I don’t do obits, and I don’t do celebrity news, so I’ll be quick: George Carlin died yesterday, which you probably know. Thing is though, there are thousands of sites that will sing his praises, and that’s not so much my style. Frankly, I’ve found his work for the last few years pretty weak, or at least unfunny, which pretty much sucks because that’s not how I like to think of the guy. So while people everywhere will be trotting out the ol’ “he’ll be missed,” I just want to say that I’ve missed him for quite a while.
Here’s how I think I’ll choose to remember Carlin: as an incredibly smart guy that hated people butchering the English language (as do I, so for that alone I love him), as a guy that made me laugh convulsively from time to time over the years, as a guy who’s legacy is to have inspired some of the smartest and funniest people working in comedy today and as a guy who, along with comics like Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks, and Lenny Bruce found new ways to approach comedy and avoid hackiness. So thanks, George.
If you want to read a really good obit, head over to the mighty Reason magazine site and read Marty Beckermans. And if you want to see someone doing the kind of quality and original comedy that Carlin used to pull of decades ago, watch Doug Stanhope work. His cable special “No Refunds” was probably the best comedy I’ve seen in years (which shocked me, as I assumed based on the little I had seen of him before that the guy was an fucking idiot -turns out he’s brilliant – who knew?) and it’s available on DVD.
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I heard the news this morning while NPR floated in and out of my dreams. (The radio alarm actually puts me to sleep.) I was never a huge Carlin fan, but maybe I just haven’t seen his best materials.
So now you can’t say you don’t do obits or celebrity news.
I was never a huge fan either. Of all the “legendary” comedians, he was my least favorite. But the trickle-down theory of comedy is applicable with him – he’s had a big effect on other comedians and the scene in general.
Though not, IMO as big as Pryor or the brilliant Mr Mike, Michael O’Donoghue (not a standup guy, a writer – and one of my comedy heroes.)
I have a couple of comments:
1. Not a fan of Carlin.
2. Really not a fan of O’Donoghue
3. I think Doug Stanhope is pure funny brilliance (or I just relate to his sickness)
4. Now that you are running for office, you are writing obits??
2. Really not a fan of O’Donoghue
You really have no idea how much this upsets me, too.
I think I enjoy seeing you two banter (or is that bicker?) as much as I enjoy reading the actual posts. Wait – maybe more.
Oh, Teresa, you should see it over at our house. You may want to drown yourself in our pool.