George Carlin is dead at age 71.
When I think of George Carlin, I think of my good friend Chuck. Maybe because we shared an appreciation for his humor, and Carlin's wit always came off with a snappy intelligence that Chuck's wit also has when it was at its keenest. About the time I met Chuck is the time I also became aware of George Carlin, and so they are linked in my mind in a way that made the news that much more jarring.
Carlin will be remembered for significant accomplishments which go beyond just being funny. He was to receive theMark Twain Humor Prize at a tribute in November. His willingness to be arrested for humor set an important precedent. Standing up for what was right so that people with no sense of humor couldn't ruin it for the rest of us surely put a damper on the decency police.
Humor, if it's any good, has to have a bravery to it. At the least, there is the risk that you'll bomb. But there is the risk of being misunderstood. There is the risk that you piss off the wrong person. With humor, you sometimes take a risk by trying to communicate something of substance beyond just a laugh.
I was about to launch into a really foul mood at this news. But it seems like a lousy reaction to the passing of a comedian I enjoyed so much. Instead I'll think of the laughs I've shared with good friends over his humor; the recordings Chuck and I listened to and the times when Maggie and I caught his performances on TV and DVDs.
And now that he's not going to be around, maybe the rest of us need to pick up the slack.
Posted by James at June 23, 2008 1:53 AMThey say these things come in threes. Please don't let the third be Clint.
Posted by: David Grenier at June 23, 2008 7:54 AMIs Clint illin'?
Posted by: Julie at June 23, 2008 10:33 AMI still remember working security for his concert in college. All the guys that signed up to do it were huge. Except for me. And the guy they paired me with.
Still, the show was awesome and we had almost no trouble. The one guy who seemed to want to argue with us was smaller than either of us.
Posted by: briwei at June 23, 2008 3:20 PMIt's so sad. When I heard the news I exclaimed "oh f**k" which is exactly the sort of eulogy I think Carlin would have appreciated.
I'm really going to miss his hilarious commentary and his sharp insight.
Posted by: Chuck S at June 23, 2008 6:03 PMI most certainly was not HUGE! Which is why we were posted around the perimeter of the balcony. The HUGE guys got to stand in front of the stage facing the audience we got to stand in the balcony against the railing watching the show!
Posted by: B.O.B. (bob) at June 24, 2008 8:44 AMYeah, the show was awesome...I still remember it.
In his honor, I've been reciting the seven words you cannot say on television at random since yesterday.
Posted by: Bull at June 24, 2008 9:25 AMand how would that be different from any other day?
Posted by: B.O.B. (bob) at June 24, 2008 9:42 AMOoh! Bada BING!
Posted by: Patti M. at June 24, 2008 12:11 PMBy the way, WMBR is playing some of his stuff during the Lost and Found "oldies" show:
Posted by: Patti M. at June 24, 2008 12:12 PM