Carlin or Russert?

[JackRiddler]

Official grave dancing thread.

[Dammit Ann]

1. wish I could vote twice.

crying over Carlin. This is a loss.

[Occam Bandage]

2. I like Carlin more. Russert's death was more shocking. I wouldn't dance on either's grave.

[Cleita]

3. I couldn't believe it.

There was nary a mention of Carlin on the 11:00 PM news, not on ABC, NBC nor CBS. CNN and MSNBC had reruns of something and as I channel surfed between all of them, there was not a mention of his name nor tribute, but they were still talking about Tim Russert. I can't believe it!

[pansypoo53219]

4. what?

george carlin died???

[JackRiddler]

5. No, he just won a big prize.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/17/AR2008061702519.html

Bleep! Bleep! George Carlin To Receive Mark Twain Humor Prize

PHOTO: The 71-year-old comic is known for his "Seven Dirty Words" routine, which got the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court. (By Robert Sebree -- Associated Press)

By Jacqueline Trescott
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 18, 2008; Page C01


A comic quiz:

Who was the first host ever of "Saturday Night Live"?

Who appeared with Doris Day in "With Six You Get Eggroll"?

And who has appeared on "The Tonight Show" more than 130 times?

If you answered George Carlin, you perhaps have spent too much time listening to his 22 albums or watching his 14 specials on HBO, or are a true, true fan.

In the comic spotlight for more than 50 years, Carlin was tapped yesterday by the Kennedy Center to receive this year's Mark Twain Prize, a lifetime achievement award presented to an outstanding comedian.

Carlin, 71, reinvented social commentary, discussing everything from religion and politics to airport security. He excelled at stand-up, whether at the Roostertail in Detroit, the old Cellar Door in Washington or Carnegie Hall. His three books have been bestsellers. He has won four Grammy Awards, spanning 1973 to 2002. His TV shows have been nominated for five Emmys.

The Kennedy Center said his material and style made him a perfect Twain recipient.

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

Carlin issued a statement saying, "Thank you Mr. Twain. Have your people call my people."

He once summed up his approach: "I think it is the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately."

MORE AT LINK
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/17/AR2008061702519.html

SAYS I:

Without a doubt, Carlin was the closest thing to Mark Twain we had, along with, in a very different way, Lewis Lapham, who I hope lives to 101.

No need for "rest in peace" - Carlin knew where he was going all along. Absolutely nowhere.

[Selatius]

6. George Carlin was not in the circle of power like Russert was.

He probably thought it was perverse that a corporation that gets billion-dollar war contracts could also own a news network that could sway the public towards supporting war. As a result, he will not be deified like Ronald Reagan, Tim Russert, etc.

Watch what happens when Noam Chomsky or Gore Vidal or Howard Zinn pass away.

[JackRiddler]

8. I do believe you're too pessimistic.

Not even going to bother asking whether Carlin will be better remembered than Russert. Comedy on a screen doesn't travel well through time, but a lot better than the daily (or weekly) dispensation of totally conventional opinion that will seem utterly incomprehensible to denizens of the future.

In 100 years, "deified" Ronald Reagan will be as well known as what? Grover Cleveland? Maybe Carlin beats him after all.

[Jed Dilligan]

39. Comedy on a screen doesn't travel well through time?

I heartily disagree. Chaplin, Fields, Keaton, West--they are immortal and just as funny today as they were on the set. Carlin will be remembered as a true heir to Lenny Bruce, who will also be remembered as long as there is an America, and perhaps longer.

[JackRiddler]

43. Well, topical talk comedy might not... much of it requires a lot of context...

Chaplin and Keaton require no translation at all, Fields minimal.

But as I said, Carlin will travel a lot better than the bloviations of Sunday morning politicos, and quite possibly outdo presidents who will seem indistinguishable to people in 100 years. (They will, I fear, remember the name Bush well.)

[SoCalDem]

12. So many Georges deserved it more.. It's a pity that the wrong George was taken.

:(

[bdamomma]

32. that is the truth.

[orleans]

7. i voted carlin because i liked/admired him far more than russert

grave dancing thread?

anyone dancing?

[Greyhound]

9. Russert was just the kind of guy Carlin loved to point and laugh at.

:kick:

[calimary]

10. Most definitely CARLIN.

And I'm a retired broadcast journalist.

Carlin over Russert ANY day of the week. WAY OVER Russert ANY day of the week. Tim Russert can barely touch the hem of George Carlin's pants leg.

George Carlin was a seminal influence on the entire world of iconoclastic comedy. Russert was just an overpaid, overfed social climber and bush/cheney whore who made good, and remade "Meet the Press" by, among other things, replacing the long-established and distinguished panel of Washington insider know-it-alls - with li'l ol' himself. That people like Keith Olbermann were deeply moved by his passing is about all I can think of to render him redeemable. Carlin spoke nothing but the truth. Tim Russert preferred to avoid it, distract from it, or cover it up.

Now if you'd said Carlin or Cronkite, then I'd be stuck. But Carlin or Russert? Feh!

[chknltl]

41. I 'had' no view on this one way or the other...

Note the word 'had'. Thank you Calimary

Carlin or Cronkite...now that would be impossible for me...I remember both of them...sadly Carlin is no longer with us... he truly fought the good fight though.

