Jay Bookman

By Joe

June 23, 2008 7:53 AM | Link to this

To be honest Mr Bookman (whoever the hell you are) you’re a bloody idiot. All of Carlin’s material was an act, its COMEDY. So don’t disrespect the dead, especially a comic legend such as George Carlin. So… Sod off.

By TEd

June 23, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this

AMEN

By Ease Up Dude

June 23, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this

Jay, go a little easy, dude. Carlin was a profoundly funny man, with a more engaging spirit than you give him credit for. I think that showed through his routines. If he were as hateful and spiteful as you suggest, he would not have been able to view life from both sides of the fence. He was a talent that is now silent. Respect.

By nic

June 23, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this

Hey Joe, Reread the post “And yet in the anger and bitterness, he was of course profoundly funny. Humor was the only bit of sweetness and light he would acknowledge in this world. Comedy Central ranked him as the second greatest comic ever, behind Richard Pryor, and I think that’s about right. They both told us the truth as they saw it, even though it wasn’t very pretty.”

If that isn’t not only a complement, but a way to revere Carlin, then maybe a little comprehension with your reading might help.

Oh, by the way, yes it was an act, but Carlin’s honesty and cynical view was pure. His view made his comedy what it is.

By EHS Pilot

June 23, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this

De mortuis nil nisi bonum.

By ron

June 23, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this

If what Carlin did passes off for comedy,we’re all in trouble.

By Maniac is accurate

June 23, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this

Seems George Carlin is not the bitter jerk here. Enjoy tinkling on people’s graves, do you, Bookman?

By bobfromCanton

June 23, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

Jay, it was humor…. You are wound to tight man.

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

June 23, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

Carlin pointedly made us aware of the duplicitous, inane nature of the human existence. When we laughed at his pronouncements we were laughing at ourselves and that is a good thing. In a world where truth is not valued all that much it was good to have a person who saw it as his duty to make us look at it. He was funny but that wa the real George Carlin. It wasn’t an act!

By

June 23, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

Seriously - lay off, Jay

By DaveD

June 23, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

Joe: words from George Carlin that were NOT part of his comedy act:

“I don’t have any beliefs or allegiances. I don’t believe in this country, I don’t believe in religion, or a god, and I don’t believe in all these man-made institutional ideas,” he told Reuters in a 2001 interview.”

You know what Joe? He’s right, I too don’t believe in those things.

By md

June 23, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this

Seriously - lay off, Jay

By mab

June 23, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this

Carlin wasn’t just a comedian…he may have been one of the greatest philosophers of our time. RIP, funny man.

By Cole

June 23, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this

Seriously? Did I just read this? C’mon man, the guy isn’t even cold yet and you might as well be spitting on his grave. George Carlin was an actor, a comedian. Just because he was satirical and cold on stage does not mean that’s how he was off the stage. When the puppeteers and voice actor for Oscar the Grouch dies are you going to post that he/she/they will never rest in peace because they were grumpy on stage?

By lewis

June 23, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this

Most great humorists and satirists have a strong sense of human frailties and failings, including their own, and use humor to prod and club us toward doing better. That it comes forth as anger and outrage isn’t unusual. Carlin playing Mr. Conductor was perfect, a telling clue to his sense of needing to nurture the young as the hope of the future, despite his misgivings about adults and the world we’d made. I don’t think Carlin would have disagreed too much with what you said of him.

By Observer

June 23, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

George Carlin was a PERFORMER. Period. To suggest that his act reflected his personal life is to suggest that Gallagher goes into a grocery store with a sledge hammer to smash water melons. George Carlin was very successful by exagerating a cynical view of the world we live in. The world lost a great comedian yesterday.

Why don’t you go find somebody else to criticize today? That is your job isn’t it - to criticize others? I don’t know that I’ve ever seen you do a piece that was anything more than a hatchet job on somebody. It’s a shame the rest of the world can’t be perfect like you. Life must be awfully lonely up there at the top.

By Mike

June 23, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this

From this point, I’ll read everything you write from the jaded viewpoint you provide. George Carlin was funny, very funny. He was an entertainer. You on the other hand, provide nothing other than attack journalism. You are an example of whats wrong with “the media”. You are a jerk, just another shrill voice yelling for attention. Like a used car salesman.

By Larry Ward

June 23, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

Good headline, Mr. Bookman. It reminds me of Jefferson’s aphorism, “I shall not die while barbarism and despotism reign over so many parts of the globe”. Neither will George Carlin die while lunacy and illusions reign over our perception of the world we inherit. Neither rests in peace as we extinguish all things of elegance in God’s creation.

By Holly

June 23, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

Wow how embarrassing for you to be such an idiot in a public way Jay.

By BCFoley

June 23, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this

Bookman=idiot

By Throwback

June 23, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this

sounds like Carlin was a bit too deep for you, Bookman - a super funny, comedic innovator - may he R.I.P. - I would have loved to hear his take on Obama

By the truth

June 23, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

What did this fool just say? damn.

By Andy

June 23, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

I’m not sure why so many are upset with Jay for writing this piece. Jay recognized two basic things: Carlin was extremely cynical, and also very funny. Neither of things is untrue, so how did Jay diss the man?

Carlin was indeed extremely cynical: in a late-’90s interview with Art Bell, Carlin said, “I think we’re already ‘circling the drain’ as a species, and I’d love to see the circles get a little faster and a little shorter.”

Uh … yeah.

If you think Jay dissed the man, then here’s some real “dissing”: Carlin should have been equally disgusted with himself, for he contributed nothing constructive to this world. What a tragic waste of a life.

By Hellbent

June 23, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

It seems to me that the person we should be worried about is Ron.

By CDN

June 23, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

George Carlin was a genius. He told it like it was and he is 100% right (even if it was just comedy/humor) about how delusional and dumb Americans are and how screwed up the gov. is, etc. I guess you’re one of those dumb Americans Jay that fit in that category. George Carlin should have been President of this Country so he could have cleaned up all the a-holes that messed up this once amazing Country. Stop dissing this man because you’re just moist that he was right about so many points in his routine. He made us think and of course laugh like crazy. I will miss him greatly. Don’t knock him. Praise his work. It was pure genius. RIP George!!!

By Mark Douglas

June 23, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this

This journalist just wants attention and his name to be recognized. And you also have to remember he is from speaking with a Bible Belt mentality. George Carlin’s skit about why people in the U.S. are obsessed with other people’s behavior was comic genius. I do recognize Carlin was one of the best. My personal favorite of his was his skit about what a house is and “stuff”.

By Debbie

June 23, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this

As a 55 year old woman, George Carlin was part of my upbringing. I owned the album with the ‘seven words you don’t say on tv’! He was a performer, a comedian, and very, very funny! I will miss him very much.

By Ed Stirling

June 23, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this

Gorge Carlin raged against the B.S. of conservatives AND liberals. He attacked phonies, exploiters, users and the heartless. If he had ever heard of Bookman you probably would have been on his list.

By Kathy

June 23, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

How dare you play God and decide who can rest in peace. Did you say that about Tim Baker and his wife. At least George wasn’t a hypocrite.
RIP George Carlin the number one funniest man alive.

By Bosch

June 23, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

Wow - chill out people. Jay is giving his opinion - just like every day.

Carlin had a way of making you see certain things that were wrong in our society - like the “stuff” routine - basic premise - we have too much stuff, and are kind of obsessed with our stuff.

His methods were pretty harsh, but that shock value was how he got his point through.

I don’t mean this directed at Carlin, but I often wonder why we, as a collective society, preach such morality - almost demand it, but turn around and hold certain celebrities in such high regard.

Sometimes I get criticized for using “curse words” - I wonder how many of those people who criticize me for that think Carlin was a funny guy.

By Jesse's Girl

June 23, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

I think the fact that he was involved in something as innocent as Thomas the Tank Engine speaks volumes. His heart may have been private, but he certainly had one. You may not have “gotten” him Mr. Bookman, but many did. I for one, will miss his unique take on life. After all….bucking the trend and going your own way is what this country was built upon. And he did it fantastically. We’ll miss you George…so will Thomas and the 5 million children that love him.

By jeff

June 23, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

Godspeed George, most necks like Jay aren’t intelligent enough to separate comedy and real life.

By Joshua Barlowe

June 23, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

Jay, I think you’re spot on.

He was a bitter and angry man. I hope he made peace with God before his passing; because he surely didn’t have it for the majority of his life.

By drock

June 23, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

this dimwit doesn’t get it.

ajc.com now blocked from my computer…who gave this guy a speaking part?

By Algonquin J. Calhoun

June 23, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

Jay didn’t say anything about George that was insulting or untrue. I think Carlin himself would agree with everything he said. Jay wasn’t disrespectful. He just told the truth and truth is what Carlin valued. It’s those who aren’t intelligent enough to comprehend the written word who are feigning outrage at what Jay’s said about Carlin. He has in no way demeaned him or his importance as an American icon. Those heaping insults upon Jay need to get a life and learn to read!

