Man, this is really sad. A Slashfilm fave, legendary comedian and thinking man, George Carlin, died today (Sunday) from heart failure at a Santa Monica hospital. He was admitted on Sunday afternoon after experiencing chest pains. Sadder still, Carlin was to receive the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the Kennedy Center this November. No word on how that event will proceed, but let’s hope it will be a fine send-off from his peers for a career that spanned five decades. Carlin said this regarding the reward: “Thank you Mr. Twain. Have your people call my people.” That is one phone call that warranted a tap.
Peter’s Thoughts: This really sucks. Carlin was not only a legendary comedian but a master wordsmith. When he delivered comedy, it was like he was singing a song or reading a poem.
If you haven’t seen every one of his HBO television specials, than you haven’t laughed. Surprisingly he made few appearances on the big screen. My favorite was his performance in Kevin Smith’s Jersey Girl, where he plays Ben Affleck’s father Bart Trinke. Strangely it’s probably his least comedic attempt on the big or small screen. His performance is heartbreaking. I never got to see Carlin live (and it’s not for a lack of trying), and that will probably be one of my biggest regrets.
“The planet isn’t going anywhere. WE ARE! Pack your shit, folks. We’re goin’ away.” - George Carlin
Hunter’s Thoughts: Carlin’s comedy routines threw your mind on the treadmill, whipped it into shape and left you dying on the couch from laughter and the absurdity of a world gone mad (and madder still). I’ve talked to several friends in just the last few minutes–everyone’s watching YouTube clips–and one memory that many of us share is watching Carlin’s superlative HBO specials with our dads. Carlin said he made a decision not to “live a lie” and to speak the truth, and his boldness and intellect closed gaps amongst generations of guys (and women too–his pro-choice bits are classic–no doubt) that rock ‘n’ roll, a lot of literature and a lot of heated discussions failed to do.
His intellect, memory and honesty were brilliant and nearly intimidating, though he wasn’t a snob by any means. He never stopped thinking, he never let his brain age, and he stood on stage like some slender, creaky lightning rod and, tellingly, nothing shot him down. Goddamn it, he was one of the greats. Let’s be sure to put younger generations onto his act and not allow ourselves to easily become that which Carlin stood so humorously against. R.I.P. He was one of the only guys I ever listened to with a pony tail.
“In Heaven, the French do the cooking, the Germans are the mechanics, the Swiss run the hotels, the Italians are the lovers and the English are the police.
In Hell, the English do the cooking, the Italians are the mechanics, the French run the hotels, the Swiss are the lovers and the Germans are the police.” - George Carlin (via /Film commenter Captain Awesome)
Discuss: How will you remember Carlin? Feel free to list your favorite quote from the man below.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:45 pm
fuck.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Shit, Piss, Fuck, Cunt, Cock Sucker, Mother Fucker, and Tits :(
First Winston and now this. You’re killing me here, SKY WIZARD!
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
fuck.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 pm
fuck.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:54 pm
:-(
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 pm
HOLY FUCKADOODLEDOO!
-C
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Very sad. The world has just lost one of it’s funniest people.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Fuck.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080623/ts_nm/carlin_dc
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
“In Heaven, the French do the cooking, the Germans are the mechanics, the Swiss run the hotels, the Italians are the lovers and the English are the police.
In Hell, the English do the cooking, the Italians are the mechanics, the French run the hotels, the Swiss are the lovers and the Germans are the police.”
- George Carlin
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
JESUS FUCKING MOTHERFUCKER. /cry =(
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Fuck.
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Why, Joe Pesci!? Why!?!?!
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Fuck.
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Aww man…
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
fuck indeed :(
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 pm
just spent a while reading Carlin jokes.
We just lost one of the greats.
Winston, Carlin,…
I wonder if there is going to be a hat trick.
Whose cruel idea was it for the word “Lisp” to have a “S” in it?
-GC
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:16 pm
man, 2008 has been a rough year. RIP
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 pm
I always said that one of the days I would hate and fear int erms of a celebrity would be Carlin passing away.
