There are many people who don't get George Carlin. They think his routines are too misanthropic ("People are stupid"), too anti-religious ("Religion is bullsh*t"), or misogynistic ("rape can be funny"). Judge them from the titles alone, and you aren't deriving any appreciation of what an impact Carlin, who died today at age 71, had on the comedy scene over the past 50 years.
George Carlin was the kind of guy who could curse a blue streak, FCC be damned. (For a time capsule into how our understanding of obscenity has evolved, as well as how a treatise on obscenity can be rendered intelligently and as a thing of beauty, check out his routine about the 7 words you can't say on television. Or if you're sensitive to obscenity, look below for some more family friendly alternates.)
Carlin resented censorship and wasn't shy about it...but even within his survey of foul language, you can see a mind that was razor sharp, intelligent and insightful. He was a man obsessed with the peculiarities of humanity, our inconsistencies and eccentricities in everything from eating habits to religious observance. His routines were more than just setup, punch line/setup, punch line. They were delicate dances within language and delving into human personality.
To experience Carlin in a relatively family-friendly manner, try this analysis of Baseball and Football, or one of his more famous routines, "Stuff":
Not everyone will miss his comedy, his style, and his intelligence. But they should.
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I always really enjoyed George through most of his career. He was smart and funny. He had so many routines that showed deep insight into human nature and made funny of the inconsistentcies in all of us.
But in the later years, he became more and more open about his atheism, and in my opinon became too anti-church and anti-christian. There is great fault in all of us, we are all weak and sinful. But that man does not follow God's will, doesn't mean that God does not exist. It just means we should love him more for his mercy and grace! It made me sad for him and harder to watch him.
Matthew 10:32, Exodus 20:7 God is a merciful God, may he have mercy on his soul. We will miss you George!
I spent my entire life growing up with George's humor and hearing about his death took my breath away like I lost a relative. His style was and is like no on elses because he speaks the truth but there's never a dull moment and always something to make you stop and think. He found humor in everything but yet could make you seriously stop and go hmmm. The man was definitely one of a kind and I am so grateful I had the chance to spend my life laughing with him.
A brilliant mind was lost with the passing of George Carlin. Just the sound of his voice made me smile and start to laugh in anticipation of his humor. I cried when I heard the news of his death even though I knew he was ailing.
I am no fan of obscenity and I am a religiously observant person, so why did I love George Carlin and his humor so much?
Because he was a focused observer of human nature, deft with language and graceful to watch. I never saw his religious humor as against God, but rather as against organized religion and its leaders, who claim to know first-hand what God wants. Likewise with government, where elected officials seem to act as if they are above the law, not a result of it.
His obscene language could be overlooked for the sake of seeing what he was really saying. I did not always agree, but I could understand his point and that helped clarify my own attitudes. He was a great thinker, and I was proud to introduce his philosophizing to our kids. We will all miss him.
Wow, what a shock it was the other day,when I went online,and saw that George Carlin had just died. We had just been watching him on cable tv. and, were laughing ourselves silly.
He, like so many,many other people here, have already said, was such a brilliant man with his wonderful insight into human nature, politics,religion.
He could take any situation, and make us really think about it.
I think my favorite,and also my family's, was the 7 words you can't say on television. In fact, I think we just saw that one a couple of months ago, and just rolled with laughter,until tears were rolling down our cheeks. I grew up on his humor,as well. He was one of my parents favorite comedians,and my sisters and I heard him more times than I can count. I was,like another commenter said, blown away, and my breath taken away at the news of his passing. He will be sorely missed by myself,my family,and I know,by millions. Rest in Peace George. We will miss you greatly.
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