I’m still in shock and saddened over this weekend’s death of George Carlin. I found this op-ed by Jerry Seinfeld in today’s New York Times and wanted to share it.
My parents always watched George Carlin’s specials…so I basically grew up on his jokes.
I’m assuming he’s in a better place now and is looking down and laughing at how dumb we still are!
Op-Ed Contributor
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.”
Filed under: Celebrity Juice, News to Me, Remember When?, Showtime! | Tagged: bo diddley, comedy, george carlin, hbo, jerry seinfeld, las vegas, New York Times, stand up, tim russert
I will never forget meeting George Carlin in Westwood and just commenting how much I loved his last “album” – it was that long ago. I dreamed of being a comic – oh boy. I thought I was sooooooooo funny. Bill Busso, George’s first wife? Brenda I believe and GEORGE in Vegas……He told me stories and we talked and talked for about 3 hours until they had to go to fly back to LA.
He told me he would even come and listen to my 5 minutes at the Comedy Store, but he really thought I was too “good looking” to be a funny comedian……That was back in the 70’s. I met him ONE LAST TIME and I was so glad to see him after his first heart attack. He looked great. Then he gave me the news about Bill and his wife passing on and that was sad. No jokes. That was too close to his heart I think.
He was something else and truly paid his dues coming up in this world. Hopefully in the next one he won’t have to work so hard.
You were remarkable George. God Bless you and your love ones.