And now that it’s come. It feels like I’ve been kicked in the gut.
Carlin influenced me greatly as an individual and while he poked fun at politics and religion. He did it in an intelligent and sharp manner. The guy was an endless well of wit and lightning bolt of critical social thinking. Now I know for sure the universe is fucking with me, by taking one of my heroes. I am completely shaken by this news and will spend the night watching his special, “Back in Town”. And then spend the rest of the week watching and listening to his entire catalog.
I’ll end this post of mine with one of my other favorite Carlin quotes:
“Religion has convinced people that there’s an invisible man…living in the sky, who watches everything you do every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a list of ten specific things he doesn’t want you to do. And if you do any of these things, he will send you to a special place, of burning and fire and smoke and torture and anguish for you to live forever, and suffer and burn and scream until the end of time. But he loves you. He loves you and he needs money!”
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 pm
George, We’ll miss you…
Indiana Jones 4: We’re at the part of our lives where God stops giving us things and starts to take them away.
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:52 pm
i will be cussing my fucking ass off in honor of that fucking bastard
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:57 pm
FUCK FUCK COCKSUCKER MOTHER FUCKING SHIT
there goes an icon
and now for my trade mark
NOOOOO(FUCK)OOOOO
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:05 am
I always wondered, after his work in Dogma and then Jersey Girl, why he didn’t act more. He was so phenomenal.
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:48 am
Good night, Sweet Prince.
I will always remember the greatest lesson you ever taught me…
RELIGION IS BULLSHIT
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:50 am
Fuck! Where does he want us to put all his shit?
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:01 am
-sighs- Such terrible news. I couldn’t believe it when my friend
shot me an IM earlier in the evening. He leaves behind a fantastic
legacy, but far too soon. Even when his act was making me a little
uncomfortable I was laughing. My thoughts go out to his family.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 am
The last Hippie is dead.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:33 am
im so shocked… i watched his stand up recently…just…no words….
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:38 am
Such a great bit from him
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o&fmt=18
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:05 am
Not enough to drink better put that back.
Love ya George , get some sleep.
790. :-)
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:12 am
I appreciate that you guys said, “George Carlin dead” and not “George Carlin passes away” or something like that. Hell, there’s a good twenty seconds of a number of his skits where he talks about his own demise and a good few minutes where he laments wimpy language like ‘passed on’.
Fuck though… he was a legend.
Down here in Australia, we’ll hoist a beer for him. Probably ten. Cause he was that fuckin’ awesome.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:50 am
No , George no!!!!!
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:10 am
R.I.P.
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:55 am
Fuck man, everyone is dropping like flies this year!!!
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:02 am
“A fart that can end a marriage”
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:43 am
RIP Mr. Carlin.
Thanks for all the great memories - your wisdom shared, and laughs you gave to so many.
“I don’t know why my mother wanted me to wear clean underwear in case of an accident. I thought that’s what an accident was . . . first you say it, then you do it. They’re cutting away your underwear in the emergency room, and the doctor looks down and says, “Holy shit! there’s been a terrible accident here! Just look at all this shit! I sure hope his underwear was clean before this accident happened.”
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:55 am
I saw George Carlin live just a few months ago. Me and my friends were excited, and wise to the fact that it would probably be our only chance to see him ever. His routine was completely unreal. I had never witnessed an act to perfect orchestrated in my life. It was awesome. I’ll miss him a lotl
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:25 am
Louis CK (one of my favorite modern comedians) wrote a great memorial to him
http://www.louisck.net/2008/06/goodbye-george-carlin.html
This is going to be a long year :I
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
the person driving slowr than you is an idiot, the person driving faster than you is a maniac, what does that make you~!
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 am
Fuck, shit!
Man, this blows epic chunks. GC was one of the main factors of me becoming an atheist. RIP
@Capt that last quote is my very favorite of his. God’s such a money grubbing whore.
