George Carlin Passes Away

On the 23rd of this month, comedian George Carlin passed away of heart failure, aged 71.

George Carlin is famous for constantly pushing the limits of acceptable behavior in both language and comedy, his most notable was his "Seven Words" routine.

My first exposure to George Carlin was in the movie Dogma, where he played the supporting role of Cardinal Glick, a more trendy member of the clergy who wishes to modernise and revamp the church's image. While I didn't know who he was or the legacy he carried at the time, I truly enjoyed the part he played, and eventually came into watching and listening to his many comedic routines, which were just as - or in most cases better - than the original role I discovered him in.

True to all the reports, Carlin's comedy was always of an anti-establishment bent, always pushing the boundaries we're all comfortable with, using sharp, thought provoking wit to deliver. Nothing was safe from Carlin's biting scrutiny, be it religion, the American way of life, natural disaster - you name it, George would be on it, offering an often-times harsh, yet amusingly satisfying insight into it all.

While it is sad to see his passing, his comedic outlook probably wouldn't want us depressingly mourning. Rather, true to his self-styling, honour the person he was, and hope he has a great routine in mind for when he meets God.

Also: shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, tits. That one is for you, George.

Comedian George Carlin Dies At 71 (via MSNBC)