PSA: George Carlin is not funny

[brianmanahan]

I agree, Carlin is not at all funny.

However, tapes of his pre-mortum performances are still pretty funny.

lol

 

[MongGrel]

I decided to try a new comic. Alot of people list him as one of the greatest ever. I listened to his 1990 Explicit Lyrics album since i found a review on a comedy web site saying that it was his best album.

What I found:
1) He swears alot
2) He swears lot
3) He has horrible punch lines
4) He basically takes a topic and spends 2 minutes trying to say the same thing differently.
5) has absolutely no wit

He makes Gallagher look like his show is full of wit.

Seriously, did this album just have all the intelligent punch lines taken out? It seemed so fluid. Amazing editing I guess.

For example, early on the album he was talking about how rape can be funny. Along with some stupid witless examples that any 14 year old could come up with by saying a random verb, a random noun and rape. Raped by a slow moving oxen. Fucking great! Why am I not in show business? No miraculous connotations. Just foul mouthed stupidity. I was listening later into the act and he came to rape and made a half way decent joke. But he could have said "See, I told you .... rape can be funny", it would have been perfect. Maybe in part because most of his earlier rape tirade lasted tooo long and was not funny. It was as though the entire conversation earlier wasn't there. And the delivery was such that it didn't have to be.

Seriously, this is the "best" we have done in the past 50 years?

Someone tell me that this album actually sucked or in some way convince me to give him a second chance.

He's not really relevant to be honest these days. How could he be.

RIP

He was about the time Cheech & Chong were in the 70's

Comedy changes over time.

 

[MongGrel]

Just one I've had hanging around awhile.

 

[Brian Stirling]

I decided to try a new comic. Alot of people list him as one of the greatest ever. I listened to his 1990 Explicit Lyrics album since i found a review on a comedy web site saying that it was his best album.

What I found:
1) He swears alot
2) He swears lot
3) He has horrible punch lines
4) He basically takes a topic and spends 2 minutes trying to say the same thing differently.
5) has absolutely no wit

He makes Gallagher look like his show is full of wit.

Seriously, did this album just have all the intelligent punch lines taken out? It seemed so fluid. Amazing editing I guess.

For example, early on the album he was talking about how rape can be funny. Along with some stupid witless examples that any 14 year old could come up with by saying a random verb, a random noun and rape. Raped by a slow moving oxen. Fucking great! Why am I not in show business? No miraculous connotations. Just foul mouthed stupidity. I was listening later into the act and he came to rape and made a half way decent joke. But he could have said "See, I told you .... rape can be funny", it would have been perfect. Maybe in part because most of his earlier rape tirade lasted tooo long and was not funny. It was as though the entire conversation earlier wasn't there. And the delivery was such that it didn't have to be.

Seriously, this is the "best" we have done in the past 50 years?

Someone tell me that this album actually sucked or in some way convince me to give him a second chance.

Perma ban!


Brian

 

[OutHouse]

I watched Tig Notaro the other night on hbo. She sucked, she sucked so bad she took off her shirt to show off her cut off boobies due to cancer.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

I watched Tig Notaro the other night on hbo. She sucked, she sucked so bad she took off her shirt to show off her cut off boobies due to cancer.

Yeah, unfortunately she's a one hit wonder. Live was interesting because of the circumstances but she's not very funny.

 

[Murloc]

I've just seen random videos and he's pretty funny.

 

[Thump553]

OP probably also hated Will Rogers and Mark Twain.

 

[Crono]

You have to be more forgiving of political and social comedians. They are closer to the uncomfortable truth-speaking humor of court jesters than modern observational humor and sketch comics. If that's not your thing, watch/listen to someone else. No big deal.

Also, years before I knew that Carlin was a comedian:

 

[CraKaJaX]

Let me guess, OP is a Dane Cook fan.

Most likely this. D:

Carlin was brilliant.

 

[DrPizza]

If you don't laugh at this, there's something wrong with you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW_XMaec9Ww

It also shows how well rehearsed/intelligent he is.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Let me guess, OP is a Dane Cook fan.

