BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Kallman: George Carlin, RIP: “The Object Is to Go Home”

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Monday, June 23, 2008

Kallman: George Carlin, RIP: “The Object Is to Go Home”

Before the de-evolution, he nailed the salient distinctions between baseball and football with such aplomb that none can possibly transcend it.

George Carlin, who died of heart failure Sunday night, after bringing himself to a hospital complaining of chest pains, was once an effective, genuinely edgy wit and mimic who could murder the fooleries of popular culture without sweat or condescension.

...And, then, one night, he isolated why baseball is superior to football (and any other sport, really), the sole regret having been that he did it before Casey Stengel, who would have understood, could have lived to hear it.

In baseball, the object is to go home, and be safe—”I hope I’ll be safe at home!”

...May the angels forgive Carlin his disbelief in their Master—and, forgive every one of his witless, carping HBO specials—enough to speed him a gentle escort to the Elysian Fields, safe at home, if only on grounds that he earned it by coming the closest of any humourist to throwing “Who’s on First” out at the plate, on one hop.

Plus...King Kaufman on Carlin.

Repoz Posted: June 23, 2008 at 06:08 AM | 201 comment(s)
Related News: General, Obituaries

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1. Crimes and Metsdemeanors Posted: June 23, 2008 at 06:27 AM (#2829592)

####.

2. Mattbert Posted: June 23, 2008 at 06:32 AM (#2829593)

So, if Carlin actually has found himself in the Elysian Fields or whatever other sort of afterlife you fancy...do you think he's really irritated?

3. Lassus Posted: June 23, 2008 at 06:37 AM (#2829594)

It's a shame Carlin isn't around to rip this guy a new one. RIP.

4. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: June 23, 2008 at 06:42 AM (#2829596)

Why does the world need to be burdened by this drip's theory of good comedy? Were Wolf Blitzer or Michael Medved unavailable?

5. retro-shiite Posted: June 23, 2008 at 07:21 AM (#2829598)

Well, damn. RIP, indeed.

6. A Random 8-Year-Old Eskimo Posted: June 23, 2008 at 07:45 AM (#2829605)

RIP. He'll be missed.

7. Bob Dernier Ressort Posted: June 23, 2008 at 07:47 AM (#2829606)

Carlin had a brilliant sense for euphemism and cant. He was a great, influential critic of the English language.

There are some two-way words, like it's okay for Curt Gowdy to say 'Roberto Clemente has two balls on him.' But he can't say, 'I think he hurt his balls on that play Tony, don't you? He's holding them. He must have hurt them by God.'

8. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:02 AM (#2829612)

One of the heavy weights. He's gotta be an inner circle stand up comedian, right?

9. Edmundo was digging the Italian ladies Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:09 AM (#2829614)

Shooty, absolutely inner circle. He was the iconic 70s comedian, the only one who came remotely close for me was Robert Klein, and he wasn't even that close. I saw Carlin twice in the 70s and he was tremendous both times.
I saw him about 5 years ago and was really geeked up about it. I left disappointed, his personna was of a crabby old man, doing a lot of toilet humor.
RIP, George, thanks for the laughs.

10. kevin Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:11 AM (#2829615)

Well, Carlin was an atheist anyway so I doubt he's worried about the Elysian Fields.

11. kevin Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:14 AM (#2829616)

I was thinking about his 7 words you can't say on TV.

Although the list is no longer valid, didn't he miss "a$$hole"? You couldn't say that one then, I don't think.

12. Mattbert Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:16 AM (#2829620)

Well, Carlin was an atheist anyway so I doubt he's worried about the Elysian Fields.

Gee, really? I had no idea.

13. kevin Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:18 AM (#2829621)

Robert Klein? You're kidding, right?

Inner circle comedians (I'm including comedic actors here):

Bruce, Prior, Cosby, Newhart, Carlin, Winters, Carson, Letterman, Keaton, Chaplin, Benny, Gleason and Carney, Fields, Laurel and Hardy.

And inner, inner circle: Curly.

