George Carlin was a legendary comedian known for his irreverent and insightful observations about American culture and society. He was born on May 12, 1937, in New York City and began his career as a stand-up comedian in the 1960s.
Carlin was known for his sharp wit, observational humor, and ability to use language to make his audience think. He was a master of wordplay and was known for his use of profanity and taboo language in his routines. He also used his platform to comment on political and social issues, often challenging the status quo and questioning authority.
Throughout his career, Carlin released 23 comedy albums, starred in 14 HBO specials, and appeared in numerous films and TV shows. He won five Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album and was posthumously awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2008.
Some of Carlin’s most famous routines include “The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” “A Place for My Stuff,” “Baseball vs. Football,” and “Modern Man.” His humor was often provocative and controversial, but he was always able to make his audience think and laugh at the same time.
George Carlin was a philosopher in his own way. His vision of the world was not superficial and reductive. He was able to penetrate the zeitgeist and investigate the contradictions and hypocrisies of American and Western society in general. He was far ahead of his time and, honestly, I think his insightful point of view is terribly missing today.
Carlin passed away on June 22, 2008, but his influence on comedy and popular culture continues to this day. He is remembered as one of the greatest comedians of all time, and his legacy lives on in the work of countless comedians and entertainers who have been inspired by his unique style and perspective.
Just a taste of his genius from one of the last shows
Transcript
I’m a modern man.. a man for the millennium – digital and smoke free. A diversified multicultural postmodern deconstructionist; politically, anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been uplinked and downloaded. I’ve been inputted and outsourced. I know the upside of downsizing. I know the downside of upgrading.. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting-edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give ya a gigabyte.. in a nano-second. I’m new waave, but I’m old school – and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired heat-seeking warm-hearted cool customer.. voice activated and biodegradable. I interface with my database and my database is in cyberspace.. so I’m interactive I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.. Behind the eight-ball, ahead of the curve, riding the wave, dodging the bullet, pushing the envelope. I’m on point, on-task, on-message and off drugs. I got no need for coke and speed, I’ve got no urge to binge and purge. I’m in the moment, on the edge, over the top but under the radar. A high concept low profile medium-range ballistic missionary. A street-wise smart-bomb. A top-gun bottom-feeder. I wear power ties, I tell power lies, I take power naps. I run victory laps. I’m a totally on-going big-foot slam-dunk rain-maker with a pro-active outreach. A raging workaholic, a working rageaholic.. out of rehab ..and in denial. I got a personal trainer, a personal shopper, a personal assistant and a personal agenda. You can’t shut me up, you can’t dumb me down. Coz I’m tireless and I’m wireless, I’m an alpha male on beta blockers. I’m a non-believer and an overachiever. Laid-back, but fashion-forward. Up-front down-home low-rent high-maintenance. Super-sized long-lasting high-definition, fast-acting, oven-ready and built to last. I’m a hands-on foot-loose knee-jerk head-case, prematurely post-traumatic and I have a love-child who sends me hate mail. But I’m feeling, I’m caring. I’m healing, I’m sharing. A supportive, bonding, nurturing primary caregiver. My output is down but my income is up. I take a short position on the long bond and my revenue stream has its own cash flow. I read junk mail, I eat junk food. I buy junk bonds, I watch trash sports. I’m gender-specific, capital intensive, user-friendly and lactose-intolerant. I like rough sex. I like tough love. I use the F-word in my email and the software on my hard drive is hard-core, no soft-porn. I bought a microwave at a mini-mall I bought a mini-van at a mega-store.
Find more on George Carlin’s YouTube Channel and other YouTube channels
George Carlin — ‘That’s why they call it the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.’
