Carlin II
There's so much more to say about George Carlin that it seems like a few little blog posts here and there, a Newsday appreciation by yours truly here, and a bounty of other tributes everywhere else seems almost insignificant.
So this morning, I have some more. First, my last word about "Seven Words." It was a routine that (for many) came to symbolize TV's rapid descent into vulgarity and coarseness. However, it's also well worth nothing that what Carlin did was to make a comment on the fact that the descent was already well under way; the point of the routine was that TV was already soaked in most of the words (notably the f-bomb) that he mentioned, but that the ever-hypocritical boob tube trafficked in euphemisms for those various words and acts. You couldn't say these words on TV -- merely demonstrate them. The point was about hypocrisy and remains valid today.
Now ... NBC set up a special site yesterday so that you can check out his entire monologue from the October '75 premiere of "SNL"; snippets of it are available in lotsa places, notably Hulu, but you get the full monologue here. What's notable about it, besides it being the first monologue on the most influential show in television history? In part, you can see exactly how deeply Seinfeld was affected by this guy. (Jerry, BTW, headlined a terrific and generous "Larry King Live" last night, which also had Roseanne Barr, Bill Maher and Lewis Black.)
Another benefit: You can see Carlin as adroit performer. We usually just seem to mention those words but forget this other aspect. Here's a quick clip, but if you want to see the whole thing, please go to the special NBC site ...
E-mail
Facebook
Digg
Delicious
Comments (2)
I agree with you Mr. Gay that there seems to be so much more to say about Carlin. His influence both socially and in the field of comedy, his relevance over a 50 year career, and his undeniable prolificacy are the mantle of his legacy. Love him or hate him, his place in this world was never at issue. Even the most passionate of detractors know enough about him to form a dislike. That's influence. That's presence. That's George.
He was somewhat noncommittal about awards and such but I hereby dub him "Word Smith Extraordinaire" LOL... He was undeniably gifted in his ability to slice through and sometimes turn upside down the connotations and denotations of language.
The wordier America got, the more determined Carlin was to strip the BS out of us. It makes me smirk fondly to imagine what he would have done with the recent usage of the phrase 'The F Bomb'. I loved being tutored by George. When I was younger, I imagined him to be the strangely handsome, intensely passionate, counter-culture professor every girl wanted to sleep with in college. What a beautiful mind...
No one in his field or even the average guy could match his rapier wit and his courage under fire when voicing that wit. "Joe" help you if you disagreed--you're just simply not going to win. His arguments are just too steel-reinforced with utter truth and pragmatism. It was disarming and he knew it.
Carlin's mere presence on stage was unique. When he is quoted in print and if one is familiar with his work, it's not hard to hear the dramatic inflections of his voice or see the hilarious facial expressions. The physical manifestation of his prose added to the hilarity of it all; underscoring, italicizing, and bolding everything he said. Imagine jacking up the font as well and adding lava-lamp background color. The guy was just Technicolor. He was described on Larry King the other night as having 'stalked' the stage. Watching his energy, his almost frustrated passion was something to behold.
I am 41 and alas, have not had the pleasure of seeing Carlin in concert. I have been an avid fan throughout the years and while saddened to see him go, can't help but laugh from the gut as media coverage continues and we see his 'stuff' played out. It just never gets old.
I am looking forward to HBO's airing of Carlin beginning Wednesday and ending with a marathon on Saturday. SNL will also air its pilot episode that night. I had planned on going to the movies and out to dinner that day/night, but I'm considering staying in, enjoying some wine and munchies and spending time with Mr. Carlin; a date-night like no other, to be sure.
It's a palpable void he left as the days go by and we realize there isn't anyone to pick up the slack as only he could do. Jon Stewart of the Daily Show ended recently with this "...I am getting awfully tired of people we need leaving us and once again our good friend George Carlin has gone and for someone who was a personal hero of mine, it's a sad day, but here's the best thing about Carlin: He left us with hours and hours of video...”
George, you were a spark plug to me and you will be missed. PEACE!
~~L
Excuse me. We require from buildings two kinds of goodness: first, the doing their practical duty well: then that they be graceful and pleasing in doing it. Help me! It has to find sites on the: Dentures michigan. I found only this - perfect fit dentures. Castle sental care are the most experienced denture specialists in the east midlands to design and construct your new appliance. Anatomy concise anatomy unit ii review is up. Waiting for a reply :rolleyes:, Mei from Republic.