What are you watching right now?

[Cavaliere (moderator emeritus)]

Criminal Minds: "Amplification"

[Jeff of Earth-J]

I learned a lot about George Carlin that I didn't previously know in part one and am looking forward to part two tonight. I went to see him once, at the Westport Playhouse in St. Louis. It was a triple bill with Elaine Boosler and Marsha Warfield. I am reminded that, when I was in the sixth grade variety show, I memorized a George Carlin stand-up routine (the one about "Indian Sergeants"). 

[Richard Willis]

I'm adding the Carlin doc to my tobewatched list.

[Jeff of Earth-J]

I thought you might, Richard. Part two got kind of dark toward the end. I'll share something about George Carlin many of you may not know unless you have seen him live. (I didn't know it until I saw him live.) There are some routines he is known for that have never appeared on any album or any HBO special or any recording of any kind (he explained), and that is, he does lots of material about his pets. Funny stuff, too, but unless you've seen a show in parson you might not know that.

When I was a kid, my brother had Toledo Window Box, Occupation: Foole and Class Clown on vinyl. He brought them home from college and that's how I fell in love with them. I bought an album myself called Take-Offs & Put-Ons which comprised a lot of his early, cleaner material. (That's where I learned the "Indian Sergeant" routine and the "Hippy-Dippy Weatherman" and much more. At our sixth grade "graduation" ceremony, when the teacher was handing out certificates for math and English and whatnot, the certificate she gave said that I had "excelled in as Class Comedian." I was really pleased with that (I still have it), and I was only a little disappointed that it didn't say "Class Clown." 

I don't have any of his comedy albums anymore, but I do have a "book on tape" of him reading Napalm & Silly Putty. I have all three of his books. I have read the first two twice each, but I've been holding the third in reserve for when I really,. really need it. That time may be near; I feel as if it's getting closer every day. 

[The Baron]

The first George Carlin routine I remember hearing was "Al Sleet, your hippy-dippy weatherman with all the hippy-dippy weather, man".

[Jeff of Earth-J]

"Tomorrow's high: whenever I get up."

[The Baron]

"I wouldn't sweat the thunder showers."

Jeff of Earth-J said:

"Tomorrow's high: whenever I get up."

[Doctor Hmmm?]

I started watching this last night. It took me back to being ... I dunno, 13 or 14 and being at a party at a friend's house with "Class Clown" on the stereo in the background. Apart from the juvenile thrill of hearing an adult using dirty words in jokes, I remember feeling that I was listening to something that was just in a class by itself. A sort of artistry that I could sense even if I didn't completely understand it.