bolder, more acerbic routines on the "FM" side. Among the more controversial cuts was a routine euphemistically entitled "Shoot," in which Carlin explored the etymology and common usage of the popular idiom for excrement. The bit was part of the comic's longer routine "Seven Words That Can Never Be Said on Television," which appeared on his third album "Class Clown," also released in 1972.

"There are some words you can say part of the time. Most of the time 'ass' is all right on television," Carlin noted in his introduction to the then controversial monologue. "You can say, well, 'You've made a perfect ass of yourself tonight.' You can use ass in a religious sense, if you happen to be the redeemer riding into town on one — perfectly all right."

The material seems innocuous by today's standards, but it caused an uproar when broadcast on the New York radio station WBAI in the early seventies. The station was censured and fined by the FCC. And in 1978, their ruling was supported by the Supreme Court, which Time magazine reported, "upheld an FCC ban on 'offensive material' during hours when children are in the audience." Carlin, refused to drop the bit and was arrested several times after reciting it on stage.

Carlin released a half dozen comedy albums during the '70s, including the million-record sellers "Class Clown," "Occupation: Foole" (1973) and "An Evening With Wally Lando" (1975). He was chosen to host the first episode of the late-night comedy show "Saturday Night Live" in 1975. And two years later, he found the perfect platform for his brand of acerbic, cerebral, sometimes off-color standup humor in the fledgling, less restricted world of cable television. By 1977, when his first HBO comedy special, "George Carlin at USC" was aired, he was recognized as one of the era's most influential comedians. In the years following his 1977 cable debut, Carlin was nominated for a half dozen Grammy awards and received CableAces awards for best stand-up comedy special for "George Carlin: Doin' It Again (1990) and "George Carlin: Jammin'" (1992). He also won his second Grammy for the album "Jammin'" in 1994.

During the course of his career, Carlin overcame numerous personal trials. His early arrests for obscenity (all of which were dismissed) and struggle to overcome his self-described "heavy drug use" were the most publicized. But in the '80s he also weathered serious tax problems, a heart attack and two open heart surgeries. His greatest setback was the loss of his wife, Brenda Hosbrook, who died in 1997. They had been married for 36 years. Carlin is survived by wife, Sally Wade; daughter Kelly Carlin McCall; son-in-law, Bob McCall; older brother, Patrick Carlin; sister-in-law, Marlene Carlin and long time manager, business partner and best friend Jerold Hamza.

[Morbid Side]

Funny fucker. No matter how his tirades about religion, society and drugs came off. He was was more of a philosopher and pioneer in not just the comedy circuit but in our lives. Sad day for us Carlin fans.

[Hellion]

He was on my top 5 been listening to Carlin for at least 20yearsThe only person who could decipher people and societyand turn it into comedywas always wanting to meet him in personThis really sucksSilly Putty and Napalm,When will Jesus Bring the Porkchopstwo great books of hisRIP George Carlin

[know_buddy_kares]

oh no.. I can't believe this.. from a couple/few... heart attacks.. either 2 or maybe 4 (cant remember) he still lived...

Not to discredit you.. but I really got to do some searching on this matter to find out if it's true or not.... I mean yeah it's not suprising that he's dead.. hell how he is.. one could say he shoulda died long ago... but this is like Danny from the Tourettes guy... expected... but unacceptable....

He was one of the few good ones out there.. Goodnight sweet prince....

[Morbid Side]

And you know what irks me the most? The conservative jackoffs at Channel 7 gave him no media coverage, final clips, nothing, notta. Very distasteful. But if it was Brtiney Spears walking around with no panties, they would be on it like white on rice. It shows they don't care about influential people. RIP George.

[know_buddy_kares]

And you know what irks me the most? The conservative jackoffs at Channel 7 gave him no media coverage, final clips, nothing, notta. Very distasteful. But if it was Brtiney Spears walking around with no panties, they would be on it like white on rice. It shows they don't care about influential people. RIP George.

now you know why i never watch the fucking news on tv.. it's either a dramatized rumor, or something worthless other than a used up piece of ass that only idiots still crave.

[Msterbeau]

:(

[n0Mad]

Probably one of the most influential comedians of all times. He will be greatly missed.

[hunhee]

oh man.. another one bites the dust.. *sighs*

I is sad.. a truly remarkably funny fucking guy.. :(

[Homicidalheathen]

Wow. The world lost one of its greatest free thinkers/speakers cause he was not just a comedian.

[Fin]

Brilliant man of genius--both in comedy & social satire.

He shall continue to be my very favorite stand-up of all time.

RIP

[Oh_My_Goth]

:cry :cry

He was AWESOME!!!!!

[Der Nister]

So I say live and let live. That's my motto. Live and let live. Anyone who can't go along with that, take him outside and shoot the motherfucker. It's a simple philosophy but it's always worked in our family.

I don't have pet peeves, I have major psychotic fucking hatreds!

Religion has actually conviced people that there's an invisible man. Living in the sky. Who watches everything you do every minute of every day of your life. And he has a list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any, any, of these ten things, he has a special place full of fire and smoke and ash and torture where he will send you to suffer and burn and scream and cry forever and ever until the end of time. ... But he loves you.

Here's a bumper sticker I'd like to see: "We are the proud parents of a child whose self esteem is sufficient that he doesnt need us promoting his minor scholastic achievements on the back of our car.

[tanuki1985]

He will definitely be missed. :(

[freydis]

This sucks.

[GothicRavenGoddess (3)]

I'm right there with ya on that one.... :

the world as we know it is going to suck even more, now....

did you guys notice, tho, that his more recent shows, he did look a little worse for ware? so sad... damnit all to hell... where ever he is, i hope he's maken everyone laugh their asses off!

[phee]

I am saddened, He was one of my favorite human beings....

[SaGa]

he really changed the lives of many people, with his middle finger up in the air.

he will be missed

[ttogreh]

Damn it.

What a great way to start the week. I will miss him.

[Hellion]

George Carlin was definately the only god I worshipped He was the only one that could turn negative stuffinto some of the most hilarious stuff you would have everheardNo matter how miserable you felt,Carlin would make you laugh,Rest in Peace buddy,you will always make me laughno matter what.

[Rev.Reverence]

I do hope he was not surprized by the moment of his death...

..May Our Brothers passing to the next Stage be an Enlightening experience..

..We ALL know it is unhindered by His personal Karma..

[Hellion]

Only Carlin could know how to deal with a Heckler,LOL!!this was awesome!!(sound only)

He definately influenced my humor,I give him credit for giving me ideas on how to be hilarious,thank you George Carlin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it9kpZHXhxI

[jynxxxedangel]

I was hoping Mr. Carlin would run for President someday.. :( RIP

At least we still have Dennis Miller.

[Shade Everdark]

So long, George.

[jynxxxedangel]

I just have to say that if there IS an old man with a long white beard up there, I'm sure Mr. Carlin has already engaged him with some very interesting conversation

I have already lit a candle for St. George. Now, to write a Novena.