By Susan

June 23, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Wow, I just heard the sad news that George is gone… man he was very intelligent and funny!! unlike this journalist Jay Bookman that I never heard of until now and after reading this… his shot at a great man that is now dead I hope I never hear of him again…what a wingding

By Mike

June 23, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

Carlin was unique, but his humor did have its gentle side, even if edged with his knowing brand of sarcasm. Just recall the routine he built upon the differences between the martial sport of football and the bucolic game of baseball — truly funny and far from offensive (unless you easily get your nose bent out of shape, as some of those responding to Bookman’s comments do). In any event, an extraordinary talent has passed at what, in my early-onset senescence, I can’t help regarding as the far too young age of 71.

By Clyde

June 23, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

No… He was ranked #1. Richard Pryor was 2nd. Man, get your facts straight.

By Hellbent

June 23, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this

Joshua Barlow; Whatever. I’m sure that George Carlin amassed quite a bit of good Karma during this life which will stand him in good stead in the next one. He may have even achieved Nirvana, we’ll never know. But I do know he made me laugh.

I remember one skit he did on Johnny Carson where he imitated a cat walking into a sliding glass door. I laughed so hard I cried and my father was so upset that I woke him up that he came into the room and turned off the tv. I layed there laughing for a good 15 minutes afterwards.

By Taxpayer

June 23, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

Personally, I thought George Carlin played second fiddle to George Bush. Some people just can’t recognize good comedy when they see it — over and over and over. Eight years of gut-busting is more than enough though. I know they say that laughter will make you live longer but why would anyone want to live more than two centuries. It’s time to get serious and start fixing some problems.

By fes

June 23, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

what’s with all the people getting bent out of shape? i guess it’s just another day of typical commenting on the ajc by angry morons that are always looking for something to b!tch about. you people need to relax and enjoy life a little. heck, go listen to some carlin and have a few laughs.

By Andy

June 23, 2008 9:08 AM | Link to this

Irony: Carlin being praised as a genius even though he insulted absolutely everyone - while Jay Bookman gets slammed by the same people for one brief, somewhat negative commentary on Carlin.

Interesting, that. Come to think of it, that would also define “hypocrisy” for many people here.

By Candide

June 23, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

To understand Carlins’ comedy required a bit of intelligence.

The people here who did not “get it” are part of the problem.

By Keeping It Real

June 23, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

Just because liberals don’t believe in Hell, that doesn’t mean it isn’t real.

Say “Hi.” to Lucifer for us, Jay.

By Patrick

June 23, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

Carlin has never expressed his disgust with the human race or his disappointment that they don’t live up to his expectations as you say. In fact, Carlin roots for his species destruction as mentioned in numerous stand-ups and books that he has written. If you are going to write in a public forum like this you should really learn to get you facts straight - especially before you criticize a comedic legend you moron.

By Pete

June 23, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

Bookman, I’ll speak for Carlin now and call you a living jackass. Carlin was brilliant. There are indeed idiot’s in this world - count yourself in. As for Realist, are you god? “Atheism is a non-prophet organization.” - does that offend you? If so, you are also an idiot.

By John C

June 23, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

Mr. George Carlin was a genius. His very accurate view on this messed up in the toilet world we live in was as about as pinpoint accurate than any thing viewed on Fox, MSNBC, CNN, or anyother fixed nightly news you chose to watch. The comic world and people with a sense of humor (which is growing smaller daily) lost a pioneer that this 33 year old grew up listing to. Maybe he will bring the pork chops to Jesus and have a nice picnic.

By Bree

June 23, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

wow, Carlin was great, and people knew who he was…. and who are you, obviously u havnt done anything to make anyone know who the hell u are. And when u die, but who knows if I’ll ever find out, cuz your not really important enough to mention… but Ill make sure to p** on your grave. Have a nice, unimportant life

By Henry

June 23, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

Who’s the jerk? If you didn’t GET Carlin, Bookman I think it’s you. It seems you are the type of person most of George’s comedy was about, Jerks who don’t get it. People who don’t look below the surface. People who “swallow the Coolade”

By guerlensmoralien

June 23, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

the tragedy of this passing is the truth carlin told,… silenced , mr bookman, it sounds like you were personally threatened by the persona and message of this great comic, or are acting as such, on cue for some propiganda machine as required . . mr carlin legacy is he saw the real dangers of power and made us laugh about the them and think about them .gc is not even cold and you mr. bookman are..sh it ing.. on his memory .now i know as much about you and rest assured,. fewer will weep at your passing when your ticket is punched

By James

June 23, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

Mr. Bookman, you should have your column pulled. It is completely disrespectful for you to make such comments. This man was a comedian and regardless he has a family and friends who cared about him. Your lack of regard for this man shows a level of hypocricy only an idiot could posess.

By Lorra

June 23, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

I had the honor to see George in Pittsburgh last summer and I think he was a true genuis who spoke the truth about this “great country of ours”. He new more about politics than our so called President. Hell, I would have like to vote for him in ‘08. I also belive that it’s dishonoring to comment on what that reporter said. This page is for GEORGE! I will truly miss him. I only wonder did he get his “two minute warning” (On the Road album)

By Mike

June 23, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

I’ve always been a fan of George Carlin, grew up with him in the 70s, watched and loved his HBO specials. 2005 I won sky-box seat tickets to see him perform live from a radio morning show. My wife and I were extremely excited and looked forward to his show. We stayed for about three-quarters of the show. It was as much as we could take. There were some good moments, but I was looking for that stomach busting laughter of the past. He had gone totally political in his act. We thought the show would cover a wide range of material as he did in the past like in his HBO specials, but all he could focus on was George Bush and the war, That being said, we could have stayed home and watched MSNBC or Comedy Central if we wanted a night listening to politcal jokes. I was glad I didn’t pay for those tickets. What happened to Skippy George ??

By Red Forman

June 23, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Every time I read a Jay Bookman piece, I’d gag, then get to wondering: “What’s it like to live and think like that, to be stuck inside that narrow-minded, pea brain forever?”

By omar

June 23, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

have you ever met the guy in person? talked to him one on one? didn’t think so

By Mark

June 23, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

Truly Mr. Bookman, I’m continually astonished at the judgmental attitude of many of the columnists in the AJC, yours being the latest addition. While I’m sure that George Carlin’s humor and perspective on life wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, the man had a great gift in being able to present today’s many problems with a healthy dash of humor so that rather than bemoaning the condition, we could all have a laugh at our own foolishness and ignorance. Your comments smack of elitism and are prudish to say the least. Open your eyes, look around you and you’ll see that not everyone lives as you do nor does the world impact on others lives as it does yours. George Carlin reminded us not to take ourselves too seriously. For that, he can rest peacefully indeed.

By Bosch

June 23, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

I think you people are way over-reacting - go back and re-read Jay’s column.

Jay is doing the same thing Carlin did in his routine.

If Carlin could read this column and offer a comment, he’d probably say that Jay was one of the few who DID get him.

How funny.

By cappy

June 23, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

ill file this next to the obit on vonnegut by fox news , you have confirmed fo me that the media is dead to me. and serves an agenda deeper darker and fascist

carlin spoke some uncomfortable truths and it sounds to me like you have taken it personally.i could not condemn you more than by reading what you say . your agenda is transparent , and sickening and something carlin himself could have skewered with delicious result

By sierra

June 23, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

grow some freaking humor, dude. you wouldn’t know humor if it bit you in the a*!

By Texas Reader

June 23, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

Carlin on the Carson Show circa early 1980’s: “A man in a tool and die factory died today when a tool fell on him”. Goodbye Hippie Dippie Weatherman.

By Mauro

June 23, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

I reached this article because of Carlin, had not any idea that this guy Jay Bookman existed. But, hey what is wrong with you Jay?

BTW Carlin was a genius Period!

By David Vincent

June 23, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

I knew George in passing as a promoter throughout the 80’s and 90’s. I had dealings with many “celebrities” - professional and otherwise - and Carlin always stood out as especially gracious. His smalltalk was big and his handshake more often than not led to a hug. A consumate pro. I will miss his spirit and his devotion to what is just and true. RIP George.

By Taxpayer

June 23, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

Does anyone remember that TV show called “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”? Anyway, that show made me think of a routine about the Bush Administration that George Carlin missed out on. He could have called it “Seven Words for Seven Years”. Maybe someone new will come along to take up the slack.

By Gia

June 23, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

Excuse me, Mr. Jaaay Bookman, but when was it ever kind to pay respects to a great man in this manner? Ah of course, it never was. Maybe you should just keep quiet when there are more fans of George Carlin who are upset today than there are people like YOU who are not upset. Hopefully, no one will sit here criticizing you when you die. Then again, you may deserve it.

By kenny

June 23, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

as the hippy dippy weatherman said..tonights forcast….DARK! and the world will be a little darker with out george…rest in peace my brother!

By Jim

June 23, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Jay, I think your article is pretty accurate. I preferred his early material before he became so cynical.

On a side note, here’s one of Carlin’s rules: The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the a*****. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a ‘decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one sweet-n’-Low, and one NutraSweet,’ ooh, you’re a huge a*****. I think the same rule applies to people that post in latin.

By Jon

June 23, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

At least Carlin’s bitterness was funny. Mr Bookman, yours is just sad.

By RK

June 23, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

GEORGE CARLIN DIDN’T MIND CASHING AMERICAN CHECKS PAID BY HARD WORKING AMERICANS HE DIDN’T BELEIVE IN…But then again, when someone dies, everybody is suddenly a saint… “I don’t have any beliefs or allegiances. I don’t believe in this country, I don’t believe in religion, or a god, and I don’t believe in all these man-made institutional ideas,” he told Reuters in a 2001 interview.”

