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MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO LEONARD H. GOLDENSON UNIVERSITY SATELLITE SEMINAR SERIES, THE: "A CONVERSATION WITH GEORGE CARLIN" {LONG VERSION}

Summary

One in this series of seminars conducted by The Museum of Television & Radio. This seminar, held in New York and moderated by Museum president Robert M. Batscha, features a discussion with comedian/writer George Carlin. (George Carlin's biography immediately follows this summary.) Batscha opens the seminar by presenting a twenty-minute reel of highlights from Carlin's nearly forty-year career of stand-up comedy on variety shows and one-man specials. Clips include Carlin's appearance on the first episode of "Saturday Night Live" in 1975; Carlin's portrayal of "Al Sleet, the Hippie Dippy Weatherman" on "The Flip Wilson Show" in 1971; a young, clean-cut Carlin's parody of disc jockeys on "Talent Scouts" in 1962; Carlin's ranting about political correctness on his HBO special "Doin' it Again" from 1990; and Carlin's expounding on the nature of "stuff" on "Comic Relief" from 1986. After the highlights, Batscha introduces Carlin by commenting that the comic was laughing at his own material as it screened; Carlin admits that he hadn't remembered several of the early bits on the tape. Batscha then opens the discussion by asking Carlin whether he always knew he wanted to be a comedian, and Carlin discusses his early admiration for Danny Kaye and Jerry Lewis. Carlin then takes over the conversation for a lengthy period, discussing his early days in the Greenwich Village comedy scene alongside Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor and their shared goal of finding a bigger audience by landing a spot on "The Merv Griffin Show." Carlin explains that, once his break on television arrived, he suddenly felt limited and stifled by the censors. This epiphany proved to be a catalyst for a subsequent explosion in new material, and legendary bits like "Seven Words You Can Never Use on Television" were born. Carlin then recounts his experiences coming face to face with those he calls "professional moralists" after the release of his controversial "Class Clown" record in 1973. Batscha then opens the telephone lines for questions from university and college students throughout the country. Following a call discussing Carlin's connection to Lenny Bruce, a woman asks Carlin about his political affiliations, and Carlin confesses that he doesn't vote; "I favor people over property," he states. Another call touches on drug use, and Carlin talks about both marijuana ("I was smoking pot in 'Fifty-Three, way before any white guys were smoking it," he claims) and cocaine (he was high during the "Saturday Night Live" premiere, he admits). The seminar ends with a plug by the comic for his upcoming book.

Biography George Carlin was born in 1937 in New York City. He began his career in professional radio in the fifties and in 1960 started to perform his satirical comedy routines in nightclubs with his partner Jack Burns. It was with Burns that Carlin made his first appearance on "The Tonight Show." In 1962 Carlin embarked on a solo career, and he began to get extensive television exposure in the mid-sixties, appearing on such programs as "The Merv Griffin Show," "The Mike Douglas Show," and "Kraft Summer Music Hall." By the late sixties, influenced and inspired by the growing counterculture, Carlin allowed his rebellious side to come through, and his tone grew more irreverent. In 1970 he was fired from the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas for saying "shit." In this period he developed some of his most famous comic personalities, including Al Sleet the Hippy Dippy Weatherman. In the late seventies, Carlin pushed the envelope even further on cable television, especially in his groundbreaking HBO comedy specials. It was during this time that he performed his notorious "Seven Words" routine.

Carlin's live performances, gold albums (including "FM" & "AM" and "Class Clown"), and television appearances have earned him CableACE awards, an Emmy, and a Grammy. Carlin has also earned a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, about which he commented, "I like it because it's a tangible recognition. I only hope no one throws up on it." He continues to perform in HBO comedy specials and has written best-selling comedy books. He performs over150 concerts per year. This selection from the Alan Gerry Cable Collection has been made available by the Gerry Foundation, Inc.

Details

  • NETWORK: Paley
  • DATE: February 5, 2001 7:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:32:52
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:63180
  • GENRE: Seminars
  • SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
  • SERIES RUN: N/A
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Robert M. Batscha … Host
  • George Carlin … Guest
  • Lenny Bruce
  • Merv Griffin
  • Danny Kaye
  • Jerry Lewis
  • Richard Pryor