Monday, June 23, 2008

'Bye George: Tribute to an Icon

The world of comedy suffered a tragic loss over the weekend. (No, I wasn’t performing.) Legendary stand-up comic George Carlin died on Sunday night. His last words were not reported, but one can assume there were 7 and that you could never say them on TV.

A comic who frequently ridiculed language breakdowns caused by euphemisms, he experienced a cardiac incident and passed away. Or, his heart stopped and he dropped dead.

The cause of death was reported as heart failure. It was either that or one too many anti-God jokes.

Everyone knew Carlin was a pioneer. And not just because of the beard and ponytail.

Carlin was scheduled to be given the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center Awards later this year. A fitting honor for Carlin, who, with a bolo tie and his hair mussed, would look exactly like Twain.

Carlin really was a lot like Mark Twain. Both: geniuses. Both: humorists and social critics. And now: both dead.
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All kidding aside, George was one of the true greats in comedy; a giant. It is his own un-flinching irreverence that makes me feel that it's okay to make these jokes. I think he'd want it that way. Remembering him this way might ease the pain of his loss. The world will have a little less laughter now. Mr. Carlin, you will be missed.

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