George Carlin dies - not a eulogy but my opinion on his later material

[rossid]

I liked him before I was a believer. Was ambivalent for years. And then never paid him any attention for the reason in the quote to follow.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,370121,00.html

Regarding seeing Lenny Bruce and how that changed his 'direction':

"That direction would make Carlin as much a social commentator and philosopher as comedian, a position he would relish through the years"

"The whole problem with this idea of obscenity and indecency, and all of these things — bad language and whatever — it's all caused by one basic thing, and that is: religious superstition," Carlin told the AP in a 2004 interview. "There's an idea that the human body is somehow evil and bad and there are parts of it that are especially evil and bad, and we should be ashamed. Fear, guilt and shame are built into the attitude toward sex and the body. ... It's reflected in these prohibitions and these taboos that we have."

Religious superstition is a blanket statement. It applies to some zealots an not to other believers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_carlin

"Although raised in the Roman Catholic faith, Carlin often denounced the idea of God in interviews and performances, most notably with his "Invisible Man in the Sky" and "There Is No God" routines. In mockery, he invented the parody religion Frisbeetarianism for a newspaper contest. He defined it as the belief that when a person dies "his soul gets flung onto a roof, and just stays there", and cannot be retrieved."

"Carlin also joked that he worshipped the Sun, because he could actually see it, but prayed to Joe Pesci (a good friend of his in real life) because "he's a good actor", and "looks like a guy who can get things done!"[39]

"Carlin also introduced the "Two Commandments", a revised "pocket-sized" list of the Ten Commandments in his HBO special Complaints and Grievances, ending with the additional commandment of "Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself."[40]

[middletree]

I always heard how funny he was, but when I saw him on PBS, he seemed like a bitter man who preached more than told jokes. I didn't laugh once.

That's not to say it's not a sad thing that he died, of course.

[rossid]

Yes his death is sad.

[MadCatholicGomer]

"Carlin also introduced the "Two Commandments", a revised "pocket-sized" list of the Ten Commandments in his HBO special Complaints and Grievances, ending with the additional commandment of "Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself."[40]

Sounds like he broke that "commandment" at every show.

[Jesuslove]

I always heard how funny he was, but when I saw him on PBS, he seemed like a bitter man who preached more than told jokes. I didn't laugh once.

That's not to say it's not a sad thing that he died, of course.

He brought a common senese approach to politics. Although he was a comic, much of his political humor had some merit to it. He was a very intelligent man, a genius. He will be missed.

[VerbumReale]

I always heard how funny he was, but when I saw him on PBS, he seemed like a bitter man who preached more than told jokes. I didn't laugh once.

That's not to say it's not a sad thing that he died, of course.


That was always the impression I had of him. Some would probably say that I just didn't understand his humor. Hogwash. I understood it perfectly well and it did not come across as funny to me.

I think the word 'genius' is a word that gets tossed around too lightly, and, at the risk of coming across as disrespectful, I don't really think it applied to Carlin. He was certainly very insightful into the American culture and how politics, religion and culture intertwined, but at the end of the day he always came across as grumpy to me. And I will admit that much of why he came across this way to me was because I often disagreed with him, but I have heard many comics who I disagree with often whom I find to be very funny, and who also challenge me to question some of my beliefs and values. For me that was never the case with Carlin. When a comedian who tackles politics, culture and religion can get even those who don't agree with him to find humor in their jokes and even challenge them to question their own beliefs and values, then the genius label might apply, but IMO Carlind did not fit that bill.

[rossid]

Parental Warning

Those who want to hear this stuff can find it on YouTube.

Kids, those under 18 or whatever standard applies to you, DO NOT view without permission of your parent/legal guardian/etc.

[Evanescence]

How about political cynics?