[Bluebear]

11. Is this question on whose grave we prefer to mambo?

[JackRiddler]

15. No.

[cyclezealot]

13. I feel a greater kinship to George Carlin

We hopefully share a greater kinship with him./ Russert. His eulogies indicate he wanted to get all view points to the American people. / We say he did not. But, we should not blame him. His employer is the one with the greater authority. Can't blame Tim Russert for that. We know Carlin shares more of our values than does Russert. Not sure we really know Russert all that well.

[cyclezealot]

14. I feel a greater kinship to George Carlin

We hopefully share a greater kinship with him./ Russert. His eulogies indicate he wanted to get all view points to the American people. / We say he did not. But, we should not blame him. His employer is the one with the greater authority. Can't blame Tim Russert for that. We know Carlin shares more of our values than does Russert. Not sure we really know Russert all that well.

[KharmaTrain]

16. So Do We Get Tributes And Coverage Of His Funeral?

George Carlin sure meant a hell of a lot more to me and my life than Timmeh ever did. I first heard Hippy Dippy Weatherman in 1967...as well as seeing him with Jackie Gleason and then Carson...and the man became a constant source of laughs, but also many things to think about for all these years. He opened a lot of eyes to the hypocrisies in society and to always question authority. Timmeh was a product of the authority Carlin always warned us about.

I'm grateful to have seen this man do his stuff live on several occasions in the 70's and have a large collection of Carlin albums and specials...and I plan to give them all a good listen this week. My sadness won't last long...that's not what George was about...it was turning the world on its side and seeing what shakes out.

[old mark]

17. Two Irish catholic boys who made it big..

...I hope they enjoyed their time.
I enjoyed them both, and it has been a real shock that so many of my favorite "people of interest" died this year.

mark

[book_worm]

18. I think people were more shocked by Tim's death which is why it got so much more play

that and MSNBC treating him like he was a cultural icon.

[ToeBot]

19. Not sure I understand the juxtaposition, but I can say, with almost absolute certainty...

that George Carlin was never Dick Cheney's "go to guy".

[arcadian]

26. It's the perfect juxtaposition

One spoke the truth for a living, the other one lied for a living.

[ProgressiveFool]

20. It's a huge difference... I miss Carlin already

But I would hate to see non-stop coverage of his death, like they did with Russert, because it would make me sadder. The coverage of Russert was (is it still going on) just grotesque.

Carlin was my favorite comic since I first discovered him in my early teens. He had a lot to do with a lot of the attitudes that I take, and a lot of the values I adopted, like the need to skewer hypocrisy, expose it to ridicule, at every opportunity. I have to say that I haven't gotten as cynical as Carlin got in the last decade or so, but, ironically, he was always one that gave me hope for all of us, because even many of the RWingers I know thought he was hilarious, and so they took in a bit of truth by accident, which might give them doubts.

Sorry for the ramble, but I'm a bit at a loss.

The Fool in my name is partly inspired by him, joined with Edward Abbey's Fool's Progress. I've always been a proud Fool since I first heard Carlin.

[pokerfan]

40. Yes, it's still going on

I scrolled through the news channels last night to get some Carlin news and MSNBC was still talking about Russert.

[JackRiddler]

21. Damn.

This was almost the first DU poll with more than 20 voters that had 100%. Like the Peoples' Republic of Carlin.

[Efilroft Sul]

22. I much prefer George Carlin to Timmeh, but...

...I think I'll miss Jim McKay more than both.

[AlCzervik]

23. Gorge Carlin was a big part of my childhood memories, a new Carlin Album was like a holiday at

my house. My Mom was a huge fan and by the time was 7 i was as well.

[whatchamacallit]

24. I learned some truths from Carlin, Russert not so much n/t

[Arugula Latte]

25. They shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath. Carlin was pure genius.

Russert -- a convenient tool for the corporate right.

[JackRiddler]

27. Carlin on language - delivers his own obituary.

Priceless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h67k9eEw9AY

[Lex]

28. MSNBC is doing 24 hour non-stop coverage, right?

Right?!

[JackRiddler]

29. Certainly the Comedy Channel and HBO should both suspend all other programming

and provide 24-hours-a-day CARLIN. Now that's worth burning a few days watching TV!

[Blue_In_AK]

30. I'm 100 times more distressed about George Carlin's death

than I ever could be about Russert's. I won't dance on either's grave, but I know who I'll miss more.

[JackRiddler]

31. He wouldn't want that!

;)

[Blue_In_AK]

35. Of course, you're right,

but I do feel a deep sense of loss. It seems like I can't remember a time when I wasn't a fan -- and I'm old, only 10 years younger than George.

[TexasObserver]

33. Carlin

I took my son to see George Carlin when he was ten years old. So that was 61 years ago.

[Bucky]

34. I am stunned that more DUers want to dance on Carlin's grave! What the hell is the matter with yall?

:hide:

[hellbound-liberal]

36. I don't think that is their intent. I think it was a poor choice of words in the OP.

[JackRiddler]

38. Hmph. 86 voters so far seemed to have...

gotten it, how could they be wrong?!

[JackRiddler]

37. No, no, CARLIN wants us to dance on his grave.

Carlin loves us, brother!

[Quantess]

45. The funny thing, though, Carlin wouldn't mind if you danced on his grave.

To him, it would be a wake.

[JackRiddler]

42. Heh. Get your dancin' shoes on, people!

[JackRiddler]

44. The next day: Is it too soon...

to make accurate observations about Carlin's life and work?