The "comedian"* George Carlin died from heart failure yesterday at the age of 71. A true wordsmith and a powerful, powerful speaker; I haven't seen his hold-up-a-mirror type since Bill Hicks, also RIP.
Here's one of his softer pieces - the famous "Stuff" routine. Listen to the intonation, the meticulous word choices, the almost musical flow of the language; but above all, have a laugh on a Monday morning. I shall pull out my old albums and raise a glass to Mr Carlin tonight.
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Which leaves us with who? The orange-haired melon-smasher? Great! As Mr Hicks suggested, now we can drain the Pacific Ocean to make an amphitheatre big enough to hold the audience for that joke-blower Carrot Top's next show - in which he will destroy more food with a hammer.
* I always put comedian in inverted commas when talking about Mr Hicks or Mr Carlin, because they were, at heart, satirists/polemicists who recognised that they would be hauled away in chains if they espoused their views on a soapbox outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or 10 Downing Street and so in the interest of self-preservation, they listed their occupation as "Comedian" on their passports.
* I always put comedian in inverted commas when talking about Mr Hicks or Mr Carlin, because they were, at heart, satirists/polemicists who recognised that they would be hauled away in chains if they espoused their views on a soapbox outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or 10 Downing Street and so in the interest of self-preservation, they listed their occupation as "Comedian" on their passports.
6 comments:
A great, great comic who is a tragic loss.
Achingly funny, super-smart and a fantastic speaker.He was just ferensic in his analysis of society's many failings.
Up there with greats Bill Hicks and Richard Pryor.
Here's to George!
Thanks for this post. Carlin's death was not mentioned once on the news this morning.
Where are the comedic philosphers now that Carlin and Hicks are gone?
Lets take action on their lessons and find humor in everything while questioning the logic of status quo!
I absolutely LOVE this... had not seen it in a very long time. Thanks for posting.
The words of "Stuff" themselves are not that funny. Not funny at all, in fact.
But his presence and his delivery... so perfect...
The result is hilarious!
Hmmm... presence... delivery...
Where have I heard that before?
Look to the new American comics; David Cross, Paul F. Tompkins, Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis, Louis C.K, Demetri Martin....all have somewhat cerebral acts.
No one in the states really pays any attention to carrot top - he was never any good in the first place, just a self contained freak show really.
But no one can replace George, he was one of a kind.
By the way, the melon smasher is Gallagher, an entirely separate crap comic. Carrot top just uses unfunny props, no fruit - or so I hear. Don't want to have to verify that one....
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