George Carlin, dead at 71

[ACH]

Comedian George Carlin, a counter-culture hero famed for his routines about drugs and dirty words, died of heart failure at a Los Angeles-area hospital on Sunday, a spokesman said. He was 71.

Carlin, who had a history of heart and drug-dependency problems, died at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica about 6 p.m. PDT (9 p.m. EDT) after being admitted earlier in the afternoon for chest pains, spokesman Jeff Abraham told Reuters.

Known for his edgy, provocative material, Carlin achieved status as an anti-Establishment icon in the 1970s with stand-up bits full of drug references and a routine called "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television." A regulatory battle over a radio broadcast of the routine ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the 1978 case, Federal Communications Commission vs. Pacifica Foundation, the top U.S. court ruled that the words cited in Carlin's routine were indecent, and that the government's broadcast regulator could ban them from being aired at times when children might be listening.

Carlin's comedic sensibility often came back to a central theme: humanity is doomed.

"I don't have any beliefs or allegiances. I don't believe in this country, I don't believe in religion, or a god, and I don't believe in all these man-made institutional ideas," he told Reuters in a 2001 interview.

Carlin, who wrote several books and performed in many television comedy specials, is survived by his wife Sally Wade, and daughter Kelly Carlin McCall.

[Captain Genius]

Son of a bitch.

One of my heroes.

Everyone stop dying!

[acetate]

I don't know who will take up the cause of the first ammendment rights like Carlin. He was the best bar none at pointing out hypocrites on the liberal left, then slamming the right wingers as well. I will really be missing him.

[HellboyOne]

71's not that old by modern standards but this bastard led a full life.

And as long as there are people offended by words, there will be people to carry the f-bomb torch.

[Toonimator]

I enjoyed Colbert's "The Word" last night, championing Carlin as a banner of bad words and offering up friendly alternatives to the "7 words that can't be said on TV". Great punchline with the producer cutting in and explaining what Carlin's bit was REALLY about and a shocked Colbert turning to Carlin's photo and saying "You motherfucker." I missed any tributes they had on Monday late-night shows though...

Still love his ideas for prison reform... AND where to build low-cost housing.

And praying to Joe Pesci.

NBC's rebroadcasting the very first SNL, which Carlin hosted, this Saturday night.

[Animal Qwacker]

So George is "living impaired" and we still have Larry the Cable Guy stinking up comedy.
Thanks again, God!

[Doh]

So George is "living impaired" and we still have Larry the Cable Guy stinking up comedy.
Thanks again, God!

Amen, brother! I felt the same way when Phil Hartman was murdered... and Pauley Shore wasn't.

[ACH]

At least Gerorge received a lot of kudos while he was around to enjoy it...most only get that kind of praise posthumously. I got the same seenking feeling in my gut about George that I got after hearing about Phil Hartman and Mitch Hedberg...but with Mitch it was more because he was so young and had so much potential...George and Phil had put in a lot work and I enjoyed their time on this planet. I feel you guys, why coulnd't it be Larry the God-damned Cable Guy?!?!

[Doh]

I was just telling a friend about Hedberg at lunch! Unfortunately, I never heard of him until after he died. I love his bit about needing a receipt for a donut ("No thanks. I don't know why I'd have to prove I bought a donut today.")

[Scripe]

71's not that old by modern standards but this bastard led a full life.

And as long as there are people offended by words, there will be people to carry the f-bomb torch.

Well US life expectency is about 78 years old so he pretty much hit it considering it's mostly women that hit the higher mark.