EDIT: Forgot Groucho.

14. Matt Waters Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:21 AM (#2829622)

May the angels forgive Carlin his disbelief in their Master

Yeah, I consider myself a spiritually open person, but this sentence made me laugh out loud for some reason. I guess the thought of Angels acting as henchmen of God, dressed as black ninjas perhaps... yessssss master...

Anyway, I hope George is pleasantly surprised right now, or at the very least, amused. Sure, I thought he took narrow view as it pertains to human consciousness and even existence, but that’s an extremely minor quibble when compared to how much I truly enjoyed his comedy. From the Todd rant, to impersonating people who talk into their hand pretending it’s a phone [So I call the guy, get it, I call him!], good times man, good times.

15. Lassus Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:21 AM (#2829623)

Yeah, Curly's standup was awesome.

16. Edmundo was digging the Italian ladies Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:29 AM (#2829625)

Robert Klein? You're kidding, right?
For 70s comedians, he was the one I liked next. And I guess I'm thinking early 70s because I don't think of Robin Williams as contemporary with Carlin. I hadn't heard Prior's stuff at that point (white suburban kid, nobody I knew had any Prior albums). Carlin >>> Klein > Martin Mull >>> Cheech and Chong.

I like your list in general. I struggle with the pacing of Laurel and Hardy -- I find them hard to watch. And while I love Curly, I can't put him above the others you list. And I'd find a place for Williams.

17. Gromit Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:41 AM (#2829628)

What? No Gallagher?

; )

18. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:41 AM (#2829629)

I always had Richard Pryor as the iconic 70's comedian with Carlin right there with him. As a kid, nobody I knew cared about Robert Klein. Everybody seemed to have a Cheech and Chong album, though.

19. Edmundo was digging the Italian ladies Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:52 AM (#2829637)

Everybody seemed to have a Cheech and Chong album, though.
Well, everybody but me seemed to have Saturday Night Fever and some Fleetwood Mac albums, too. :)

20. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:55 AM (#2829640)

Everybody seemed to have a Cheech and Chong album, though.
Well, everybody but me seemed to have Saturday Night Fever and some Fleetwood Mac albums, too. :)

Well, that Saturday Night Fever album is hilarious.

(I can't do it. I admit it, I kinda like that movie.)

21. JRVJ (formerly Delta Socrates) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:56 AM (#2829641)

Rodney Dangerfield is missing on that list.

22. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 08:58 AM (#2829643)

Rodney Dangerfield is missing on that list.

D'oh! I missed that. Rodney is the best, hands down for me. The best! (Check out his club if you're ever in NYC. They haven't changed the decor or the waiters in 40 years, it seems. It's great!)

23. Kyle S at work Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:03 AM (#2829647)

Dangerfield doesn't get no respect on top comic lists :)

24. Rich Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:05 AM (#2829651)

Thanks for the laughs, Mr. Carlin.

RIP

25. kevin Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:26 AM (#2829666)

(I can't do it. I admit it, I kinda like that movie.)

I love to watch you post, Shooty. I love to watch you post.

Can I wipe the sweat from your forehead?

26. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:29 AM (#2829670)

I love to watch you post, Shooty. I love to watch you post.

Can I wipe the sweat from your forehead?

Yeah, sure. Just don't mess up my hair. I spent hours on my hair.

27. Benji Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:30 AM (#2829672)

What Rich said.

When I had a part-time job as third-shift security guard in a small hospital, the night supervisor was a formidable RN who seemed like the most straight-laced of people. One night she summoned me to the ER. A million scary thoughts filled my head (did she find my secret sleeping/hiding place? did she know I was using the dumbwaiters to raid the kitchen? did she see me playing Statis-Pro at the abandoned nurse station?) She greeted me with a smile and said "Is it true you have HBO?" I said yes, and she asked "Could you tape the George Carlin special?" Blew my mind totally!

28. Danny Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:31 AM (#2829673)

No love for Eddie Murphy?

29. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:38 AM (#2829676)

No love for Eddie Murphy?

He started strong, but then he gave up the stage to make crappy movies. He's got the early peak but not enough career value for me.

30. Dock Ellis on Acid Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:38 AM (#2829677)

I also think Chris Rock is missing from that list.

31. kevin Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:41 AM (#2829682)

Gimme a break. Rock sucks.

If you want to add an SNL guy, add Murray or Hartman.

32. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:42 AM (#2829685)

~~Bruce~~, Prior, Cosby, Newhart, Carlin, ~~Winters~~, Carson, Letterman, Keaton, Chaplin, Benny, ~~Gleason~~ and Carney, Fields, Laurel and Hardy.

In addition to Dangerfield, I would also add Joan Rivers. She was quite funny.

Does anyone remember The Unknown Comic? He had his moments as well. Very stoopid.

33. Dock Ellis on Acid Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:43 AM (#2829686)

Gimme a break. Rock sucks.

Sorry, but Bring the Pain and Bigger and Blacker did not suck.

34. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:44 AM (#2829687)

I also think Chris Rock is missing from that list.

Yeah, he's good. I actually like Dave Chappelle and Louis C.K. more, though. But Chris Rock is bigger than they are, for sure, and I'd have no problem with him on the list. What do you guys think of Andy Kaufman? Or is he more of a performance artist than a stand up guy? The stuff he did interests me, but it doesn't really make me laugh, if that makes sense. Also, any old timers want to vouch for Lenny Bruce? I know the legend, but not the comedy.

35. Scientist guy Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:45 AM (#2829688)

Loved his Catholic jokes - but I can understand how that can turn you into an atheist... He will be missed.

As for iconic comedians - except for Chaplin and Laurel - it seems to be a very American list.

What about the comic messiah JC, Cleese and the Monty Python Gang if we're talking iconic comedy of the 70's.

And of course there are also Mel Brooks and Woody Allen who made the funny movies in the early 70's that are still funny...

36. Andy Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:48 AM (#2829690)

Of course there are a zillion comic geniuses that haven't been mentioned here yet, but for standup Carlin has to be pretty damn close to Pryor territory. And iff anyone thinks that this version of Carlin's "Seven Words" isn't one of the all-time classic skits, they need to get a life.

And yeah, I know that here I'm preaching to the choir, but I just wanted an excuse to post the link.

37. glitch Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:48 AM (#2829691)

Does anyone remember The Unknown Comic?

"Hey Chuckie, is my fly down?"

"er..."

"Well it should be, I'm peeing."

Also, Rickles still kicks ass.

38. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:48 AM (#2829692)

Hey Scientist guy, those comedians are great, but I think we're talking strictly stand up here, as Carlin was mostly a stand up comedian himself.

39. formerly dp Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:56 AM (#2829700)

Bill Hicks was as influential as any of these guys. Carlin took a lot of material from him and even said as much.

I will miss George. I saw him in 2001 and it was awesome, even though it was a small show and he said he was warming up for Leno so doing a lot of "safe" material.

When 9/11 happened, his planned comedy tour was called "I kinda like it when a lot of people die." For whatever reason, it took them at least 3 weeks to change the name to something a little more sensitive to the political context.

40. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 09:58 AM (#2829702)

Bill Hicks was as influential as any of these guys. Carlin took a lot of material from him and even said as much.

Thanks dp. I was trying to remember his name. I knew some comedy writers and they all worshipped at his altar.

41. bunyon Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:05 AM (#2829708)

Hey Scientist guy, those comedians are great, but I think we're talking strictly stand up here, as Carlin was mostly a stand up comedian himself.

Bill and Ted sadly play their air guitar.

(Is mentioning Bill and Ted here the equivalent of mentioning Russert's friendship with Cheney in the Russert RIP thread?)

42. kevin Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:07 AM (#2829711)

Bill Hicks was as influential as any of these guys.

I never thought Hicks was funny at all. At all. He was more snide than funny.

Rivers I also put in the "snide, not funny" category.

Her career took a hit when her husband committed suicide. She couldn't be as snide after that.

43. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:08 AM (#2829716)

(Is mentioning Bill and Ted here the equivalent of mentioning Russert's friendship with Cheney in the Russert RIP thread?)

No way. I'm going to pull a Gaelan here and declare that anyone who doesn't like that movie hates life and is evil. Now, if you were to bring up Carwash, a movie that made both Carlin and Pryor unfunny, then the gloves are coming off.

44. The Good Face Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:09 AM (#2829717)

Carlin was stupendous at his peak, but my memories of him will be clouded by the fact that he shamelessly kept recycling the same damn material for the last 20 years. Definitely a standup HOFer, but with a looooooooong decline phase.

45. Van Lingle Mungo Jerry Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:13 AM (#2829723)

No love for Sam Kinison, the Pete Reiser of stand-up comics?

46. Mattbert Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:13 AM (#2829724)

Steven Wright should at least be on the ballot. Same goes for the criminally underexposed Jim Gaffigan, but he's arguably still enjoying his peak.

47. Lassus Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:13 AM (#2829725)

Definitely a standup HOFer, but with a looooooooong decline phase.

So who does that best compare to, HOF- or HOM-wise?

48. Bob Dernier Ressort Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:15 AM (#2829727)

In Carlin's style of stand-up, Steven Wright and the late Mitch Hedberg have to be mentioned. They are more given to one-liners than to Carlin monologues, but there's the same sense of absurdity in language and attitude. Wright is more gentle and surreal, Hedberg had something of Carlin's hostility at times. Chris Rock is an heir to Carlin and sometimes nearly as good. Among an older generation, Mort Sahl and Tom Lehrer should be mentioned: both had an edgy impatience with hypocrisy, sometimes like Carlin's. Woody Allen too, in his day, though he tended more toward the surreal and paradoxical.

49. McCoy Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:16 AM (#2829729)

I remember seeing George Carlins HBO special after 9/11, it fell flat. I don't think people were as accepting of his worldview so soon after 9/11.

No, Steve Martin?

50. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:17 AM (#2829731)

I like Steven Wright and Jim Gaffigan, too. Anything older than Carlin and Pryor, I have to admit I'm clueless.

51. Mike Green Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:18 AM (#2829732)

"So who does that best compare to, HOF- or HOM-wise?"

It looks like Pedro might be headed that way.

52. Mattbert Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:21 AM (#2829734)

Eddie Izzard compares favorably to most of these guys as well. Very different style, but Dressed to Kill is just plain brilliant.

53. The Good Face Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:23 AM (#2829736)

So who does that best compare to, HOF- or HOM-wise?

Pete Rose or Wade Boggs maybe? Guys who were plenty deserving of HOF status, but stuck around to pad their stats/wallets well after they were actually worth much.

54. Lassus Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:26 AM (#2829738)

Tom Lehrer should be mentioned

In 6th grade (1982) a bunch of us "discovered" Tom Lehrer. Loved him ever since.

55. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:26 AM (#2829737)

Pete Rose or Wade Boggs maybe? Guys who were plenty deserving of HOF status, but stuck around to pad their stats/wallets well after they were actually worth much.

I'd say more like Ernie Banks. Great start to a career at a premium position, then settled into an easier, less valuable role while still being thought of as they were earlier in their career.

56. BFFB Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:28 AM (#2829739)

To fly the flag for Britsh stand up comedians I will mention:-

Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie
Frankie Howard
Billy Connolly
Dave Gorman
Tommy Cooper
Peter Sellers
Morcambe & Wise
Alan Davies
Paul Merton
Eddie Izzard

57. Cowboy Popup Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:29 AM (#2829740)

Very different style, but Dressed to Kill is just plain brilliant.

That's the funniest stand up I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of the standup guys mentioned in this thread, it's unbelievably funny.

58. strikeout to balk ratio Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:33 AM (#2829743)

beat me to the steve martin punch(line). as for 70s comedians, what about andy kaufman can you have an all-time list without hope, rickles, smothers brothers? i always thought garry shandling was funny.

59. Sometimes it Rains (sj) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:35 AM (#2829745)

Bill Cosby doesn't get as much love as he should from people my age. People think of thim as a dad in a sitcom. His standup is out of this world brilliant.

60. Scientist guy Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:36 AM (#2829748)

I should also point out that no women have been mentioned either...

Oldtimers like Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers, Elaine May, and newer ones like Sarah Silverman and Kathy Griffin who might be the closest to Carlin's style of humour...

61. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:37 AM (#2829750)

Bill Cosby doesn't get as much love as he should from people my age. People think of thim as a dad in a sitcom. His standup is out of this world brilliant.

Cosby is great. I like blue humor, but I love Cosby because he could be funny without it. He's one of the greats, absolutely.

62. kevin Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:43 AM (#2829754)

I should also point out that no women have been mentioned either...

You need to talk to Hitchens as to why women aren't funny.

63. kevin Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:43 AM (#2829755)

Kaufman I'd consider inner circle. Some people just didn't' get him but that made him even funnier to me.

64. Mattbert Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:44 AM (#2829756)

Lewis Black is another good one, and he's got more than a little Carlin influence in his humor.

Garrison Keillor isn't really a comedian per se, but when he goes for the funny in a "News From Lake Wobegon" monologue, he can really smash it out of the park if he's on.

65. pthomas Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:47 AM (#2829758)

There is a lot of mixing of comedic generations in this thread. Most of the modern comedians mentioned are famous for their movies, where the older comics were famous for their record albums. If you grew up in the Sixties, you went out and bought the Carlin and Cosby albums, and if you were like me, you played them til you had them memorized. In 1960, for example, Bob Newhart won the Grammy Award for Best Album. Not for spoken word, or comedy, but the Best Album, period. It was Number One on the pop record charts, in fact.

I pretty much go along with the lists of comedians posted earlier.......

66. Boots Day Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:52 AM (#2829765)

People think of him only as a sitcom star now, but Jerry Seinfeld was a terrific standup comic. Still is.

67. Sometimes it Rains (sj) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:54 AM (#2829766)

Bill Cosby, Noah's Ark.

Hey!
You up there!
What you want?
What is this?
It's an Ark
Aha
You wanna get it outta my driveway?

68. pv nasby Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:55 AM (#2829767)

George Miller is inner-circle personal HOM.

69. A Surfeit of Peaches Graham (SdeB) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:56 AM (#2829769)

Inner circle comedians (I'm including comedic actors here):

In addition to those mentioned above, I nominate Tim Conway and Carol Burnett.

70. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:56 AM (#2829771)

"What do you guys think of Andy Kaufman?"

Funniest man in the history of humor.

71. Sometimes it Rains (sj) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:58 AM (#2829773)

Kaufman was just alright. And it wasn't that I didn't get it, I got it, just got old after a while.

72. Mattbert Posted: June 23, 2008 at 10:59 AM (#2829774)

People think of him only as a sitcom star now, but Jerry Seinfeld was a terrific standup comic. Still is.

Absolutely. I really enjoyed that little award thing they did for him on HBO with Chris Rock, Robert Klein, and Gary Shandling. The insight he offered into his process was so interesting.

73. Howie Menckel Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:09 AM (#2829786)

Yeah, I saw Seinfeld at Bananas in Fort Lee (yes, home of Roseanne Roseannadanna's No. 1 fan) years before he got his TV show.

He absolutely killed, as they say.

The finish was a long story about how he read that moose sometimes are transported by helicopter - suspended below the copter in some sort of harness - to another stretch of wilderness. He imagines himself as an on-the-ground moose looking up and seeing....
Probably a 20-minute bit, and people were literally pounding the tables to go with screams of laughter. Some may literally have been pissing their pants.
Twas one of those stretches where people are begging for him to stop for a moment, if only so they can come up for air before they laugh again.

74. Scientist guy Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:19 AM (#2829793)

You need to talk to Hitchens as to why women aren't funny.

Interesting - it looks like an not quite so pithy "Jane - you ignorant slut..." type of argument.

75. Filliam H Muffman (Charles S) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:22 AM (#2829798)

So many great names mentioned here, but in terms of originality, influence, long-term success, and never losing his angry, insightful edge, I'd say Carlin tops them all. I hope he gets his due on the news shows tonight, but he may get aced out if Luke Russert has a BLT.

76. formerly dp Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:27 AM (#2829804)

Bob, I was going to mention Hedberg too, but unfortunately he passed before he could really blossom. Still fall-on-the-floor laughing.

Chris Rock deserves to be at the top, at least in the last 20 years.

I'm not recommending him for inclusion in any pantheon, but Martin Lawrence's early stand-up was really damn funny. Funnier than I thought, anyway. We caught an old special by him on Showtime the other night and it was brilliant. Not as political as Rock, Carlin, or Hicks, but we definitely fell off the couch a few times. The friend I was watching with does stand-up and all of the sudden he became a Martin Lawrence fan...

Very different style, but Dressed to Kill is just plain brilliant.

Talk about a career year- that is an amazing piece of work. My GF fell in love with him immediately, until she rented his other special and found them totally unwatchable and unfunny...

I haven't seen any love for Robin Williams. When he was still on the powder, he was as good as anyone...

77. kthejoker Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:40 AM (#2829817)

Re 73: Woody Allen also had a hilarious moose routine in his standup.

This note is to add Woody Allen to the inner circle.

78. Edmundo was digging the Italian ladies Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:46 AM (#2829820)

Woody Allen also had a hilarious moose routine in his standup.

That moose was sure pissed at the Berkowitz's, wasn't he? I can still hear the hysterical laughter from the audience.
Two other bits that I'll never forget are his cheating on his metaphysics exam and "Guy de Maupassant Rabinowitz".
The man had absurd down pat.

79. Still Waiting on Pork Chops (John R.) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:46 AM (#2829821)

Man, it got my week off to a bad start to find out that Carlin had died. I really meant to go see him last time at the Bass, but finances just didn't work out. I figured I'd get another chance...shows what I know.

I guess I never really got the Eddie Izzard love. I have not seen Dressed to Kill, however, so I will reserve judgment.

I've seen references to Steven Wright and Lewis Black previously in the thread. Are there any other current comedians/comediennes with Carlin-esque influences I should check out?

Carlin is not inner-circle HOF/HOM material. It's more like any HOF/HOM without Carlin would be as much of a joke as an HOF/HOM without Ruth.

80. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:47 AM (#2829822)

If we're going to move out of the 70s, to mention someone yet to be mentioned, Damon Wayans was once a very funny standup comedian, as was Jay Leno. George Wallace has cracked me up a lot, too ("Why do they stop prison riots?"), although he's spotty.

Next time Robin Williams makes me laugh will be the first time.

81. Harveys Wallbangers Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:50 AM (#2829829)

Redd Foxx was d*mn funny.

82. Harveys Wallbangers Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:51 AM (#2829830)

Bob & Ray were also very funny......

83. Sometimes it Rains (sj) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:51 AM (#2829831)

I've seen references to Steven Wright and Lewis Black previously in the thread. Are there any other current comedians/comediennes with Carlin-esque influences I should check out?

The big draw in comedy now is Dane Cook, probably the only guy who can fill a stadium of this generation. Which tells you what you need to know about the state of Stand up Comedy.

If John Hodgeman comes to your town, go see him. Zach Galifinakis too.

84. Count Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:52 AM (#2829833)

My favorite of the last 15-20 years is Mitch Hedberg. Probably died too young to make most of these lists.

85. Still Waiting on Pork Chops (John R.) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:53 AM (#2829834)

So many great names mentioned here, but in terms of originality, influence, long-term success, and never losing his angry, insightful edge, I'd say Carlin tops them all. I hope he gets his due on the news shows tonight, but he may get aced out if Luke Russert has a BLT.

Thank you for reminding me yet again why I haven't bothered hooking my TV back up.

86. Still Waiting on Pork Chops (John R.) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 11:58 AM (#2829839)

The big draw in comedy now is Dane Cook, probably the only guy who can fill a stadium of this generation. Which tells you what you need to know about the state of Stand up Comedy.

Yikes. I'd rather rip out my intestines with a fork.

Names noted for future reference.

87. Lassus Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM (#2829841)

Next time Robin Williams makes me laugh will be the first time.

He is quite talented, but it's hard to determine exactly in what manner.

His mentor Jonathan Winters on the other hand strikes me as inner circle, if perhaps he didn't border on incomprehensible at times.

88. billyshears Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:08 PM (#2829852)

The big draw in comedy now is Dane Cook, probably the only guy who can fill a stadium of this generation. Which tells you what you need to know about the state of Stand up Comedy.

I watched an entire Dane Cook HBO special and couldn't figure out if the objective of the performance was to be funny.

89. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:12 PM (#2829856)

I watched an entire Dane Cook HBO special and couldn't figure out if the objective of the performance was to be funny.

Dane Cook is a ####### ##########. I could spit on the ground and then piss on that spit and then take a dump on that conglomeration of spit and urine and it would be funnier than Dane Cook.

90. bads85 Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:16 PM (#2829861)

And, then, one night, he isolated why baseball is superior to football (and any other sport, really),

That bit was a slam on baseball -- it portrayed baseball as a sissy sport while football as warlike.

91. Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:17 PM (#2829863)

I have not seen Dressed to Kill, however, so I will reserve judgment.

Well, get to it, man.

92. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:19 PM (#2829865)

That bit was a slam on baseball -- it portrayed baseball as a sissy sport while football as warlike.

I think he was just having fun with the language of the two sports. When NBC still did the game of the week, he would pop up once in a while with a short monologue about baseball. IIRC he grew up a New York Giants fan. He seemed super intelligent to me so I just assumed he was a baseball fan.

93. Filliam H Muffman (Charles S) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:28 PM (#2829877)

That bit was a slam on baseball -- it portrayed baseball as a sissy sport while football as warlike.

You have to remember that bit was done in the 70s. You know, back when war was considered a bad thing.

94. Repoz Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:31 PM (#2829884)

Bruce, Prior, Cosby, Newhart, Carlin, Winters, Carson, Letterman, Keaton, Chaplin, Benny, Gleason and Carney, Fields, Laurel and Hardy.

Boy...is Jackie "The Jokeman" Martling going to be pissed.

95. Still Waiting on Pork Chops (John R.) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:33 PM (#2829887)

Something tells me I should wait until I am away from the office to watch that...

96. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:36 PM (#2829893)

Bob & Ray were also very funny......

YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES

OH MY SWEET PAJAMAS YES

Are you remembering to hang by your thumbs?

If we're just talking funny, though, I'll take Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers for my desert island.

Something tells me I should wait until I am away from the office to watch that...

Unless they don't mind you falling asleep at your desk.

97. Misirlou don't work cause vandals took the handle Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:36 PM (#2829895)

Buddy Hackett

98. B. Selig Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:41 PM (#2829900)

Posnanski wrote a semi-obit on his blog.

99. bads85 Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:43 PM (#2829901)

I think he was just having fun with the language of the two sports.

He was having fun with the language; that as Carlin's favorite thing to do. Yes, he was a baseball fan, but he was caustic with baseball in this bit. He certainly wasn't isolating baseball as a superior sport.

100. formerly dp Posted: June 23, 2008 at 12:46 PM (#2829903)

Dane Cook is teh suk. And not just b/c of those annoying Fox promos during the WS.

Robin Williams is awful now (except for in Death to Smoochy), but his early stand-up was bad ass. A lot of people were raving about his Showtime special a couple of years ago, but it turned out to be crap IMO, him mostly ripping off bits done by edgier comedians and impressing people who weren't familiar with the source material...

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Monday, June 23, 2008

Kallman: George Carlin, RIP: “The Object Is to Go Home”

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