The news took the wind out of my sails. Hard to believe the old misanthrope was 71, and it's too soon for him to not be with us.
Carlin was one of the first comedians I remember laughing out loud at; a friend and I howled while listening to Carlin on Campus in the early 80s. Then I backtracked in his catalog and discovered Toledo Window Box and FM & AM and Class Clown, and I discovered he was topical too.
He was well known for recycling old bits time and again, and I regret that his stage persona turned into "bitter old man"--what he gained in edge, he lost in humor. But he was always good for reality checks, whether he was musing on the absurdities of English or railing at white people to stop being black.
We need more reality checks a la Carlin; I doubt anyone of his caliber will step up to provide them.
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