No, mostly a Bill Hicks fan. He's mostly early 90s. But a lot of what he talks about is still relevant (like the abortion debate in this country) or how most people in the USA are unresolved beings. And things like gun control ... still totally relevant. Here's the thing. From what I have heard of George Carlin, nothing he said was relevant starting on the day he opened his mouth. OK though. Tomorrow he gets another chance from me. I added 3 albums to my phone and I'll try them out during my run. Maybe he snuck in something relevant or witty.

Also like Louis C.K. hard not to if you have Netflix.

I also went to a Jim Breuer show once. I enjoyed it mostly be cause he is about my age and has kids and his show was a lot about kids and marriage. See, he was actually telling stories but he added wit to them. It was extremely well produced. It was honestly more like seeing a one man play than a comedian. That's what happens when you advance your comedy career though. You spend more time rehearsing and it is more and more scripted. Things like producers and directors are added to the mix to iron out delivery and fix jokes that don't work.

And the occasional stop to the local comedy store is usually enjoyable. It can be hit and miss though.

 

[BUTCH1]

OP is entitled to his opinion even if he looks like a asshole the size of Texas while speaking it.

 

[lxskllr]

a asshole the size of Texas

Nice recursive analogy!

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Comedy and tastes evolve. I just assume greatest comics of all time lists take into account the context of their era. I don't find most old comedy funny at all. But I appreciate what they brought to the genre.

 

[IronWing]

I like Carlin but he got to be pretty bitter as he aged. His comedy lost a lot of the earlier humor and just became angry rants. At least he had the grace to wait until he really was an old man before becoming a bitter old man (unlike, say, Dennis Miller).

 

[MongGrel]

 

[GrumpyMan]

Funny guy at the time he was on TV, but he did get a little bitter as someone else stated in the end. Happens to a lot of comedians I guess. But at least he did not have a prescription for Quaaludes for the ladies as one other comedian had......

 

[MongGrel]

 

[CraKaJaX]

Funny guy at the time he was on TV, but he did get a little bitter as someone else stated in the end. Happens to a lot of comedians I guess. But at least he did not have a prescription for Quaaludes for the ladies as one other comedian had......

He did get bitter (and a lot more vulgar) as he aged... But the point behind almost all his rants were still valid. Some of the newer stuff that wasn't as vulgar as his old rants were also hilarious (ie, modern man). Brilliant.

 

[Kadarin]

Toward the end he mostly wasn't laugh out loud funny, but he was always insightful and entertaining. Brilliant guy.

 

[SSSnail]

So it's official, OP hates 'Muricah.

Edit: OP, this is you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rh6qqsmxNs

 

[mmntech]

Also, years before I knew that Carlin was a comedian:

Lol, same. Mr. Conductor was one of his weirdest roles given his background. I always preferred Ringo's narration. Carlin was also time traveller Rufus from Bill & Ted's Excellent adventure.

 

[WHAMPOM]

I decided to try a new comic. Alot of people list him as one of the greatest ever. I listened to his 1990 Explicit Lyrics album since i found a review on a comedy web site saying that it was his best album.

What I found:
1) He swears alot
2) He swears lot
3) He has horrible punch lines
4) He basically takes a topic and spends 2 minutes trying to say the same thing differently.
5) has absolutely no wit

He makes Gallagher look like his show is full of wit.

Seriously, did this album just have all the intelligent punch lines taken out? It seemed so fluid. Amazing editing I guess.

For example, early on the album he was talking about how rape can be funny. Along with some stupid witless examples that any 14 year old could come up with by saying a random verb, a random noun and rape. Raped by a slow moving oxen. Fucking great! Why am I not in show business? No miraculous connotations. Just foul mouthed stupidity. I was listening later into the act and he came to rape and made a half way decent joke. But he could have said "See, I told you .... rape can be funny", it would have been perfect. Maybe in part because most of his earlier rape tirade lasted tooo long and was not funny. It was as though the entire conversation earlier wasn't there. And the delivery was such that it didn't have to be.

Seriously, this is the "best" we have done in the past 50 years?

Someone tell me that this album actually sucked or in some way convince me to give him a second chance.

Carlin was not out 100% to make you laugh, he was trying to make you think.

 

[John Connor]

Holyfuckingballlessbullshit.gif

Every time I hear some jacko say "global warming/climate change I think of Carlin's Saving The Planet LOL!