Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies

[Lyte]

So sad.

Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies
By Ed Payne CNN

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Comedian-actor George Carlin, known for his raunchy, but insightful humor, died Sunday in Los Angeles, his publicist said. He was 71.

Jeff Abraham says Carlin went into St. John's Health Center on Sunday afternoon, complaining of chest pain. Carlin died at 5:55 p.m. PDT, the Associated Press reported.

Carlin, who had a history of heart trouble, performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.

"He was a genius and I will miss him dearly," Jack Burns, who was the other half of a comedy duo with Carlin in the early 1960s, told The Associated Press.

Carlin was best known for his routine "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television," which appeared 1972's "Class Clown" album.

When Carlin uttered all seven at a show in Milwaukee in 1972, he was arrested for disturbing the peace, the AP reported. The comedy sketch prompted a landmark indecency case after WBAI-FM radio aired it in 1973.

The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court where the justices ruled on a 5-to-4 vote that the sketch was "indecent but not obscene," giving the FCC broad leeway to determine what constituted indecency on the airwaves.

"So my name is a footnote in American legal history, which I'm perversely kind of proud of," Carlin said. "In the context of that era, it was daring."

"It just sounds like a very self-serving kind of word. I don't want to go around describing myself as a 'groundbreaker' or a 'difference-maker' because I'm not and I wasn't," he said. "But I contributed to people who were saying things that weren't supposed to be said." VideoWatch Carlin's 7 dirty words routine »

Carlin, who was also an author, was slated to receive the 2008 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in November.

"In his length career as a comedian, writer, and actor, George Carlin has not only made us laugh, but he makes us think," Stephen Schwarzman, Kennedy Center chairman, said in a statement. "His influence on the next generation of comics has been far-reaching."

In a typical wry response, Carlin said: "Thank you Mr. Twain. Have your people call my people."

Carlin hosted the first broadcast of "Saturday Night Live" in October 1975.

He played the character of Mr. Conductor on the PBS series "Shining Time Station" and starred in more than a dozen HBO specials. Carlin was also a regular on The Tonight Show.

He produced 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, three books, a couple of TV shows and appeared in several movies, from his own comedy specials to "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" in 1989 -- a testament to his range from cerebral satire and cultural commentary to downright silliness (and sometimes hitting all points in one stroke), the AP reported.

"Why do they lock gas station bathrooms?" he once mused. "Are they afraid someone will clean them?"

He won four Grammy Awards, each for best spoken comedy album, and was nominated for five Emmy awards, according to the Associated Press.

[racknrail]

I heard this the other day. I remember him and his controversial LP's when I was quite young. He was a very funny man. He definitely will be missed.

RIP, George!!

[Lyte]

Yeah, it was truly one of a kind! I think his was a unique brand of comedy. Sometimes he was a little too liberal in his commentary but even if you disagreed you couldn't help but laugh anyway because of his delivery!

Beware, naughty words...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u6lCBnRoHQ

[dr911]

Yea, we all are going to miss George. I met 7 talked to him personally when I work at a Major Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. I was the Room Service Chef there for 18 years. After every show, he would order 3 pancakes (had to be 2 inches over the services plate, which was 14 inches), with fresh blueberries mixed in them, along with fresh squeezed O.J. and 3 strips of fresh cooked bacon.

I always cooked his "after show" snack ( as he called this meal, not me). One night over new years eve weekend, busy as hell, I forgot or didn't have time to cook his bacon ( I put on some from the steam-table).

Next thing I know, after the rush, I got a call from my boss, his boss, and the entertainment director, telling my to get up to "Mr Carlin's" room.

Thinking to myself, WTF, here goes my career !!.

George had his own special waiter (from the room service staff), I know him very well. I called him (on his cell) and ask.....what's going on ? He said...just get your butt up him, now !!

When I got up to George's room (like a palace), I knocked, the waiter let me in, George came walking up and asked me 'Did you cook my bacon I just ordered " ? I answered, No sir, I got it off the steam table down in room service...sir. He looked at me, like he was studying me and said "good, at least you didn't fu**ing lie to me, I like that in a person.come on in, relax, stay awhile. I tried to tell him that room service was "very, very busy at this time, he told me, don't worry about it, I already talked to your bosses.

George, the waiter (also named George) and myself must have spent 2 to 3 hours up in his room.

Every time he came to Vegas, no matter what Hotel he was preforming at, he always sent notice and "comps' to see him. I could bring 20 people, no problem.

I have many a picture (autographed be him, personally).

George, ole buddy, I see you when i get there..keep them laughing, for all of us !!


He will be missed !!!!

[Lyte]

That's great story!! Yeah, George seems like one of those people I think would be a load of fun to know and hang out with!