Rest in peace and all but… I don’t get it. I knew his reputation and I’d checked out a couple of clips, and now he’s being eulogised in all corners of the internet as a comedic and intellectual genius and I checked out a few more clips, and… I’m just not seeing what everyone else seems to be seeing.
There are very few jokes. I mean, punchlines, right? They’re a handy comedy tool. But as far as I can tell, your average George Carlin gig consisted of a bunch of obvious generalisations delivered in the form of slogans to an adoring audience who are just there to get their egos rubbed. Come on, like. Most of my friends have a fairly liberal, rational outlook on the world, but I don’t laugh and cheer every time they express an opinion.
Perhaps the point is that Carlin started expressing these opinions in a more hostile time. Well, all right, fair play to the man. But you watch a clip from a few years ago and he’s still pointing out that organised religion is hypocritical and conservatives are bastards, and maybe South Park and the like have spoiled me but that’s hardly the most edgy material you could break out.
This isn’t an attack. I’m genuinely puzzled. If someone feels they can explain the appeal to me, please leave a comment. Because at the moment it just looks to me like the Emperor’s new clothes.
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