Legendary Comedian George Carlin Dies at 71 - Page 5 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 06-24-2008, 07:58 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/op...hp&oref=slogin

Dying Is Hard. Comedy Is Harder.

By Jerry Seinfeld

The honest truth is, for a comedian, even death is just a premise to make jokes about. I know this because I was on the phone with George Carlin nine days ago and we were making some death jokes. We were talking about Tim Russert and Bo Diddley and George said: “I feel safe for a while. There will probably be a break before they come after the next one. I always like to fly on an airline right after they’ve had a crash. It improves your odds.”

I called him to compliment him on his most recent special on HBO. Seventy years old and he cranks out another hour of great new stuff. He was in a hotel room in Las Vegas getting ready for his show. He was a monster.

You could certainly say that George downright invented modern American stand-up comedy in many ways. Every comedian does a little George. I couldn’t even count the number of times I’ve been standing around with some comedians and someone talks about some idea for a joke and another comedian would say, “Carlin does it.” I’ve heard it my whole career: “Carlin does it,” “Carlin already did it,” “Carlin did it eight years ago.”

And he didn’t just “do” it. He worked over an idea like a diamond cutter with facets and angles and refractions of light. He made you sorry you ever thought you wanted to be a comedian. He was like a train hobo with a chicken bone. When he was done there was nothing left for anybody.

But his brilliance fathered dozens of great comedians. I personally never cared about “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” or “FM & AM.” To me, everything he did just had this gleaming wonderful precision and originality.

I became obsessed with him in the ’60s. As a kid it seemed like the whole world was funny because of George Carlin. His performing voice, even laced with profanity, always sounded as if he were trying to amuse a child. It was like the naughtiest, most fun grown-up you ever met was reading you a bedtime story.

I know George didn’t believe in heaven or hell. Like death, they were just more comedy premises. And it just makes me even sadder to think that when I reach my own end, whatever tumbling cataclysmic vortex of existence I’m spinning through, in that moment I will still have to think, “Carlin already did it.”

Jerry Seinfeld is a writer and a comedian.

Ireneparalegal · 06-24-2008, 09:19 PM

I have been enjoying hearing George Carlin on Sirius radio on the Raw Comedy Channel. They play his comedy stuff ordinarily but since his death, they are playing his stuff a lot more.

Chelsea · 06-25-2008, 12:58 AM

NBC, this Saturday Night, will be running the first *ever* episode of Saturday Night Live from 1975 during the regular SNL timeslot (11:30) as a tribute to George Carlin (he was the first host)

Larenz09 · 06-25-2008, 01:11 AM

So sad!

He was controversial at times, but he was a great comedian!!

That makes two famous peoples this month already that we lost!!

AKA · 06-25-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larenz09

That makes two famous peoples this month already that we lost!!

More than that.

Bo Diddley (June 2)
Jim McKay (June 7)
Tim Russert (June 13)
Stan Winston (June 15)
Cyd Charisse (June 17)
George Carlin (June 22)
Dody Goodman (June 22)

06-24-2008, 09:19 PM	#62
Ireneparalegal LEGAL SPICE ;) Forum Legend Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: OXNARD, CA - WHERE THE DALLAS COWBOYS TRAIN & PRACTICE Posts: 38,689	I have been enjoying hearing George Carlin on Sirius radio on the Raw Comedy Channel. They play his comedy stuff ordinarily but since his death, they are playing his stuff a lot more.
	__________________ DALLAS COWBOYS ARE HERE AT TRAINING CAMP!!!

06-25-2008, 12:58 AM	#63
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,726	NBC, this Saturday Night, will be running the first ever episode of Saturday Night Live from 1975 during the regular SNL timeslot (11:30) as a tribute to George Carlin (he was the first host)
	__________________ Chelsea Former Administrator, 2005-2012 Former Member, DVD Review Team, 2004-2010.

06-24-2008, 07:58 PM	#61
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/op...hp&oref=slogin Dying Is Hard. Comedy Is Harder. By Jerry Seinfeld The honest truth is, for a comedian, even death is just a premise to make jokes about. I know this because I was on the phone with George Carlin nine days ago and we were making some death jokes. We were talking about Tim Russert and Bo Diddley and George said: “I feel safe for a while. There will probably be a break before they come after the next one. I always like to fly on an airline right after they’ve had a crash. It improves your odds.” I called him to compliment him on his most recent special on HBO. Seventy years old and he cranks out another hour of great new stuff. He was in a hotel room in Las Vegas getting ready for his show. He was a monster. You could certainly say that George downright invented modern American stand-up comedy in many ways. Every comedian does a little George. I couldn’t even count the number of times I’ve been standing around with some comedians and someone talks about some idea for a joke and another comedian would say, “Carlin does it.” I’ve heard it my whole career: “Carlin does it,” “Carlin already did it,” “Carlin did it eight years ago.” And he didn’t just “do” it. He worked over an idea like a diamond cutter with facets and angles and refractions of light. He made you sorry you ever thought you wanted to be a comedian. He was like a train hobo with a chicken bone. When he was done there was nothing left for anybody. But his brilliance fathered dozens of great comedians. I personally never cared about “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” or “FM & AM.” To me, everything he did just had this gleaming wonderful precision and originality. I became obsessed with him in the ’60s. As a kid it seemed like the whole world was funny because of George Carlin. His performing voice, even laced with profanity, always sounded as if he were trying to amuse a child. It was like the naughtiest, most fun grown-up you ever met was reading you a bedtime story. I know George didn’t believe in heaven or hell. Like death, they were just more comedy premises. And it just makes me even sadder to think that when I reach my own end, whatever tumbling cataclysmic vortex of existence I’m spinning through, in that moment I will still have to think, “Carlin already did it.” Jerry Seinfeld is a writer and a comedian.

06-25-2008, 01:11 AM	#64
Larenz09 Gary Coleman, we'll miss you! Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 12, 2008 Location: East Boston, MA. Posts: 659	So sad! He was controversial at times, but he was a great comedian!! That makes two famous peoples this month already that we lost!!