By The Truth

June 23, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

JAY, It must really suck to be you. I mean, you can find the worst in anything. I’d advise you to seek professional help.

By Jim

June 23, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

The worst piece of comedy George ever created is a thousand times more entertaining than any thing you have ever written hatchet boy.

By The Snoman

June 23, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

I grew up watching Carlin as early as 10 years old, and even then, I watched him with a great big sh!t eating grin on my face. As I grew older, I began to appriciate him more, being that I started to understand his point of view. Carlin was a realit, he loved bold, bitter truth, and even more, loved to take that same truth, and put a horrifying, morbid twist on it.

I see so many comments on here, where a lot of you are throwing stones at Mr. Bookman, and I’m a little confused as to why. From what I read, Mr. Bookman was paying Carlin nothing short of a compliment.

The fact that Carlin WAS Mr. Conductor, was sick, and down right hilarious. However, the brilliance that Carlin used, allowed him to do that for children, a part of society that he loved.

I met Carlin after a show in Kansas City, it was brief, I told him I thought his show was great, and that he was my kind of b*******, and being who he was, he smiled, and said “You’re mother thought so too.” And I laughed my head off. THAT’S the George I remember, and the George I will miss.

Mr. Bookman I believe has a great understanding of Carlin, and I think almost everybody commenting here does as well, so, instead of arguing who “Got Carlin Better” why not just talk about why you loved him, and not why the other guy hated him.

By VAGuy

June 23, 2008 10:05 AM | Link to this

To a certain extent, getting someone’s comedy is not a matter of intelligence but is a matter of a shared mindset with the comedian. Not every one got Pryor or gets Dennis Miller and that does not make them any less intelligent. Culture also has a bearing on what we do or do not “get.” What’s funny to me may not be funny to a Korean, So which one of us is lacking in intelligence.

By beanie

June 23, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

Ok I got a bit of a different spin on this artical. You make a few points in this small artical. You say he never forgave anybody. I think we use this as an excuse to do a half a* job! Most people live life half thinking and half living. Those are the people he “pokes fun at” or more so calls out so maybe they can realize what is going. And really what were his expectations of the world???? To stop following others and to make up your own mind! To really think about things and educate yourself? To stand up for what you believe? To get out of the dark and into the light and be your own person? OMG is that hard to do? Is that to much to ask?

He never told anyone to believe what he does. He just gave his opinion on things. that is it just an opinion. He gave us another view point to think about. He made it ok to stand up for what we believe in even if it isn’t the normal thing.

Then you go on to say that he told the truth. THE TRUTH! the truth is a funny thing. My truth is different from yours and from others. These guys had the balls to stand up and shout their truths. All they did was call out what they saw and what they thought of it. Nothing more nothing less. I believe all they wanted to do was open peoples minds. Get them thinking. These are the two of my fave people in the world for that fact. They will not be forgotten any time soon.

By Richard K

June 23, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

In his later years he commented on our government and the corruption that has total control over it. This was not comedy but reality.

The joke is on us however as we continue to elect corrupt useless scumbags to office. Just look at the choices the two major parties are offering us… that is the bigest joke of all.

George was just trying to wake us up to the powers that are destroying our country. He was a true American Patriot!

By Analchord

June 23, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

The New York Times called him “splenetic”. I had to look it up. Then they wrote that “overt spleen” had crept into his act lately. I had to look that up too.

Did you know that spleen means morose too? Splenetic is ill-tempered and peevish.

I knew I loved to laugh when I was a child. Jack Benny. Jack Benny. Jack Benny. (always say it three times, or you’ll bomb next time on stage guaranteed).

In the sixties, George Carlin made me laugh more than Bill Cosby or Flip Wilson. There was something special about George Carlin. I couldn’t tell exactly what that was because I didn’t smoke pot until 1971.

Through the seventies, his irreverence matched perfectly our drug culture. If Jimmy Hendrix was the king of acid, then Carlin was the grand wizard of pot, hands down. Cheech and Chong. Richard Pryor. The seventies had the best comedy, even if the music sucked. (sorry jimmy) There’s always a trade off, isnt’ there?

I dont know when Carlin stopped being funny. I think it was when he tried to perfect the nuances of word-phrases that rang funny. I never once watched his Mr. Conductor. I couldn’t bring myself to. I didn’t trust him anymore. He did an interview a few years ago on PBS and he admitted that he wrote down words as he stumbled across them that he felt had some potential for that odd echo of entendre. I know exactly what he meant. Those words expose themselves to you for a second, and if you dont write them down, and you never do, (I dont know why, but I’ve missed out on dozens of them over the years), then they’re gone forever, and you wont get a second shot at them. Write down your insights. Write them down. They occur while driving. They occur while walking in the forest. They drop out of the trees, man. Write them down.

One of Carlin’s last books opens with a litany of oxymoronic odd phrases and double entendre’s that begins, “I am a hard this, soft that, old who young where, hi tech low maintenance, etc…” It labored. It didn’t work. It was too obvious. He dissected the words too far. He was old, and comedians cant get old. Comedy is young. We want our comedians to be childish. Imagine a nursing home patient who says, “Why do they call it a bedpan? It’s not a bed. It’s not a pan. Why cant we just use the little boys room like everyone else? I want to lay down something permanent and be remembered for a long time yet my nurse says I’m just a flash in the pan.”

Anyway, these oblique words never written down are pure gold. You see what you can do with them and you rejoice over the home run you’ll hit on stage, but you’ve got maybe 15 seconds to write it down, and no matter how sure you are that, “There’s no way I’ll forget this bit”, it will evaporate like the recording does in five seconds on the 60’s mission impossible TV series.

Just like that, it’s gone. I had the greatest Betty Davis bit every written and lost it at a traffic light. I’ll never forget the horror. I also had the greatest shoulder pad on women’s t-shirt bit every thought of and lost it and even though it’s been 15 years, I still try to recreate the moment in the woods when I forgot it to try to jog the memory. I was walking along, happy as a lark, imagining the laughs when this chick appeared out of nowhere, I mean, where the hell did you come from and it jarred the bit right out of my head. I was so angry. Then once, at Kennesaw Mountain, I was writing down a bit that appeared, and I was getting to the crux when this other chick knocks on the window of my car, and she looks like there’s an emergency or something, and I roll the window down a crack and say, “Yeahhhh….?” trying to act annoyed even though she was a total babe. “Can I use your cigarette lighter to plug my phone into it’s starting to beep and I’m in the middle of a call.”

The bit was fading fast, I opened the door and said, you can have the car, and I ran down the path toward some picnic tables for refuge, still clinging onto the vestiges of the bit hoping to wrangle it from oblivion and the chick yells, “Sorry to bother your important writing things your emininence king guy person thing….”

or something like that and poof it was gone. The bit of the ages was gone cause some babe felt entitled to intrude on an innocent comedian sitting alone in his Sequoia. Even though it was ten years ago, I remember every detail. Mozart was on the radio. I wore a bic. The chick wore short shorts. I probably could have cranked her if comedy wasnt’ so important. I should have cranked her.

I cant believe I lost that bit.

By Carlin no longer exists

June 23, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

Bookman is right: Carlin CAN’T rest in peace, because that would imply that there is something that exists after death. And we all know that’s a fallacy (wink)! Carlin would be the first to tell you, there is no God, and after death, there is nothing. So all you Carlin lovers: Get over it! He’s worm food now! He can’t hear Bookman! Bookman’s comments won’t affect him now! As Carlin said, “Religion is bulls*”. So now, I will tinkle on his grave, it might help with the decomposition.

By Eliza

June 23, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

ok Mr. Bookman,

Is it your religious or political backround that makes you so narrow minded that you can’t see the genius behind George Carlin? Or is the fact that he actually says what he thinks and not blindly follows the pack like a stupid lemming? Or is it the fact that he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind and actually use all the rights that are given to one in this country or even just as humans. Maybe you should take a step back and off your high horse and really listen to what he has to say before you go spouting off about stupid garbage. What you have to say sir will not last the ages, but What George Carlin says will. You may now take your foot out of your mouth.

By 4eyedbuzzard

June 23, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this

They both told us the truth as they saw it, even though it wasn’t very pretty…That honesty came at a price. But in their minds the cost of dishonesty was even higher.

Yep. A very accurate tribute.

At the heart of all great comedy lies pain, anger, and outrage. I feel sorry for the shallow-minded morons here who cannot see past their little belief system to understand that.

To the person(s) who said He didn’t believe in God, he’s going to hell

Keep professing you piousness in public so that you have your worldly reward amongst your like minded peers. For if some sort of Hell is where George winds up, then we are all doomed.

By rose

June 23, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

He was a brilliant monologist, and I will miss him. He made me laugh so.

By Edmonton Fan

June 23, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

Mr. Bookman, let me just say that even though you are alive and well and have a web-site, does not mean the you should take that ability and poo poo on a legendary comedian like George Carlin. You may think that George Carlin did not have respect for anybody and as he deplicted it in his comedy routine, but George was giving us his point of view of just how screwed up this world is.

