Let me ask the Carlin haters (because I really am curious)

[dave from knoxville]

I suddenly remember that when I was a kid (say 11-14) I spent a lot of time listening to Bob Newhart albums in between the endless plays of Black Sabbath's first album and Lee Michaels. I don't know how it would hold up if I heard it today, but I loved it then. Plus, I always enjoyed watching Bob and Ray, who seemed to be on a lot.

[Spoony]

I've listened to some old Bob Newhart, and I was surprised how funny it was. Who knew being queasy and neurotic was so timeless?

[Bryan]

Woody Allen may have had an inkling.

[Jan.]

I love the way George Carlin wrote and performed his sets. Starting from the little and mundane to things that I assumed where very important to him. On the last special, he began with a simple clarification of the terms old man, old fart and old fuck to exploring his ideas on the bill of rights and its 'imaginary' aspect. In his later years, he might have been viewed as a condescending asshole. But if you're a condescending asshole for speaking out your mind and being disgusted with a culture that celebrates the inane and stupid, then bring out the assholes. I have welcome mats ready and everything.

He seemed really honest with himself and the audience. I think that is what I enjoyed most about him.

[yesno]

I think hate is too strong a word.  I just don't find him funny.  There are a lot of things I don't find funny.  I don't think it rises to the level of "hate" with him. 

A lot of my friends liked George Carlin.  Those same people tend to like MST3K and other stuff I could never get into, and don't like a lot of the things that I do.  Probably not a coincidence.

[Joe Rogaine]

What about when you were younger? When Carlin was popular? Are there any comedians you liked back then?

My current favorites are Patton and Louis CK. As far as stand-up goes... those two guys are really the kings. PFT and Zach are really good too. But Patton and Louie get me laughing to the point of tears consistently and are constantly coming up with new material.

Back "in the day" I liked Carlin the most I think.

Louis CK was the first comedian I've seen multiple times and I saw him last summer before his HBO special and saw him probably 6 months later and he already had 90 minutes plus of great new material. It was just unbelievable to hear no repeat jokes. 

I like how Louie can walk the line between the shock jock crowd and the alternative comic crowd and still be loved in both circles. Hes doing an interview with Ron Bennington from The Ron and Fez Show this Friday for Rons XM show Unmasked.

[jamesp]

What about when you were younger? When Carlin was popular? Are there any comedians you liked back then?

My current favorites are Patton and Louis CK. As far as stand-up goes... those two guys are really the kings. PFT and Zach are really good too. But Patton and Louie get me laughing to the point of tears consistently and are constantly coming up with new material.

Back "in the day" I liked Carlin the most I think.

Louis CK was the first comedian I've seen multiple times and I saw him last summer before his HBO special and saw him probably 6 months later and he already had 90 minutes plus of great new material. It was just unbelievable to hear no repeat jokes. 

I like how Louie can walk the line between the shock jock crowd and the alternative comic crowd and still be loved in both circles. Hes doing an interview with Ron Bennington from The Ron and Fez Show this Friday for Rons XM show Unmasked.

My brother and I were thinking the same thing when we last saw him. You can see how he attracts a crowd of Opie and Anthony/Jim Norton fans who like the raunchier material he does but he'll also work with cool guys like Todd Barry, Ricky Gervais, and Chris Rock. I really can't wait for his movie with Gervais and next HBO special.

[cutout]

Do you guys have any links to your favorite Louis CK moments? I've caught his stand-up a couple times and it seemed pretty mild at the time. Everyone seems to love him, I'm just wondering what his best work sounds like.

[erika]

You should watch his last two HBO specials. I'm sure you can download them somewhere.

[Miss]

You could definitely find them online. Or you could buy the Lucky Louie DVD.. Or you could search for "Live In Houston", his standup album, on a p2p. I don't think it's available to buy anywhere anymore, but it's amazing.

[<<<<<]

Very few comedians warrant being hated (i feel).

There are a couple I severely dislike but Carlin wasn't one of them.  The guy got old and cranky.  It happens.

[cutout]

I've noticed comedians like Carlin getting flack in the forums for either being cranky or mean. I'm wondering how anyone who likes Tom Scharpling enough to join his forum could simultaneously have a beef with comedians on the basis of their crankiness/meanness.

erika and swissmiss: thanks for the recommendations, I'm checking bittorrent now.

[Stupornaut]

I've noticed comedians like Carlin getting flack in the forums for either being cranky or mean. I'm wondering how anyone who likes Tom Scharpling enough to join his forum could simultaneously have a beef with comedians on the basis of their crankiness/meanness.

Tom's crankiness/meanness seems situational (i.e. technical difficulties; mutant callers) or, at worst, focused on a relatively specific area (for, say, Steely Dan) that's offset by enthusiasm (for, say, ABBA). I think his and others' knock against Carlin (which I'm not going to commit to myself) is that he put across an "everything stinks and everyone's stupid" worldview.

[Spoony]

I gave Carlin another chance last night.

HBO's been tossing his old specials around like water balloons, so I watched as much as I could before I got bored.

It was an old one from the early 70's and he was going on and on about dogs. The funniest thing about it was how tweaked he was. He was leaving white, powdery footprints on stage.

[Fido]

I gave Carlin another chance last night.

HBO's been tossing his old specials around like water balloons, so I watched as much as I could before I got bored.

It was an old one from the early 70's and he was going on and on about dogs. The funniest thing about it was how tweaked he was. He was leaving white, powdery footprints on stage.

I was watching these HBO reruns too, or more accurately, listening in while I was doing other things. I think I said before that I don't care for George Carlin.  Can I take that back?  Watching/listening to all this old material makes me realize that I enjoy listening to his insights sometimes, and while I still don't really laugh out loud at his material, I find it entertaining and occasionally very thoughtful.  Upon listening to him for a long time last night, I have to admit I respect the man.  (Hear that Erika and Emily?  Maybe you had a point. I still love Margaret Cho and always will -- sorry.) 

I have to admire that George Carlin influenced as many people as he did, including comedians I think many of us admire, and that he certainly made people stop and think a tiny bit more carefully about the madness and absurdity of the world we live in. 

Maybe sometimes we can learn a lot from curmudgeons -- also, maybe curmudgeonliness can be just a stage act or schtick, e.g. Tom Scharpling, a man who is often angry on the air, but whose curmudgeonliness is not his defining characteristic. Carlin may have been just a crank through and through, I dunno, but maybe not.