Another legend gone.

[Darren Dirt]

PS: I wonder how Bill Maher* is gonna deal with this... Carlin was such a frequent guest on "Real Time" and "Politically Incorrect".

*and Kevin Smith... future movies sans Carlin? unthinkable!

Kevin Smith remembers George Carlin
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1007028/board/nest/109742653#110270421

'A God Who Cussed'

Director Kevin Smith remembers George Carlin

They say you should never meet your heroes. I've found this a good rule to live by, but as with any rule, there's always an exception.

My first exposure to George Carlin was in 1982, when HBO aired his "Carlin at Carnegie" stand-up special. When I saw the advert -- featuring a clip of Carlin talking about the clich?d criminal warning of "Don't try anything funny," and then adding, "When they're not looking, I like to go ...," followed by a brief explosion of goofy expressions and pantomime -- I immediately asked my parents if I could tape it on our new BetaMax video recorder.

That was a hilarious bit. But when I finally watched the special, Carlin blew my doors off. Whether he was spinning a yarn about Tippy, his farting dog, or analyzing the contents of his fridge, Carlin expressed himself not only humorously, but amazingly eloquently as well. I was, as they say, in stitches.

And that was before he got to the Seven Words You Can't Say on Television.

I was 12 years old, watching a man many years my senior curse a blue streak while exposing the hypocrisy of a medium (and a society) that couldn't deal with the public usage of terms they probably employed regularly in their private lives. And while he seemed to revel in being a rebel, here was a man who also clearly loved the English language, warts and all -- even the so-called "bad words" (although, as George would say, there are no such things as "bad words"). I wouldn't say George Carlin taught me obscenities, but I would definitely say he taught me that the casual use of obscenities wasn't reserved just for drunken sailors, as the old chestnut goes; even intelligent people were allowed to incorporate them into their everyday conversations (because George was nothing if not intelligent).

From that moment forward, I was an instant Carlin disciple. I bought every album, watched every HBO special, and even sat through "The Prince of Tides" just because he played a small role in the film. I spent years turning friends on to the Cult of Carlin, the World According to George, and even made pilgrimages to see him perform live (the first occasion being a gig at Farleigh Dickinson University in 1988). Carlin influenced my speech and my writing. Carlin replaced Catholicism as my religion.

Sixteen years later, I sat across from the star of "Carlin at Carnegie" in the dining room of the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. It was a meeting I'd dreamed of and dreaded simultaneously. George Carlin was the type of social observer/critic I most wanted to emulate ... but he was a celebrity, too. What if he turned out to be a true prick?

What I quickly discovered was that, in real life, George was, well, George. Far from a self-obsessed jerk, he was mild-mannered enough to be my Dad. He was as interested as he was interesting, well-read and polite to a fault -- all while casually dropping F-bombs. But most impressive, he didn't treat me like an audience member, eschewing actual conversation, electing instead to simply perform the whole meeting, more "on" than real. He talked to me like one of my friends would talk to me: familiar, unguarded, authentic.

I made three films with George over the course of the next six years, starting with "Dogma" and his portrayal of Cardinal Glick, the pontiff-publicist responsible for the Catholic Church's recall of the standard crucifix in favor of the more congenial, bubbly "Buddy Christ." A few years later, I wrote him a lead role in "Jersey Girl" -- as Bart Trinke (or "Pop"), the father of Ben Affleck's character. It called for a more dramatic performance than George was used to giving, but the man pulled it off happily and beautifully. (Something most folks probably don't know about George: He took acting very seriously. The man was almost a Method actor.) Sadly, I consider that "Jersey Girl" part my one failing on George's behalf, and not for the reasons most would assume (the movie was not reviewed kindly, to say the least). No, I failed because George had asked me to write a different role for him.

In 2001, George did me a solid when he accepted the part of the orally fixated hitchhiker who knew exactly how to get a ride in "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back." When he wrapped his scene in that flick, I thanked him for making the time, and he said, "Just do me a favor: Write me my dream role one day." When I inquired what that'd be, he offered, "I wanna play a priest who strangles children."


It was a classic Carlin thing to say: a little naughty and a lot honest. I always figured there'd be time to give George what he asked for. Unfortunately, he left too soon.

He was, and will likely remain, the smartest person I've ever met. But really, he was much more than just a person. Without a hint of hyperbole, I can say he was a god, a god who cussed.

[Darren Dirt]

52 noteable death of 2008 ... due to the website's focus, a handful are Boston-specific (so "wuh?" is a reasonable response) but many others are familiar... How brief and precious life is...

http://www.boston.com/news/world/gallery/021308_2008deaths?pg=52

[Mr. Analog]

Silly thing, 2008 is still going...

[Darren Dirt]

GEEZ! 2008 sure took a lotta noteable talents from the entertainment community...

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/features/article_1448145.php/YEARENDER_In_2008_US_saw_deaths_of_Newman_Crichton_others

Their personalities had dominated the American scene for so many decades that many seemed almost ageless: actor Paul Newman, writer Michael Crichton and Charlton Heston, the deep voice of Moses and Ben Hur.


Yet by the end of 2008, they were gone, along with other US luminaries known worldwide, such as musician Bo Diddley, chess terror Bobby Fischer and the astrophysicist who gave black holes their name, John Archibald Wheeler.

Here is a selected overview of those who passed:

Paul Newman, 83, best known for his intense blue eyes and his roles in Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Sting, Newman also gave hundreds of millions to charity through his food company.

Michael Crichton, 66, the author-physician who burst onto the scene with the 1969 science thriller, The Andromeda Strain, at age 27, and went on to write Congo, Timeline, Jurassic Park and more. He also created the TV series ER.

