Comedian George Carlin dies at 71

[The Ponzzz]

LOS ANGELES - Comedian George Carlin, a counter-culture hero famed for his routines about drugs and dirty words, died of heart failure at a Los Angeles-area hospital on Sunday, a spokesman said. He was 71.

Carlin, who had a history of heart and drug-dependency problems, died at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica about 6 p.m. PDT after being admitted earlier in the afternoon for chest pains, spokesman Jeff Abraham told Reuters.

Known for his edgy, provocative material, Carlin achieved status as an anti-Establishment icon in the 1970s with stand-up bits full of drug references and a routine called “Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television.” A regulatory battle over a radio broadcast of the routine ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the 1978 case, Federal Communications Commission vs. Pacifica Foundation, the top U.S. court ruled that the words cited in Carlin’s routine were indecent, and that the government’s broadcast regulator could ban them from being aired at times when children might be listening.

Carlin’s comedic sensibility often came back to a central theme: humanity is doomed.

“I don’t have any beliefs or allegiances. I don’t believe in this country, I don’t believe in religion, or a god, and I don’t believe in all these man-made institutional ideas,” he told Reuters in a 2001 interview.

Carlin, who wrote several books and performed in many television comedy specials, is survived by his wife Sally Wade, and daughter Kelly Carlin McCall.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25322638

[The Ponzzz]

Man, this is terrible. His last stand up he did on HBO he looked very old.

[NocturnalRob]

brutal. he was so irreverently hysterical.

[Allereli]

RIP

[diethx]

Damn, that really stinks. He was one funny fucker.

[Axhinde]

Definitely an innovator, his mark on comedy will remain. I, for one, will miss his satirical insights.

[Fallen]

What a damned shame.

[Tisket]

“The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live”

“The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.”

“If God had intended us not to masturbate he would've made our arms shorter”

Classic Carlin

[Tisket]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9090164362227043326&q=george+carlin+stand+up&ei=VD5fSJagIJXk4ALt1cj4Dw&hl=en

lol: "Thats what they tell you: get on the plane, get on the plane. Fuck you...I'm getting IN the plane

[ElanthianSiren]

:(


I loved his political commentary.

[Sean of the Thread]

"I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language. Could it be that "I do" is the longest sentence?"

RIP.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/Japgross/BuddyJesus.jpg

[Augie]

:( This sucks. I always wanted to see him live and never had a chance.


RIP

[Skeeter]

He was one of the last truly great comedians. Today's stand-up comedians can't hold a candle to the old schoolers.

[Clove]

Teh sadness. RIP George.

[Some Rogue]

Noooooooooooooooooo

:bye: :cry:

[Daniel]

Sadface. Carlin was by far my favorite comic. It's a shame I never saw him live.

[Some Rogue]

"Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. "

"Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy."

[Ilvane]

Wow, that seriously sucks..He was awesome.

[CrystalTears]

Noooooooooooooooooo

:bye: :cry:
Seconded. I was heartbroken when I heard about it this morning. :(

[Misun]

Boo. He was the best. RIP :(

[AnticorRifling]

I liked 99% of his stuff. There were a few of his opinions I disagreed with but even then they still made me laugh.

[Some Rogue]

Yeah, that's the thing. I didn't always agree with his politics and such, but damn he could still always make it funny.

[Solkern]

Yeah, Carlin was the man
RIP

[Stanley Burrell]

Fuck.

[Parkbandit]

"Religion convinced the world that there's an invisible man in the sky who watches everything you do. And there's 10 things he doesn't want you to do or else you'll go to a burning place with a lake of fire until the end of eternity. But he loves you! ...And he needs money! He's all powerful, but he can't handle money!"

RIP man. :bye:

[Gan]

RIP George.

[Warriorbird]

One of the greats.

[Asile]

Much sadness today.

[ElanthianSiren]

My favorite quotes:


"I brake for advanced melanoma!"

"Most of these people live in fucking pennsylvania. Of course they have a friend or two by now!"

"If you have selfish ignorant citizens, you will have selfish ignorant leaders."

Bumperstickers that should exist:
"We have a son in public school who hasn't shot any of his classmates yet, but he does sell drugs to your honor student."

[Some Rogue]

Another women's issue, prostitution. I do not understand why prostitution is illegal. Why should prostitution be illegal.

Selling is legal. Fucking is legal. Why isn't selling fucking legal?

You know, why should it be illegal to sell something that's perfectly legal to give away. I can't follow the logic on that at all.

Of all the things you can do to a person, giving someone an orgasm is hardly the worst thing in the world.

In the army they give you a medal for spraying napalm on people. Civilian life, you go to jail for giving someone an orgasm.

[Krendeli]

I saw a show he did in Nov. He looked really bad and the show, frankly, sucked.

Classic Carlin was by far the best.

[Deathravin]

Ya, he got less and less powerful later in life. The last 5 or 10 years have just been real rough on him. I'm going to try to forget that when I remember all the wonderful things about the guy. The world is dimmer this day, a star has fallen.

[kookiegod]

I had the luck to see him twice in my life.

Once at the Paramount Theater in Springfield MA in the 90s when he was clicking on all gears, and then early 2000 in Northampton MA at the Calvin.

One of the best ever, along with Pryor and Bruce, and maybe Martin. Isn't a lot of good standup anymore, and Carlin, while he got a few movie roles and tv shows, he mostly did it on relentless travel and the sweet HBO deal he had.

