2008 Woodie Awards
Stewart takes up Carlin's mantle as king of political satire
Sean Irwin
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Commentary
On June 22, George Carlin passed away, marking the end of his 50-year reign as the king of stand-up comedy. Carlin's material had run the gamut from portraying Al Sleet, Carlin's suspiciously mellow "hippy-dippy weatherman," to delivering some of the most incendiary religious and socio-political humor out there. Carlin was universally respected for his ability to decry hypocrisy and corruption in high places with facts, history, simple logic and a generous helping of vulgarity.
Who now will be the one to wear the crown of political satire?
The answer is Jon Stewart, lead anchor and writer of Comedy Central's much-beloved "fake" news program "The Daily Show." In case you've been living in a hole, which Stewart called "the soundest real-estate investment possible" on Sept. 23, "The Daily Show" writers and cast pride themselves on skewering major political figures and their constituents with their own words.
Stewart is also a major fan of Carlin and hosted Carlin's "40 Years of Comedy" TV retrospective in 1997, two years before "The Daily Show" debut. Carlin, recognizing a kindred spirit, said to Stewart, "you are going to show us a lot, and I look forward to it." This was prophetic.
George Carlin was not simply the king of a generation of hard-hitting political comedy, but one of its founding fathers along with Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor. In fact, Carlin's comedic career spanned several generations, 14 HBO specials, and, more to the point, several presidencies.
Carlin had always been outspoken, but it was his infamous "seven words you can never say on television," a gleefully profane 1972 sketch that earned him perhaps his most notoriety. His subsequent arrest for obscenity and fines from the Federal Commerce Commission made Carlin a legendary folk hero among comedians.
The charges were dismissed, but the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the FCC's decision to fine Carlin for obscenity. Carlin used his experiences to fuel increasingly rebellious material.
Who now will be the one to wear the crown of political satire?
The answer is Jon Stewart, lead anchor and writer of Comedy Central's much-beloved "fake" news program "The Daily Show." In case you've been living in a hole, which Stewart called "the soundest real-estate investment possible" on Sept. 23, "The Daily Show" writers and cast pride themselves on skewering major political figures and their constituents with their own words.
Stewart is also a major fan of Carlin and hosted Carlin's "40 Years of Comedy" TV retrospective in 1997, two years before "The Daily Show" debut. Carlin, recognizing a kindred spirit, said to Stewart, "you are going to show us a lot, and I look forward to it." This was prophetic.
George Carlin was not simply the king of a generation of hard-hitting political comedy, but one of its founding fathers along with Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor. In fact, Carlin's comedic career spanned several generations, 14 HBO specials, and, more to the point, several presidencies.
Carlin had always been outspoken, but it was his infamous "seven words you can never say on television," a gleefully profane 1972 sketch that earned him perhaps his most notoriety. His subsequent arrest for obscenity and fines from the Federal Commerce Commission made Carlin a legendary folk hero among comedians.
The charges were dismissed, but the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the FCC's decision to fine Carlin for obscenity. Carlin used his experiences to fuel increasingly rebellious material.
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