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:58 am
NOT FAIR
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:25 am
I’ll admit he’s funny, but with many of his driving themes, it’s hard to look back and see he accomplished anything more than a life full of raging bitterness, self-righteousness, and hatred.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
@igroveman
I think that’s more to do with who’s looking than what they’re looking at.
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Comedy has died. Simple and plain.
June 23rd, 2008 at 6:08 pm
@LOTNorm
I’m still waiting for someone who spends their life giving the finger to every social norm to prove to me what they actually contributed to society, other than a load of grimaces that seem to shout “I’m so much better and smarter than you.” The clips I watched today, he reminded me of the kid in 10th grade who cusses loudly in the hallway when the teacher is near in hopes he’ll get a smirk from his classmates. Sure, he’s funny, but he’s not a “voice of truth” as everyone is hailing.
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
RIP
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
igroveman,
haha, you don’t know what the fuck. There’s always the Blue Collar comedy dudes for you.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Voice of truth, ;-/
Suck my dead balls igroveman !
Hey its not to shabby up here, and the internets free.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Here’s a mega George Carlin quote from two years ago…try to think of who today has the balls/platform to say this to millions of people.
“There’s a reason why education sucks and it’s the same reason why it will never, ever, ever, ever be fixed. It’s never gonna get any better - don’t look for it - be happy with what you got. Because the owners of this country don’t want that - I’m talking about the real owners now - the big wealthy business interests that control things and make all the important decisions. Forget the politicians.
“Politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice… YOU DON’T. You have no choice. You have owners. THEY OWN YOU… THEY OWN EVERYTHING. They own all the important land, they own and control the corporations, they’ve long since bought and paid for the senate, the congress, the state houses, the city halls, they got the judges in their back pockets, and they own all the big media companies, so they control just about all the news and information you get to hear. THEY GOT YOU BY THE BALLS.
“They spend billions of dollars every year lobbying to get what they want. Well, we know what they want. They want more for themselves, and less for everybody else, but I’ll tell you what they don’t want. They don’t want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. They don’t want well informed, well educated people capable of critical thinking. They’re not interested in that. That doesn’t help them. That’s against their interests. They don’t want people who are smart enough to sit around the kitchen table and figure out how badly they’re getting fucked by a system that threw them overboard thirty fuckin’ years ago. They don’t want that.
“You know what they want? They want obedient workers. OBEDIENT WORKERS. People who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork, and just dumb enough to passively accept all these increasingly shittier jobs with the lower pay, the longer hours, the reduced benefits, the end of overtime, and the vanishing pension that disappears the minute you go to collect it.
“And now they’re coming for your social security money. They want your fuckin’ retirement money. They want it back so they can give it to their criminal friends on Wall Street. And you know something? They’ll get it. They’ll get it ALL from you - sooner or later - cuz they own this fuckin place. It’s a big club, and you ain’t in it. You and I are not in the big club. By the way, it’s the same big club they use to beat you over the head with all day long when they tell you what to believe. All day long, beating you over the head with their media, telling you what to believe, what to think, and what to buy…
“The table is tilted, folks. The game is rigged. And nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care… Good, honest, hard-working people - white collar, blue collar, it doesn’t matter what color shirt you have on - Good, honest, hard-working people continue - and these are people of modest means - continue to elect these rich cock-suckers who don’t give a fuck about them. They don’t give a fuck about you. They don’t give a fuck about you. They don’t CARE about you - AT ALL! AT ALL! AT ALL!
“And nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care. That’s what the owners count on. The fact that Americans will probably remain willfully ignorant of the big Red, White and Blue dick thats being jammed up their assholes every day. Because the owners of this country know the truth. It’s called the American Dream - because you have to be asleep to believe it…”
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:31 pm
that was great,! Thanks for putting that up Hunter! Awesome!!!!!!!!
That’s not comedy that’s the TRUTH!
Sheeple.
I hope everyone reads that carefully.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Hunter 2 people that do have the balls are , Alex Jones and David Icke. ;-)
June 24th, 2008 at 8:28 am
who gives a flyin’ fuck about some annoying old fart carkin’ it.
good riddance.