Edgy, gutsy, wise, clever, clear-sighted, questioning, and penetrating.
That’s just a short list of the attributes embodying George Carlin’s spot-on comedic brand. A deep pang is pulling at me, realizing he’s not out there anymore observing and commenting. I’m regretting that I never saw him in concert.
As a fellow professional writer and lover of words, I’ve been a great fan and admirer of George since I first heard his LP “Take-Offs and Put-Ons” about a hundred years ago. Remember vinyl? That album turned me around several times during a low point just a few years ago when I faced too many emotional upheavals at once. It’s amazing what breath-taking, sobbing laughter can do.
I still listen to that album from time to time and it still makes me laugh more than a lot of other funny things, and I laugh easily.
When asked not too long ago in an interview with Matt Lauer if he measured the “you’ve gone too far” line when crafting a routine, George said
“I always know exactly what and where the line is, and I cross it anyway.”
That’s what we expected of him and that’s what he reliably delivered. I’m going to miss him terribly.