Yes, he may have a offended some people, but that was what I think he was trying to do. Trying to get a rise out of people and showing us just how this place on Earth is just turning into one big shopping mall.

Mr. Bookman, try a new line of work, as the present job you have is not one you should be doing if this is the type of crap editorial you do.

To Mr. George Carlin, may you rest in peace and you and your comedy will be sadly missed.

By The Snoman

June 23, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Just resurfaceing a quote 4eyed used…

“He didn’t believe in God, he’s going to hell”

That seems to be the very definition of oxymoronic. If Carlin doesn’t believe in God, or hell, or the afterlife, or your opinion, then why would he wind up in a place he feels doesn’t exist.. I know it makes no sense what I’m writing, but I found it funny..

By The Thin Guy

June 23, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Loved his line about politics: Don’t vote. It only encourages them. With what available this year I’m following his advice. RIP funny man.

By Jan

June 23, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Jay, Who do you think you are passing judgment on another, especially one who just passed away??? You are a heartless individual who must be extremely disappointed in your own inabilities so you choose to insult someone who hasn’t even been laid to rest yet! And yes, he WILL rest in peace! BTW, before you wrote those inappropriate comments, did you consider what affect your headline might have on his family and friends who loved him….or do you even care?? Your comments are sick and appauling and I SO hope that AJC will reconsider employing such a tasteless UNhuman being as yourself!! Just remember that when you pass on, commentaries may be given about you. I can well imagine what those will be!!!

By Huac

June 23, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

Never imagined I’d be defending Bookman, but here goes. Carlin, like Mark Twain in his old age, became way too cynical; far past the point of entertainment. (Did you see his last HBO performance? Hardly the ‘feel good’ performance of the year…just opposite) So Jay is being a bit mistreated on this one. But at least Carlin didn’t take himself and his message so seriously that he thought he could run for Senator from Minn.

By tana

June 23, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

Jay, your a journalist, and you should know how most journalist, not all, but most,,you make your money by printing things to hurt people, take things out of text to make it sound exciting and make people want to read it… That is no different than a Comedian,, ..George Carlin was human, just like you, and you should be ashamed to even write that about him… Do you forget these people have family,,,,, can you imagine when you die, if some of the things written about you, telling the things that you have written about others, and putting you downm,how it would hurt your family,.. nobody is perfect except for God… I do hope you are a Christian. I agree, i don’t like the foul language, but America has changed since i was young.. you cannot even turn on the TV now without hearing language that was never allowed when i was young and i am only 50…… I will say a prayer for you tonight , for you to not have such bitterness toward people…. I am sure God is looking down on all of us and wondering,..”What has happened to all of my good, loving, kindhearted children in this world?” I am sure the end of the world will come very soon, just read the book of revelations…… It will scare you to death,,,, and will hopefully save some lost souls, if they would take the time to read it…….

By Ryan

June 23, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

It was cheese-balls like you Jay that helped fuel his comedy. Maybe you are too “Book” smart and have been spending too much time reading about life, instead of doing it. He had common sense. Something most people lack. He was one of the greatest out there, sorry you don’t have the intelligence to see that.

By carlin_fan

June 23, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

My guess would be his attitude evolved to what it became because of the sheer distain he had for narrow minded, loud mouth neo-cons, some of whom apparently get hired to run blogs.

I’m frankly surprised that someone as reactionary as you could even appreciate his humor.

By Al Parinello

June 23, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

In the same way James Taylor defines the background sounds for the boomer generation, George Carlin defined the background social commentary that formed our confidence in challanging our world. He proved that America is a free land and personally I would like to say “thanks”.

By onemangrouphug

June 23, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

Carlin was a great American. He fought, all the way to the Supreme Court, to stretch the First Amendment. Even though he lost in a 5-4 decision, it caused this country to consider restrictions on free speech.
Not satisfied with just telling “Have you ever wondered…” jokes and making a fortune, he dug deep into the American culture to expose our excesses, dichotomies and ironies. I know Jay Bookman gets that. Sometimes the truth hurts. Carlin would like Jay’s note. After all it was he who wrote, “Thank God we’re finally rid of f_ing Mother Teresa!” If we don’t push the envelope, it will close on our freedoms.

By Jay Bookman is a bad person

June 23, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

Jay, is an Obama homer and a waste of a salary at the AJC. He should be fired immediately for this horribly written blog entry. RIP Carlin, go to hell Bookman.

By Jb

June 23, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

George Carlin was hilarious because he told the truth as he saw it. Jay, you just didn’t get the jokes.

By Analchord

June 23, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this

The New York Times called him “splenetic”. I had to look it up. Then they wrote that “overt spleen” had crept into his act lately. I had to look that up too.

Did you know that spleen means morose? Splenetic is ill-tempered and peevish.

I knew I loved to laugh when I was a child. Jack Benny. Jack Benny. Jack Benny. (always say it three times, or you’ll bomb next time on stage guaranteed).

In the sixties, George Carlin made me laugh more than Bill Cosby or Flip Wilson. There was something special about George Carlin. I couldn’t tell exactly what that was because I didn’t smoke pot until 1971.

Through the seventies, his irreverence matched perfectly our drug culture. If Jimmy Hendrix was the king of acid, then Carlin was the grand wizard of pot, hands down. Cheech and Chong. Richard Pryor. The seventies had the best comedy, even if the music sucked. (sorry jimmy) There’s always a trade off, isnt’ there?

I dont know when Carlin stopped being funny. I think it was when he tried to perfect the nuances of word-phrases that rang funny. He did an interview a few years ago on PBS and he admitted that he wrote down words as he stumbled across them that he felt had some potential for that odd echo of entendre. I know exactly what he meant. Those words expose themselves to you for a second, and if you dont write them down, and you never do, (I dont know why, but I’ve missed out on dozens of them over the years), then they’re gone forever, and you wont get a second shot at them. Write down your insights. Write them down. They occur while driving. They occur while walking in the forest. They drop out of the trees, man. Write them down.

One of Carlin’s last books opens with a litany of oxymoronic odd phrases and double entendre’s that begins, “I am a hard this, soft that, old who young where, hi tech low maintenance, etc…” It labored. It didn’t work. It was too obvious. He dissected the words too far. He was old, and comedians cant get old. Comedy is young. We want our comedians to be childish. Imagine a nursing home patient who says, “Why do they call it a bedpan? It’s not a bed. It’s not a pan. Why cant we just use the little boys room like everyone else? I want to lay down something permanent and be remembered for a long time yet my nurse says I’m just a flash in the pan.”

Anyway, these oblique words never written down are pure gold. You see what you can do with them and you rejoice over the home run you’ll hit on stage, but you’ve got maybe 15 seconds to write it down, and no matter how sure you are that, “There’s no way I’ll forget this bit”, it will evaporate like the recording does in five seconds on the 60’s mission impossible TV series.

Just like that, it’s gone. I had the greatest Betty Davis bit every written and lost it at a traffic light. I’ll never forget the horror. I also had the greatest shoulder pad on women’s t-shirt bit every thought of and lost it and even though it’s been 15 years, I still try to recreate the moment in the woods when I forgot it to try to jog the memory. I was walking along, happy as a lark, imagining the laughs when this chick appeared out of nowhere, I mean, where the hell did you come from and it jarred the bit right out of my head. I was so angry. Then once, at Kennesaw Mountain, I was writing down a bit that appeared, and I was getting to the crux when this other chick knocks on the window of my car, and she looks like there’s an emergency or something, and I roll the window down a crack and say, “Yeahhhh….?” trying to act annoyed even though she was a total babe. “Can I use your cigarette lighter to plug my phone into it’s starting to beep and I’m in the middle of a call.”

The bit was fading fast, I opened the door and said, you can have the car, and I ran down the path toward some picnic tables for refuge, still clinging onto the vestiges of the bit hoping to wrangle it from oblivion and the chick yells, “Sorry to bother your important writing things your emininence king guy person thing….”

or something like that and poof it was gone. The bit of the ages was gone cause some babe felt entitled to intrude on an innocent comedian sitting alone in his Sequoia. Even though it was ten years ago, I remember every detail. Mozart was on the radio. I wore a bic. The chick wore short shorts. I probably could have cranked her if comedy wasnt’ so important. I should have cranked her.

I cant believe I lost that bit.

By reebok

June 23, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

Carlin was a bitter, angry, misogynistic crank. His cleaned-up prime-time act was merely revolting…his live, unedited act was puerile and vile. To call Carlin’s garbage “humor” is an insult to legitimate comics.

By Stand Tall

June 23, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

I have watched George Carlin over the years, some of it live, and most of it taped of course based on our age difference. I grew up sneaking out of my room to see bits of him as my parents watched and thoroughly enjoyed his HBO specials. Anytime a new Carlin special was scheduled I was there as an adult ready to be entertained. When I was 24 I was in LA and went to a restaurant with some friends. Inside, I saw a man with a fedora and sunglasses eating all alone, there was only one empty table available and it was next to him. When I sat down I told my friends.. “maybe we will see some celebrity walk in here..” Just at that moment, the man lifted his sunglasses and leaned in to say ..”*#%! celebrities, they’re all the same, selfish, pety, malcontents..” To my surprise, it was George, in the flesh, and eating alone. I was at a loss for words, but managed to evoke a bit of praise for his catalog of work throughout the years. To which he replied.. “Kid, idolize someone important, like your father, if you know who he is..those are the types of people to look up to.. not guys like me.” His style may have seemed dark, but I am sure he opened the eyes of many a man along the way. His stance on social injustice and the decline of our society, has never been made more clear, or more comical… GEORGE YOU WILL BE MISSED!

By getalife

June 23, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

“One out of every three Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of two of your best friends. If they are OK, then it must be you”

Bye George.

By ps

June 23, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

George definitely lived his life HIS way. How many of us will be able to say that we our time comes. He said whatever he wanted to say in spite of the consquences sometimes. R.I.P.

By Mark

June 23, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

Realist

You are the a s s! You rate right up there with Bookman. Carlin was the original realist. You’re simply a punk. Religion is for the weak. You and the rest of the ignorant lemmings need to keep your voodoo at home.

By Erin

June 23, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

Wow….can’t believe you would say this in a George Carlin eulogy the day after he dies. George Carlin was a genius at helping us see things the way they are. I will miss him. May he rest in peace.

By cubalibre

June 23, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

For the most part, Bookman’s commentary is right on. Fans of Carlin know and appreciate his evolution through the years from Al Sleet into the comedic pundit whose wit grew more acidic with age. Where Bookman oversimplifies is he doesn’t acknowledge that Carlin’s ire wasn’t merely anger for anger’s sake. Rather, it stemmed from his deep-seated disappointment that humans keep failing to learn lessons from our mistakes, repeating them over & over again, thus keeping us from living up to our true potential. Carlin’s rage kept him honest, and by association, us, too. Overall, Boookman’s pretty spot on. Anyone who was a true Carlin fan would know that the man himself would have been much more harsh in his assessment of his legacy than Bookman has been here.

By David

June 23, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

Jay, you are the reason why I will not pay for the AJC. George Carlin was an entertainer, and the anger and bitterness was his act. If you didn’t like it, great. There is no need to insult the man and dance on his grave.

F*%& you and the horse you rode in on.

By cubalibre

June 23, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

Oh, and Analchord: interesting, well-written observations— but for the record, it’s “Jimi” Hendrix. (Apologies, but it had to be said.)

By Analchord

June 23, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

71 is too young for anyone to die. 71 is middle aged, it’s still in the warranty period, bumper to bumper, George Carlin was an airbag. He was recalled several times for being a blowhard out of place and time.

Middle eighties is still too young, but better than 71. Seventy one? That’s only 14 years from 57! That’s only 50 years from 21! He was a baby!

Old people. We all hate old. Even old people hate what mother nature is doing. There’s pains. There’s noises. there’s smells. And the greyness. the wrinkles and sags. The liver spots. (and that’s just their underwear, you should see their bodies!)

Poor George. Tim Russert. George Carlin. It comes in threes, folks. Who’s next?

Many baby boomers I know did a lot of cocaine. They’re dropping like flies. Cocaine is an explosion in your heart. It destroys heart tissue. Dont do cocaine. Fortunately for me, I never did cocaine, man. Or acid. I smoked marlboros into my thirties, then I managed to get that monkey off my back.

i drank till my early thirties too, but stopped.

I’m a tee totaller now. I only did pot, uh, twenty two times, man, I mean two times, man…..

No, U have to be straight all the time, all the time, all the time.

all the time. It’s true.

By The Gentle Giant

June 23, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

“By DaveD June 23, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

Joe: words from George Carlin that were NOT part of his comedy act:

“I don’t have any beliefs or allegiances. I don’t believe in this country, I don’t believe in religion, or a god, and I don’t believe in all these man-made institutional ideas,” he told Reuters in a 2001 interview.”

You know what Joe? He’s right, I too don’t believe in those things.”

Those, like George, who choose not to believe here on earth that God exists will instantly become a believer when they face the Almighty God at the Great Judgment. There, all the jokes he could possibly remember will count for nothing as he accounts for the times he blasphemed God’s name and glorified sin.

We all can appreciate a time when a good joke made us laugh at ourselves and we could feel better as a result. When comments are directed derogatorily toward what others believe, it’s not funny. Take for example the Danish cartoon that ridiculed Islam. The Muslim people were outraged. When a sports announcer spoke about hanging Tiger Woods in an alley, that raised a strong backlash from blacks in America.

“Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account for it at the judgment.” (Matthew 12:36 - Holy Bible)

By James D.

June 23, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

Jay, you and that idiot Ted need to wake up and smell the coffee. Starting with Lenny, up to Richard, Don Rickles, and George, these people used the art of “crackin’ and factin” to make this country take a hard look at itself. Fortunately, they did so in a humourous manner, to lessen the blow of those who are out of touch with this country’s activities.

By GaLiberal

June 23, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

I think George Carlin was disgusted by all the hyprocicy he saw around him. He ment to offend and be crude because he wanted to point out how poeople are very hyprocritical. It’s ok for them to regulate what others can watch and hear on tv, but don’t dare impose any restrictions on their “free speach.” Particularly with the ultra conservative backlash that has gripped this country over the last six years. Movies have dialogue bleeped out or altered just in case some religoNazi might be offended and complain to the FCC. It has gotten so bad that A&E bleeped out swear words like ‘damn’ and ‘crap.’ If these tv stations can’t broadcast the movie as it was intended, then don’t. I no longer watch AMC for that very reason.

By ruben

June 23, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

Didn’t believe in God, huh? I never caught his act but I like him already.

By dynamohumm6

June 23, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

Such a typical shining example of Christian love.

By Tim

June 23, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

Hey Georgie …. remember all those jokes about God & Christians?? So, how hot is it down there?

By Tim

June 23, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

Hey Georgie …. remember all those jokes about God & Christians?? So, how hot is it down there?

By Mark

June 23, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

ruben It’s an act all right. A circus act. Virgins giving birth, dead men coming back to life, men hanging on crosses, etc. Only children and retards believe in such nonsense.

By Bill

June 23, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

George Carlin was masterful in poking fun at a dumbed-down society. He’ll be missed and we’ll keep getting dumber.

By A fan

June 23, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

A rare unapologetic comedy genius, George could make you laugh or laugh at you. In the age of hyper sensitive-hypocritical society, where critics need to be diguise as jokes, Goerge truely shine. America just lost another voice of its own brave concience. Keep laughing from up there George.

By BamaBrave

June 23, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Got all the answers, do ya, Gentle Giant?

You rely on faith, which may be enough for you, but it’s not enough for me. The fact of the matter is, neither you nor I, nor anyone else on this blog actually know what awaits us in the next dimension…if anything. You may trust…but you don’t know. So spare us…

And why would you be so quick to make the assertion that a fellow blogger will face (presumably) dire consequences once he, as you put it, “faces God.” Does this give you pleasure? It’s a bit childish, like the teacher’s pet tattling on a classmate.

I think George Carlin would have gotten a kick out of this blog…and given him plenty of new material.

Thanks, George…for everything. I’ll miss you.

By Brad

June 23, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

All these posters going at each others throats on this blog! From those who hated George to those who loved him. Everyone attacking each other! GEORGE WOULD HAVE LOVED THIS!!!!!!!!

By Jenny

June 23, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

All of you that are getting p** at what Jay has reported here are way off the mark. George, wherever he is now is laughing at you. His stuff was NOT an act. He tried to teach us to laugh at human nature and not take ourselves too seriously. Jay’s saying George wiil never rest in peace because he’ll always be looking down on us and laughing at the mess we’re making of things. He was never satisfied that we were living up to our potential. I will miss you dearly, George!

By Anita

June 23, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

George was anti-religion. If you understood that, Mr. Critic, then you’d know that “forgiveness” is not a requirement, nor a “standard” that he perhaps met, even though you are imposing it upon him.

Get over it - just because your paradigm was offended doesn’t mean doodlysquat for those of us who are forever going to embrace him.

Plain and simple, he was spot on about spewing on lots of conventions … plus, he made me laugh - a quality I love in men.

By Jimmy

June 23, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

Wither you liked or disliked George Carlin we have to rememeber that as an American he was able to speack his mind. To tell us how he felt either it was offensive or the truth. He had the luck to be here where he could. I will miss him very much, I didnn’t agree 100% of the time with him, but at least he had the same rights as the rest of us. Goodbye George, I will never forget you, you characters and the fact you open my eyes to that we can speack our minds, but without using those “Seven little words”.

By Manny

June 23, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this

Carlin WILL Rest In Peace, regardless of your opinion…JAY?? It’s not even 24 hours after Carlin passed away and it’s just sad to read this article published. Have some respect for this guy’s family…loser.

By Ron

June 23, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

Had the displeasure of meeting him in L.V. some years back. He was a jerk. Self centered, arrogant and obnoxious.

By Tony

June 23, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

George Carlin was a very funny man. He wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he was intelligent, witty, and he focused some of his comedy on serious issues. He made you think.

Not everything he got into was comfortable - but that’s what makes people examine themselves. I appreciated the man and all he did. And, despite what Jay says here - I hope he does rest in peace!

By mike

June 23, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

Carlin is legendary.He did go off even angier the past few years.Not sure how much was a act or real.Carlin and pryor are the top 2 standups in my book.For the people who are offended by bookmans view I can hardly believe your carlin fans.With him nothing was sacred!