I'm gonna miss him...

~Paul

[Sean of the Thread]

Carlin was a great no doubt. Loved his satire and shit.

The next greatest loss will be Don Rickles now that Dangerfield is gone.

Don Rickles rules btw.

[Sean of the Thread]

Oh Pryor was great too. Murphy had his days... I remember our sulfer crested cockatu reciting Murphy's nasty jokes in the 80's when it sat in a huge cage next to HBO 24/7.

[Back]

He was an American cultural icon. At least we still have him in digital format.

Good luck, George. Kill ’em in the afterlife.

[Sean of the Thread]

Pretty sure he didn't believe in the afterlife doucheknocker. (rights reserved Daniel)

[Back]

He’ll have a whole new wealth of material if there is.

[Mabus]

"We're all fucked. It helps to remember that."
-George Carlin

I have 7 words for him:
"Thank you, for making us really laugh."

Great job, George. Your humor will be missed.

[Shari]

Its really, really too bad. He'll be missed. He's the only person I can think of that swore more than me. :(

[Apathy]

I saw Carlin live twice. Those were the only two times in my life I've actually cried from laughing so hard.

The last show he did an entire bit on auto-erotic asphyxiation...I'll try to dig it up. Its hilarious.

Stupid monday is stupid.

edit: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7068677712290004125&ei=ijJgSJSsJZW05AKL9vzQAg&hl=en
At about 53:00. F'in hilarious.

Other favorites:

Modern Man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCljFYn3zTY

Baseball v. Football: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YphEUa5LPjM

[Back]

Saw him live also. In Jersey. In the heat of ’99. It was a nice mix of urbanites and non-urbanites.

[Keller]

Saw him live also. In Jersey. In the heat of ’99. It was a nice mix of urbanites and non-urbanites.

fg lkjb fjlkgfbreligeawr rughbngvkfdbgaifgurtfoefrjnsefndfmgb raioeraehjnftgkrntg9pr38oyuier390u 43htik34jtfhjdv90fygvhr35iutjh43 0r93purheifgjkrnf084iorujer hoijvbnr90r5u80oiruhfgn43-98tu 843u9nf-9ed0fu082hr09ufh038u34hrf9f 8urhfg037u3408trh2bniujehf09-ru8-0do[ikdlfnm34089tu7 4yorui3jr[-o0gujfklvgj3e0p4ugnvoiu345y09fopjvthksv9p -o4njt093tji43ng099erughepwhkwfjiopkl

[Augie]

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.


We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much , and pray too seldom.



We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.


We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.


We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.


These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...


Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.



Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.


Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.


Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.



Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

-George Carlin

[Clove]

Beautiful essay but NOT written by George Carlin (although there sure are lots about it that could have been). It was written by Dr. Bob Moorehead.

Full story can be found here:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/paradox.asp

[Some Rogue]

Heh, I figured that out when it said something about praying.

[Clove]

Heh, I figured that out when it said something about praying.LOL that was the spoiler that made me suspicious too, and since I wanted to share it with some others I wanted to make sure I got the author correct.

[Latrinsorm]

Praying to Joe Pesci is still praying. :yes:

[longshot]

He was very talented.

Having said that, death does not excuse him from how ridiculous he was in the last five to ten years. I was sick of his incessant preaching, as if he were some all knowing oracle, and it was our duty to listen because of what he did for comedy many, many years ago.

His last three specials were horrific. I wanted to watch stand-up. Instead I watched a lecture.

It's a shame that someone who developed so much of their humor from observations about the common experience went so over the edge.

[Clove]

He was very talented.

Having said that, death does not excuse him from how ridiculous he was in the last five to ten years. I was sick of his incessant preaching, as if he were some all knowing oracle, and it was our duty to listen because of what he did for comedy many, many years ago.That's just "Old man disease" and related to the axiom "Every generation is smarter than the one before it and wiser than the one after it."

See if you can resist the urge to preach every 15 minutes once you get into your 60's. PB hasn't been able to! :D

[TheEschaton]

What were his last three specials? The last one I saw was Life Is Worth Losing, which I still thought was pretty good.

[tyrant-201]

What were his last three specials? The last one I saw was Life Is Worth Losing, which I still thought was pretty good.

I thought that one was hilarious. The suicide network? Hah

[Augie]

Beautiful essay but NOT written by George Carlin (although there sure are lots about it that could have been). It was written by Dr. Bob Moorehead.

Full story can be found here:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/paradox.asp

Teehee woops? I just was posting cause a friend shared it with me. Teach me to listen to my friend. I go :club: him now.

[Faent]

Check out this obit (by Fred Phelps):

http://atheistmedia.blogspot.com/2008/06/fred-phelps-george-carlin-is-in-hell.html

[Back]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PiZSFIVFiU

[Androidpk]

I feel really stupid at the moment. I was looking through the new posts and saw this and was like holy shit George Carlin died?! I quickly realized it already happened last year.

[CrystalTears]

I feel really stupid at the moment. I was looking through the new posts and saw this and was like holy shit George Carlin died?! I quickly realized it already happened last year.
No worries, I had a momentary lapse of recall and thought "OMG HE DIED?!" and then realized that it was a while ago. I hate when these threads get bumped. :(

[ElanthianSiren]

wow...Fred Phelps really opened it up for me! What have I been doing allll these years?! :rip off nun scene from dogma in reverse: