by Patricia Sicilia

Created on: June 28, 2008   Last Updated: July 12, 2010

THE WORLD WINCED

Legendary Counterculture Comedian George Carlin Dies at 71

George Carlin wrote that "God winced" when he was born. Well, the world this week winced when he died.

"Oh no!," I screamed when I turned on my computer the other day and saw the news. My husband rushed in to see what was wrong. With tears in my eyes I replied "The Hippy-Dippy Weatherman" died.

Now, while most people immediately connect Carlin to the "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television," my immediate connection was to his early work, which I caught as a child on the Ed Sullivan Show. It was the only time I ever heard my father laugh out loud at something he saw on TV:

"Tonight's forecast: Dark. Continued dark throughout most of the evening, with some widely-scattered light towards morning."

"The Beatles' latest record, when played backwards at slow speed, says 'Dummy! You're playing it backwards at slow speed!'"

Now, this is certainly tame by today's standards, but it was funny then.

As we grew up, so did George. Over the next decade, he entered the world of more political humor. He was a friend of Lenny Bruce, and was allegedly present when Bruce was arrested for obscenity in 1972. Carlin refused to show the police ID because he did not believe in government issued IDs, and was arrested and taken to jail with Bruce in the same vehicle.
In the late 60s and early 70s, he changed from a clean-cut three-piece-suited comedian to hippy dress, and his routines became increasingly darker. I remember watching him host the very first Saturday Night Live in 1975, an auspicious beginning for this still- running comedy show.

Carlin's first major movie was Outrageous Fortune with Shelly Long and Bette Midler, and he went on to appear in two Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure movies. He showed his ability to play a semi-serious character when he appeared as Eddie Detreville, Savannah's gay neighbor in The Prince of Tides. He played a priest in the semi-horror film Dogma. His serious acting ability was superbly showcased in his role in Jersey Girl as the father of Affleck's character. His appearances on various TV sitcoms and dramas were all welcome treats for me and no matter what he was on, I made sure to catch it.

While it is hard to nail down a favorite Carlin bit, "The Seven Words," is certainly up there, along with "The Ten Commandments" and "A Place for My Stuff." He told the truth, sometimes a truth the world was not ready to hear. He pointed out the hypocrisy of our society, and no groups were spared, from soccer moms to hippies, from the corporate elite to the poor, from the clergy to the actual Gods. And we loved him for it.

Four days before his death, Carlin was announced as the 2008 honoree of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to be awarded in November. It is an honor well deserved.

Carlin's view of life was not to despair the state of the world. "I know there's no solution, so I just enjoy what's here and enjoy the journey."

Your journey was too short, man, way too short.

Can we all find seven ways to say "f...?"

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