By Copyleft

June 23, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

A lot of folks seem angry at Mr. Bookman for “criticizing” George Carlin.

Read it again; I see no criticism, no harsh words. Just respect for a man who was quite rightly angry, disgusted, and unrelentingly funny about it. Bookman’s brief piece PRAISES Carlin; it doesn’t criticize him one bit.

By Tim

June 23, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

Here was my reaction to hearing Carlin had died …. “Huh. (long pause). Man what’s for breakfast. I’m hungry!! Sucks for him.”

By Taxpayer

June 23, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this

Mr. Bookman,

Have you considered writing eulogies on the side. I think you may have a talent worth moonlighting. Maybe you’ve had some experience at this already?

By sam

June 23, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

I hope someone writes something like this about you after your pitiful existence is over.

By JP

June 23, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this

So here he is Mr. anti-establishment, drug abusing, anti-God, ‘live for now’ person rushing to the hospital with chest pains caused by a bad heart that his careless lifestyle doubtless had something to do with, probably praying they’d make it in time to the hospital, and then allowing the ‘lab coat people’ that represent everything he trashed in his monologues try to save his poor life.

Hypocrisy Mr. Carlin? Regardless, I do hope you rest in peace sir. God does love you.

By Tim

June 23, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

What’s wrong, Sam. Don’t like my jokes / sense of humor? Now you see why I don’t care for Carlin.

By k

June 23, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

You can be wealthy, famous, powerful, well loved, or even be funny and an influentially person but if you don’t have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savor – you really have nothing at all. The world may look at these people as heroes or outstanding human being, the Lord God could care less of their accolades on Earth. He sent his Son Jesus to this sin full world to save them from the clutches of the devil (and the ACLU. People like George Carlin, Mark Twain, Albert Einstein, and Carl Sagan were all atheists. Yea, they were funny or smart, that all doesn’t matter when it comes time to give account of your life on Earth. …BTW, George is NOT resting in peace. His soul is lost in hell forever. …God

By jerry hall

June 23, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

George was the Cash for political un-correctness and will never be replaced

By breakdown

June 23, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

—BOOKMAN- YOU ARE A TRUE A*!!!!!!

By JC

June 23, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

I go to ajc.com several times a day to check on current news and this is the first and last column for Mr. Bookman’s that I will read. I saw the picture of George Carlin and wanted to see how one of my favorite commedians had perished. Not some idiot’s opinion on how he lived. I feel that this was very disrespectful and ill timed.

By Lauren

June 23, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

To k: Back off and go preach somewhere else…it’s not ALL about Jesus.

By Chele Belle

June 23, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

this text will be bolded From one of his last interviews—-rest in peace Carlin.

Do you feel like you’ve accomplished what you want to accomplish during your time on Earth?

Yes, I have. There’s a quote from Pablo Casals — that probably shows up in research on my stuff, but — Pablo Casals, he was a past master of the cello. He was the virtuoso in the 20th century. He was in his 90s and he was still practicing three hours a day, and one of his friends said to him, “Senor Casals, you are such a past master, a virtuoso of this instrument, everyone knows it and acknowledges it. Why do you practice three hours a day?” and he said, “Well, I’m beginning to notice some improvement.” When I read that I said, “What a wonderful thing to file away as a kind of attitude to have.” Yes, I’ve accomplished all the things I’ve wanted to and way more, I couldn’t have really predicted some of the paths. But I know that there’s a restlessness, you know, artists are never finished. There’s this vague sense of being incomplete, of not having done it yet. You know they say a poem is never finished; it is abandoned. You just kind of move on. There’s this restlessness. “OK, that’s finished, what am I going to do next? Oh, here’s a good thing, I’ll do that.”

And I have a couple of ideas for some writing I’d like to do that aren’t in the usual mold of what I’ve done. I don’t really want to talk a lot about them, but one of them is a comic novel, and one is a reminiscence, as opposed to an autobiography, a series of reminiscences. If I get the shot to do that, that’d be great. You’ve always got to have something next. You’ve always got to have something out there that’s worth going for.

By Lauren

June 23, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

To k: Back off and go preach somewhere else…it’s not ALL about Jesus.

By ray

June 23, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

As stated by someone above, Carlin is quoted as saying “I don’t have any beliefs or allegiances. I don’t believe in this country, I don’t believe in religion, or a god, and I don’t believe in all these man-made institutional ideas,” he told Reuters in a 2001 interview.” No wonder he was such a bitter and depressing individual. I’d be angry too if I had no hope. Every time I saw Carlin on HBO, I was reminded of a cranky old cynic who hates the world…I never found any of his material funny and find all these glowing comments about him perplexing at best.

By Walter

June 23, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

Good grief, Bookman! You take yourself way too seriously. Perhaps you should be covering the homicide beat - maybe give an opinion about the madmen who are coddled by society. Any slack writer can have a blog; try having one that really looks into forming less than a surface opinion and therefore more productive blog.

By mark

June 23, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Bookman - your 15 minutes are up…..and thank God, George Carlin will like on forever. Bookman, you are so misinformed

By Analchord

June 23, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

Okay, reader alert! READER ALERT!

There are 134 comments today. 120 of them are from the same two nitwits from Wooten’s blog. Names like Tim and Sam or Truth or Andy.

These are the conservative trolls who stalk me all over the internet. They dont know any better so dont judge.

George Carlin used to remark about how Americans wear sneakers that light up. He hated that. I never cared one way or the other about sneakers that light up, but the sneakers that have wheels really get my goat. I hate that. How stupid is it? And do you notice how cool the kid thinks he is while he’s gliding along, like, “Betcha didn’t expect me to do this, old loser”.

I feel my soul being posessed by the spirit of George Carlin. Now I hate everything too.

and I LIKE it!

By ray

June 23, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

Lauren, Actually, it is all about Jesus, whether you choose to recognize that truth or not.

By Steph Dun

June 23, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

My dear Mr. Bookman the title of this article alone is rude and condescending. I am sure George Carlin is resting very well in peace. He has always said what he thought and went to heaven with a clear conscious. If more people spoke their minds rather then carter to everyones whims the world would be a heck of a lot better off. George Carlin was a master of comedy and this world is going to be a sadder place without him.

By Jim Jeckewicz

June 23, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

This author’s simplistic comments betray a mean spirited nature far worse than anything ever exhibited by George Carlin or Richard Pryor.

By k

June 23, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

By Lauren June 23, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

Hey Lauren, the truth hurts doesn’t it! I’ll preach where ever i want! I will pray for you

By Scott

June 23, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

Bookman may be right, if G.C. is an atheist, he is just now finding out what Hell is all about. But what a funny, dead talent he is!

By Jack

June 23, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

Are you guys serious? Man, there are some really stupid people bashing Bookman. He wrote an article praising Carlin, but it was too many multi-syllable words for some of you idiots…. Stupid right-wing religious nuts, conservative quacks, and damn yankee’s. I didn’t think he was that funny but I did agree with most of what he had to say about religion, politics, consumerism, etc… Hopefully, not too many long words in my reply.

By breakdown

June 23, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

• TO: K- I WOULDN’T KNOW WHERE GEORGE IS GOING AND NEITHER DO YOU- JUDGEMENTAL FREAK !! REST IN PEACE GEORGE !!!!!!!!

By War Eagle

June 23, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this

well Jay-looks like you stuck your liberal obama foot in your mouth while your head was up your anus again! Carlin was a comical genius and you have to make fun of him because YOU could not follow in his foot steps. heck! YOU couldn’t hold his jock strap you bible belt thumping hack! Go campaign for your slave master because THAT is what you will be if obama gets in-his slave working in the fields while everyone else is taxed to death and gives up their property to the likes of Farrakhan, Jackson and Sharpton. You numbskulls are drinking the jim jones Kool Aid if you do not wake up and realize this is an Adolph Hitler Speech. Look what happened to those that voted him into office! So I am going to put all the pressure on you!-HAVE A NICE DAY!

By BLC

June 23, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

By Tom

June 23, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

Copyleft @ 1:01 is exactly right. Nothing Jay Bookman says here is a criticism of Carlin. Carlin wouldn’t want to rest in peace. He was 100% ped off at every Jesus-huckstering Elmer Gantry like James Dobson and every know-nothing imbecile politician like George W. Bush that appeared in our culture, and he wanted you to be equally ped off about them, too. As Carlin repeatedly said, “I don’t have ‘pet peeves.’ I have major, psychotic hatreds.”

By Billy

June 23, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

I don’t know from what site all you posters linked to this, but Jay Bookman is most definitely NOT of a “Bible-belt mentality”. He’s a (thankfully) liberal voice down here, and I find it strange that everyone seems to be interpreting his words like this. He’s not “playing God and deciding who can rest in peace,” he’s saying that God (or whoever is out there) is in for it because George Carlin will refuse to rest in peace because that’s just who the man is.

Jay was in no way of disrespectful of Carlin. The fact that you all seem to believe so leads me to the same conclusion as Analchord earlier: AJC’s usual trolls.

By Sandy

June 23, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

RIP???? That’s a joke- he was an avowed atheist and right now is either nothing but worm food or is some place really hot. Good Riddance.

By Sandy

June 23, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this

RIP???? That’s a joke- he was an avowed atheist and right now is either nothing but worm food or is some place really hot. Good Riddance.

