The first time I ever saw George Carlin was when I was eight years old-- my Dad had just taped his "Jammin' In New York" HBO special at the (then) Paramount Theatre. It really was an accident, as I pressed "play" on the VCR, thinking it was my oft-watched copy of "The Sword In The Stone."
Instead, there was this guy on the screen swearing up a blue streak, asking the audience if they've ever tried to piss, sneeze, and pass gas at the same time (the answer, of course, is never-- the brain can't process that kind of high functioning, and you'd probably explode). Then, as all little kids will do, I reiterated the joke in front of family the next time everyone came over to the house. Suffice to say, people were amused at this little kid working the room with toilet humor.
However, in the fifteen years since my first exposure to the counter-culture comic, I've learned that what the world has just lost was a master of sociopolitical satire-- not just the scatalogical humor. His insights, however humorous and tongue-in-cheek they were, made people question their beliefs in their country, their media, and their faith in God-- he may have actually been the closest thing to a modern-day prophet we'll ever see. He was, and his material remains to be, profound and often imitated but never duplicated in its impact on an audience-- you never forgot a George Carlin set. I as lucky and blessed enough to see him live twice.
During his time here on Earth, he described himself as "simply here for the show"-- he loved watching the backwards ways of American society and picking apart the language we use with little regard for the things we say:
" 'Get on the plane?' 'Get ON the plane!?!?'
F*** you, I'm getting IN the plane!!!
Let Evel Knievel get ON the plane, for crying out loud!"
He was a master observer, and a truly gifted actor, comedian, and man. We'll miss you, George-- its been on hell of a ride!!!
Monday, June 23, 2008
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