Oscar-winner Charlton Heston, 84, famous for his starring role in the 1959 epic Ben Hur and for his political work as leader of the US gun lobby, the National Rifle Association. He also portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the 1950s and 1960s.

Suzanne Pleshette, 70, an actress with a sultry voice best known for her role of Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show in the 1970s. She played lead roles in the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds and Rome Adventure.

Tom Lantos, 80, the only Holocaust survivor to serve in the US Congress. A native of Hungary, Lantos was the influential Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, an outspoken defender of human rights and sharp critic of authoritarian regimes during his 27 years in the House of Representatives.

William F Buckley Jr, 82, the witty, motorcycle-riding intellectual credited with founding the modern American conservative movement. After starting the conservative magazine National Review in 1955, he remained at the helm until 1990. He also had a long-running TV show, Firing Line.

Tim Russert, 58, one of America's leading TV political journalists and icon of election coverage who put his stamp on the venerable Sunday talk show Meet the Press.

Bobby Fischer, 64, the US chess genius who claimed international fame with his 1972 win over Russian Boris Spassky. He then went on to an eccentric life as a global nomad who defied US sanctions against Yugoslavia and provoked headlines with anti-Semitic remarks. He greeted the 2001 terrorist attacks on the US as 'wonderful news.'

Roy Scheider, 75, best-known for his role as the police chief and reluctant shark hunter in Jaws.

Estelle Getty, 84, actress of film, stage and TV. She is best known for her long-running role as Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls from 1985 to 1992, on The Golden Palace from 1992 to 1993 and on Empty Nest from 1993 to 1995.

George Carlin, 71, the irreverent comedian whose profanity-laced skewering of US political and social conventions made him a counter- culture hero.

Bo Diddley, 79, rock guitar pioneer whose greatest hits included You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover, Who Do You Love?, And Before You Accuse Me. His greatest contribution was was his signature 5/4 rhythm that laid the foundation for much of the blues-influenced rock music of the 1960s and 1970s.

Soul music legend Isaac Hayes, 65, famous for his Oscar and Grammy-winning Theme From Shaft.

Jerry Wexler, 91, the record producer who invented the term 'rhythm and blues' and dominated the music scene from the 1950s to the 1980s, producing performers such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin and Bob Dylan.

Estelle Reiner, 89, little-known actress who uttered one of the most famous lines ever in a film: 'I'll have what she's having.' The movie was the 1989 romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally, in the New York Katz's Deli scene where Meg Ryan's character fakes an orgasm amidst an argument with Billy Crystal's character.

Nobel Prize-winning economist Leonid Hurwicz, 90, known for his work on the decision-making process behind economic transactions.

Jesse Helms, 86, the retired conservative senator who was a staunch backer of racial apartheid and one-time chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

John Archibald Wheeler, 96, the theoretical physicist who gave black holes in space their name and worked on the Manhattan Project to build the atom bomb.

Filmmaker and Oscar winner Sydney Pollack, 73, known for producing intelligent, commercially successful, star-laden films such as Out of Africa, Tootsie and The Way We Were.

Richard Widmark, 93, the poker-faced actor who made his name portraying sadistic villains and gunslingers.

Cyd Charisse, 86, whose elegant dance moves on the silver screen wooed co-stars Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

Robert Rauschenberg, 82, a pioneer of pop art who made his wildly creative pieces from almost anything that came to hand.

Mel Ferrer, 90, a reluctant film star married to the late actress Audrey Hepburn. He was known for his classic portrayals in Lili in 1953 and the 1956 filming of Tolstoy's War and Peace.

Actor and comedian Bernie Mac, 50, who played in the Ocean's 11 series of films.

American Mormon leader Gordon B Hinckley, 97, president of the Chruch of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. He led Mormons through 12 years of global expansion starting in 1995.

Physician Michael DeBakey, 99, known as the father of modern heart surgery. His patients included film diva Marlene Dietrich, former US president Lyndon Johnson and Russia's former president Boris Yeltsin.

Writer Tony Hillerman, 83, whose mystery novels shone a light on the clash between Navajo traditions and modern society.

Studs Terkel, 96, activist, humorist, and radio-TV personality, and outspoken liberal during the McCarthy era, who was blacklisted in the entertainment industry.

David Foster Wallace, 46, famous for his sprawling and sardonic novel Infinite Jest, published in 1996.

2009, PLEASE be nicer to us pop culture addicts mkay? Less George Carlins and more along the lines of Jesse Helms...

[Mr. Analog]

Sigh, Majel Barret died today (Nurse Chapel, Troi's mom and the voice of every StarFleet computer)

[Darren Dirt]

trio all on the same day?

Tarintino's editor, and the old lady from "Titanic".

plus a pretty well-known "Cringe Comic", Greg Giraldo. One of the funnier modern "roast" attendees, and imo one of the best regulars on the uneven "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn".


okay, so not quite "legends", but another friendly reminder of how short our time is here on earth... thru the warped lens of Hollyweird...



wait, also Glenn Shadix aka one of those "That Guy!" actors? Yeesh, Angel of Death, leave alone my teenage and early adult years!


and holy crap, also the director of both "Bonnie and Clyde" AND "Penn & Teller Get Killed", Arthur Penn!? (but then again he just turned 88) ... oh the humanity...

luckily, that seems about it ... for now ... (wtf, even Harvey Pekar? Seriously? I feel so mortal right now...)

[Darren Dirt]

geez, aGAIN:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Curtis

[Mr. Analog]

Holy crap!

[Darren Dirt]

plus a pretty well-known "Cringe Comic", Greg Giraldo. One of the funnier modern "roast" attendees, and imo one of the best regulars on the uneven "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn".

Have rarely seen Jon Stewart this choked up since the post - 9/11 episode.

page full of Giraldo's "Roast" clips here.