By k

June 23, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

breakdown, who being judgmental? I was stating a fact G.C. was an atheist he made no bones about it and was very proud of it. My Bible - God word says, you are either with Him or against Him. He was not. His punishment is in the lake of never ending fire that Jesus talks about, mankind will end up who doesn’t except Jesus Christ as Lord and Savor.

…BTW i thing George believes in God now - too late.

By breakdown

June 23, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

TO K: YOU NEED TO PRAY FOR YOURSELF-YOU ARE A JUDGEMENTAL SCUM-BAG !!! REST IN PEACE GEORGE !!!!!! WE LOVE YOU FRIEND!!!!!!!!

By k

June 23, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this

breakdown, who being judgmental? I was stating a fact G.C. was an atheist he made no bones about it and was very proud of it. My Bible - God word says, you are either with Him or against Him. He was not. His punishment is in the lake of never ending fire that Jesus talks about, mankind will end up who doesn’t except Jesus Christ as Lord and Savor.

…BTW i think George believes in God now - too late.

By Scott

June 23, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

Hey Breakdown?!? I said IF he was an atheist. Of course I don’t know what happened to him after his death, DumbA@#

By Marcella

June 23, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

It’s evident from your piece that you really know nothing of George Carlin. You don’t know the real humanitarian he was, or what he stood for. So in my opinion, you’re not particularly qualified to write this one-sided piece. I’m sure Carlin would say that’s o.k., you either get it, or you don’t. You sir, truly don’t.

By Timmy the Tard

June 23, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

Careful now Timmy, according to your Christian doctrine, you will have to answer to God for your hateful comments. So, you let us know how hot it is when you get down there.

By ORIG

June 23, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

I GUESS JAY WILL SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT LOUIS BLACK IF HE OUT LIVES HIM.

By Bob

June 23, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

It’s not that difficult - he was an ultra atheist and right now he’s just wishing he was right as he hangs out near the gates of hell where it’s hotter than anywhere he’s ever been before. Shoulda stopped and thought about it - too late now.

By Jenny

June 23, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

I think all you folks need to lighten up, Carlin was a funny man and made a lot of money doing so, he’s resting - not burning you bunch of nuts.

By disgusted

June 23, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this

George Carlin was a comedic genius. You, Mr. Bookman, are a two bit hack working for a liberal fishwrapper. You just are envious of his tremendous talent of which you have none.

By WOW

June 23, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

Always nice to see to Christians judging people because we know you are ALL so perfect.

And K, isn’t it blasphemy to write something and sign God’s name to it like you did @ 1:26? Last I checked, you were not God so enjoy your trip to hell :)

By Tom

June 23, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

Why don’t all you Bible-thumpers posting on here just pray, pray, pray to Jebus and otherwise STFU? This is a day to think about George Carlin, and Carlin would have been very happy to tell y’all to shove your religious nonsense up your collective rear ends, because all your religious mumbo-jumbo about “God” and “Jesus” and “heaven” and “hell” is pure bulls%&t.

By Tashia Z.

June 23, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

* I loved George’s humor, but I’m not going to his funeral………..cuz I remember what he told us………“I don’t go to funerals anymore. Why should I, they’re not coming to mine.”

By Scooter Libby

June 23, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

Dear Mr Bookman, This will offend you as well. I personally hope the price of gas hits $6.00 a gallon so that I can watch the morons who still don’t have health insurance, are maybe 2 missed paychecks from being on the street, who will never be in a position to retire because they have 5,000 in net worth at 53 AND YET they will continue to vote against their vested self interests and INSTEAD of worrying about the economic health of their own famlies they will concern themselves with the sexual practices of 2 lesbians in Portland, Oregon. These are some of the people Carlin thought were crazy, nuts and worthy of a padded cell.

What do you think of people making less than 40,000 a year, who don’t make enough to have to worry about taxes—and for that matter vote for people based upon capital gains and estate taxes when they have NO fear OF EITHER—WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT?/

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PEOPLE IN THESE “RED STATES” IN THE SOUTH WITH HIGH DRUNK DRIVING RATES, HIGH SPOUSAL ABUSE, AND LOW PER CAPITA INCOME—But “We believe in conservatism”—In fact in South Carolina they still believe in a guy who came into office with gas at a 1.40 a gallon and under his stewardship—if given maybe until next April—could have overseen the largest credit, housing, and domestic car crises in US History—and I bet they hated George Carlin.

By Jan

June 23, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

He better hope that it’s all B****** otherwise he’s got some ‘splaining to do. All you Godless atheists get in line cuz your headed right where old Georgie-boy is and its gotta be hot (and crowded) there.

By Meindouglasville

June 23, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

Wow! Does someone need a hug?? If you took Carlin too seriously, you need to go get counseling! Life is about laughing at yourself and others (lightheartedly) and the irony life throws you. Carlin probably has all of heaven laughing as we speak. He was Great! RIP George - YOU ROCK!!

By Barbara

June 23, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

My husband and I saw him in LasVegas last November and he was great! We all need colorful people in our world to make a difference. God knows that and thats why we are all so different! Here to you GEORGE!!!!!! Make them laugh in heaven!

By Bosch

June 23, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

I hope you all know that Jay is sitting in his office reading these posts and laughing at you guys who are criticizing him. You who are criticizing him claim to “GET” Carlin, when Jay’s column sums up Carlin’s work better than any of you could have possibly imagined - either on purpose or by complete accident.

The joke is on you. Read the column very carefully. Jay is either a real a*****, or has written a very clever tribute to a man who was both extremely clever and entertaining (at least he was the few times I saw him) and a big a*****.

Good job Jay.

By Sandy

June 23, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

GC has heaven laughing now? That’s funny - I know for a fact that heaven doesn’t exist. George Carlin told me so. He was an overrated atheist/communist old curmudgeon and probably a pedophile.

By Pro Life Pro Child Pro Adult

June 23, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

Dear Jan, I believe in God and I bet that He and His Son are also a little angry at people who allow people around them to go hungry, don’t afford children with 104 degree fevers chance to go to a doctor—A Doctor, NOT a crowded ER, wink at genocide around the world, believe in availability of medications based on income, are anti-abortion BUT also anti- child when it comes to nutrition,education and health care, still practice veiled racism and sexism, cheat on their spouses, cheat on their taxes, and on and on.

Jay, you are right about the ability of a Supreme Being to be miffed, and i would think now would be the time to worry about how so many of us don’t seem to be following the example of His Son on Earth.

By James

June 23, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

I really liked him in the early years. I pray he was ready to meet the Lord because you can’t say those seven words in Heaven.

By Dorna

June 23, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

Wow! As I read the posts I’m blown away at the hostility and disrespect towards each other. All of it stemming from one man’s opinion.

But the risk of further nasty comments, I have always thought George Carlin was irreverent, hilarious and maybe a little disgusted with the state of the world and people. But since he is dead, it is a waste of time to debate if his material was an act or his core being. Bottom line, he leaves a legacy of genius level humor that is not duplicated. I do disagree he is 2nd to Richard Pryor, I think they are tied! But it’s my opinion!!

By turds

June 23, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this

What article is everyone reading?

Bookman clearly states that Carlin is admirably honest and one of the greatest comics ever.

It appears that no one read past the title, which by the way is not as literal as most are perceiving.

By cityofdecatur

June 23, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Jay ignore the a*******h*les who don’t understand that one can generate humor for us peons and still personally be disgusted and repelled at the human condition. I got to have diner with mr. carlin in 1971 and he truly was disgusted at the way humans especially those with power behaved. But he could high light it with humor. The man was perpetually p** off. At you At me but especially at those with supposed high moral standing or with the power of govt at their disposal. He could attack the right the left and the MORAL Majority with equal glee. and his outrage could be expressed to us as humor so WE could understand. No George will never rest in peace if he does than we know his soul has ceased to exist. to joe the first post i’m sure George would say F . U. ! I’ll never forget the dinner with mr. carlin (he took 29 dorm presidents to dinner @ Kent state university on the first anniverssery of the shootings.) Jay you nailed Mr. Carlin. Forget the idoits here today.

By inou

June 23, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this

Jay, What mean, hateful things to say. Show some respect to the dead. He can’t and probably never did hurt you. Work on your own perfection.

By Me

June 23, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

You give him way too much credit. Carlin stopped being funny in the mid 80’s. The only ones that liked his work after that, were juveniles and the emotionally handicapped.

Still, sad to see him go though.

By george in Cobb

June 23, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

Maybe I’m misreadig the article. If I am, then it just poorly written. If NOT, then I must say that George Carlin brought a hell of a lot more to the table than Jay Bookman could ever hope to. Carlin was a genius, and his take on the world will be missed by many of us. Mr. Bookman you need to learn to discern the difference between the performer and the performance!

By Mark

June 23, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

Sure are alot of ignorant, spineless, weak xtians in this blog today. As I stated earlier believing in an entity that doesn’t exist is for children and retards.

By Tommy

June 23, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this

someone sounds a little bitter….guess that’s what working for the AJC does to you..

By Nathan Reynolds

June 23, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

Must you be stooped to? Carlin was less a fanatic than an observer with a sense of humor.

