George Carlin Was a Master Comedian and My All-Time Favorite
George Carlin was a master comedian and my all-time favorite. I grew up listening to his records in the 1970s. The first time I remember my parents playing LPs and hearing George do little skits. One particular funny line, especially for a kid: "Anyone can have bad breath Marge, but you could knock a buzzard off a shit wagon."
Anyone familiar with Carlin knows he went through a transformation over the years. His comedy grew from his DJ and sketch comedy background and evolved into the later persona that he seemed to own, the grumpy old George who worked biting social and political commentary into his standup through much of the 1990s and 2000s. I caught one of his last shows before he died in Boise, Idaho, of all places. He was prepping for what would become his last HBO special. When he walked out on stage he had a stack of papers with him. And he wasn't shy about announcing that he may have to have a look. Only once during that routine did he glance, for like 2 seconds at the sheet, before moving on seamlessly with his act.
I think many of his fans appreciated him for his often frantic bits and his ability to remember long tracks of words (see his "Modern Man" bit as an example). He wasn't one of those comics, at least later in life, who had to stop and pause for laughter too frequently in order to establish a rhythm. His delivery could be quick and detailed and the audience was forced to keep up. Part of the reason, I believe, was that he didn't dumb his audiences down when writing his material. He expected people to come around to his ideas in real time, even if the outrageousness was too much to digest at the moment. Carlin had the ability to persuade. And like a great comedian, he had the ability to make you laugh at the most absurd of premises. I would have loved to have seen his material had he lived through the Obama and Trump years.
"The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, 'You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I’m just not close enough to get the job done.”
--George Carlin.
George Carlin: The Comedy Rebel Who Changed Everything
George Carlin wasn’t just a comedian—he was a cultural disruptor. Known for his dark humor, razor-sharp social commentary, and unapologetic honesty, Carlin became the voice of rebellion in American comedy. Dubbed “the dean of counterculture comedians,” he tackled politics, language, religion, and the absurdities of everyday life with a style that was both hilarious and brutal.
George Carlin on religion.
His infamous “seven dirty words” routine wasn’t just a joke—it led to FCC v. Pacifica Foundation, a landmark 1978 Supreme Court case that shaped broadcast censorship laws. Carlin’s take? "Government regulation is just another way to tell you what you can’t say." His comedy was never about easy laughs; it was about challenging the system.
George Carlin - 7 Words You Can't Say On TV
A frequent Tonight Show guest during Johnny Carson’s reign, Carlin also hosted the first-ever episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975. But his real legacy lies in his 14 HBO stand-up specials, spanning from George Carlin at USC (1977) to his final masterpiece, It's Bad for Ya (2008), filmed just months before his death. Over time, his material shifted from playful observations to relentless critiques of American hypocrisy, consumerism, and blind patriotism—a transformation that cost him some mainstream gigs but solidified his legend status.
Carlin wasn’t afraid to evolve. In the ‘60s, he started as a clean-cut, suit-wearing comic, but by the ‘70s, he ditched the act—growing his hair long, dropping acid, and embracing the counterculture movement. His Grammy-winning album FM & AM (1972) reflected this shift, blending mainstream humor with radical social commentary. His sharp wit made him a pioneer of modern stand-up, influencing legends like Bill Burr, Chris Rock, and Louis C.K.
Beyond stand-up, Carlin left his mark on pop culture. He starred in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989), voiced characters in Cars (2006) and Shining Time Station, and even had his own sitcom, The George Carlin Show (1994-95). But he was always about the stage—raw, uncensored, and fearless.
Despite battling heart problems for decades, Carlin never slowed down. He won five Grammy Awards, wrote best-selling books, and kept performing until the very end. In 2008, he posthumously received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, cementing his place among the greats.
Carlin once said, "It's all bullshit, and it's bad for ya." That philosophy fueled his career—and it's why his work remains just as relevant today. His comedy wasn’t just about jokes; it was about truth, and in a world still full of nonsense, Carlin’s voice is one we still need.
George Carlin -- It's Bad for You
