George Carlin. May 12, 1937 - June 22, 2008.
"I think it's the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately."
My first experience with George Carlin was his role as Rufus in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure." That movie came out in 1989, which made me a whopping 8-years-old at the time. I loved that flick and probably watched it almost daily as a child. You could imagine my suprise when I saw my dad watching a George Carlin comedy special on TV one night. There was the noble and wise Rufus, who I'd only known from his guidance of the two most excellent Wyld Stallions, spitting out curse words and making my father laugh his ass off.
Over the years, I've grown to appreciate the comedic stylings of Carlin. I'd never call myself a devoted fan, but if I had to pick a favorite comedian he would probably be at the top of the list. He was my dad's favorite and my younger brother's favorite as well. When I heard about his death, they were the first two people I called. Both were just as bummed out as I was.
In my opinion, the beauty of Carlin lies in his ability to seamlessly switch from dick and fart jokes to thought-provoking social commentary. And it's all hilarious. Maybe it's because I feel like we shared many similar beliefs and I could relate to what he rambled about, but George Carlin spoke to me like no other comedian has. Like I said, I've never really been a devoted enough fan to go and see him perform or purchase any of his releases, but anytime I'd see a George Carlin special on HBO during the middle of the night, I'd be watching; and laughing.
Always have, always will. Rest in peace, George.
"You know what some people don't talk about in public anymore? Pussy farts."
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