By comedyschomedy

June 23, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

Had a chance to meet and in fact, sit by Carlin on an airplane once from SLC to Reno. What a bitter, jerk of a person. I’m sorry, and I enjoyed his comedy as much as anyone…the man was a jerk.

By azcat225

June 23, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this

Wow, Sandy. I see you’re definitely filled with the love for your fellow man that Jesus taught. A pedophile?!?!? You’re even angrier than George was, but for all the wrong reasons. But you’re positive that God will forgive your irrational hate, aren’t you? Of course you are, since it’s all in His name—-though I doubt sincerely that He really wants help like yours.

Shalom. (That ought to really pi$$ you off…)

By Jimbo

June 23, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

I really feel sorry for George Carlin. He had the talent to use good comedy with proper language. He chose his destination after the life he lived. Some comedians have used good comedy succesfuly, without the filthy language. We make our choice of our final destation with Jesus or Satan.

By Bob

June 23, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

George Carlin stopped being funny in the 70s.

By SM

June 23, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this

To Mark: I am neither a child, nor am I mentally, emotionally, or physically retarded in any way. I simply believe that there is something greater than just this material existance. You seem to hate the idea of faith with the fervor reserved for one who had it and was given reason to abandon it. My prayers go out to you.

By Jessica

June 23, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this

I never really got into Carlin’s comedy very much, but the few bits I did watch I found amusing. He was a good comedian, and he’ll be missed amongst the masses.

Rest in Peace, George.

(And Jay Booking - get your panties out of their bunches and go find something more constructive to do than p** on people’s graves.)

By Marta Rails

June 23, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

I feel the death of Carlin is teaching us all something about comedy. Carlin was a genius and one of the top five comics of all time. Yet half the people liked him and got his jokes, and the other half thought he stunk really bad. I kknew a soccor mom that hated the show seinfeld in it’s prime. true. she said it was like nails on a chalkboard to her. And seinfeld is a genius. I simply have to quit expecting to win over everyone. That’s my problem. If one person in the audience doesn’t laugh I go into a tailspin, and that’s not right.

hell, I get 80 or 90 percent approval when I do my act, I mean I kill everyone practically, the only people who hate me are other comics and sociopaths who blog over at Wooten and stalk me here.

I am the new carlin. I am the lizard king. I can do anything.

I’m the antichrist.

i’m Spartacus!!

I’M SPARTACUS!!!!! and if you dont like it, wooten-drones, you can sook my deek.

By prima facie

June 23, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

Amazing this new order: Comics as serious commentators. Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, Richard Pryor and George Carlin aren’t big thinkers; they’re comedians.

They are entertainers, folks. Just sit back, have a laugh and leave the thinking to the pros.

By Jeff

June 23, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

I liked George Carlin and was very intrigued to hear him on Thomas the Train - my son can’t get enough.

As far as this blog and George Carlin, they have touched many a nerve. My issue is that too many of you hide in this world of blogging. Be Nice, considerate, and get a laugh out of folks. All of the words here are meaningless, and even less so when you hide behind your monitor.

Yea, Yea, it’s a free country - some of you need try a bit harder to keep it that way.

Maybe AJC could have saved a lot of people’s time today and just done a poll.

By Berta

June 23, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

For all of you who slam each other in this blog - who proclaim some sort of christian belief: I know you must be familiar with the model prayer as told by Jesus which begins at Matthew 6:9. There are many very important elements in that prayer.

One part of it says “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us…”

It seems that this very important part is being overlooked by so many posters here who profess to be true christians yet accuse and damn others to pay the ultimate price. We are all sinners. To sin is to fall short of perfection. There has been only one person who has ever lived on earth who did not fall short of perfection. That would be Jesus. If you truely believe in what he taught, you would not be saying the things that you’re saying here.
George Carlin was a very gifted comedian. His take on life was what he expressed. Many people related to his view of things and found humor in it. Sometimes he was more funny than others. It was his job to be funny. I know that I am mostly good at the job I do. I am sometimes better at it than other times. It’s a darn good thing that I have a compassionate boss who forgives me when I have one of those days that is not quite up to par.

George Carlin was funny. He did his job well. He made me laugh most of the time. And as one poster who met him personally said that he was not a friendly person to sit next to on a plane. Who knows what kind of day he’d had that day. Obviously, he was not at work at that moment and not being paid to be funny. We’re all human. You just may have had an encounter with him at a sad or bad time in his life. Wouldn’t it be a little more humane to expect that this one isolated time that you met him may have been an exception? What if you happened to be sitting next to a surgeon on the plane? Would you expect him to remove you appendix? George Carlin didn’t work on the plane. You didn’t REALLY know him. None of us did. To base an opinion of someone from one encounter isn’t really a valid opinion. I’ve had a bad day or two when I didn’t act so friendly to everyone I met. I hope I’ll have the chance to make up for those times…

He was good at his job. He will be missed by many. Another point that might be brought up… the wages of sin pays death. George Carlin had paid that debt now. There is no point in re-hashing whatever sins he may or may not have committed now. George paid for his sins. I still owe for mine and so do all of you.

I’ll try to be very forgiving when someone sins against me (in any way) that way my prayers - asking for forgiveness of my sins will be given consideration. I hope this makes some of you think… if not, that’s fine. I’m glad I got to say it anyway.

By Hillbilly Deluxe

June 23, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Some people found Mr. Carlin funny and some didn’t. That’s what makes the world go round. It doesn’t reflect on the intelligence of either group. Rest in Peace George.

By Marta Rails

June 23, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this

The New York Times called him “splenetic”. I had to look it up. Then they wrote that “overt spleen” had crept into his act lately. I had to look that up too.

Did you know that spleen means morose too? Splenetic is ill-tempered and peevish.

I knew I loved to laugh when I was a child. Jack Benny. Jack Benny. Jack Benny. (always say it three times, or you’ll bomb next time on stage guaranteed).

In the sixties, George Carlin made me laugh more than Bill Cosby or Flip Wilson. There was something special about George Carlin. I couldn’t tell exactly what that was because I didn’t smoke pot until 1971.

Through the seventies, his irreverence matched perfectly our drug culture. If Jimmy Hendrix was the king of acid, then Carlin was the grand wizard of pot, hands down. Cheech and Chong. Richard Pryor. The seventies had the best comedy, even if the music sucked. (sorry jimmy) There’s always a trade off, isnt’ there?

I dont know when Carlin stopped being funny. I think it was when he tried to perfect the nuances of word-phrases that rang funny. I never once watched his Mr. Conductor. I couldn’t bring myself to. I didn’t trust him anymore. He did an interview a few years ago on PBS and he admitted that he wrote down words as he stumbled across them that he felt had some potential for that odd echo of entendre. I know exactly what he meant. Those words expose themselves to you for a second, and if you dont write them down, and you never do, (I dont know why, but I’ve missed out on dozens of them over the years), then they’re gone forever, and you wont get a second shot at them. Write down your insights. Write them down. They occur while driving. They occur while walking in the forest. They drop out of the trees, man. Write them down.

One of Carlin’s last books opens with a litany of oxymoronic odd phrases and double entendre’s that begins, “I am a hard this, soft that, old who young where, hi tech low maintenance, etc…” It labored. It didn’t work. It was too obvious. He dissected the words too far. He was old, and comedians cant get old. Comedy is young. We want our comedians to be childish. Imagine a nursing home patient who says, “Why do they call it a bedpan? It’s not a bed. It’s not a pan. Why cant we just use the little boys room like everyone else? I want to lay down something permanent and be remembered for a long time yet my nurse says I’m just a flash in the pan.”

Anyway, these oblique words never written down are pure gold. You see what you can do with them and you rejoice over the home run you’ll hit on stage, but you’ve got maybe 15 seconds to write it down, and no matter how sure you are that, “There’s no way I’ll forget this bit”, it will evaporate like the recording does in five seconds on the 60’s mission impossible TV series.

Just like that, it’s gone. I had the greatest Betty Davis bit every written and lost it at a traffic light. I’ll never forget the horror. I also had the greatest shoulder pad on women’s t-shirt bit every thought of and lost it and even though it’s been 15 years, I still try to recreate the moment in the woods when I forgot it to try to jog the memory. I was walking along, happy as a lark, imagining the laughs when this chick appeared out of nowhere, I mean, where the hell did you come from and it jarred the bit right out of my head. I was so angry. Then once, at Kennesaw Mountain, I was writing down a bit that appeared, and I was getting to the crux when this other chick knocks on the window of my car, and she looks like there’s an emergency or something, and I roll the window down a crack and say, “Yeahhhh….?” trying to act annoyed even though she was a total babe. “Can I use your cigarette lighter to plug my phone into it’s starting to beep and I’m in the middle of a call.”

The bit was fading fast, I opened the door and said, you can have the car, and I ran down the path toward some picnic tables for refuge, still clinging onto the vestiges of the bit hoping to wrangle it from oblivion and the chick yells, “Sorry to bother your important writing things your emininence king guy person thing….”

or something like that and poof it was gone. The bit of the ages was gone cause some babe felt entitled to intrude on an innocent comedian sitting alone in his Sequoia. Even though it was ten years ago, I remember every detail. Mozart was on the radio. I wore a bic. The chick wore short shorts. I probably could have cranked her if comedy wasnt’ so important. I should have cranked her.

I cant believe I lost that bit.