George Carlin hates Vegas

Years ago George Carlin was funny, creative & innovative. First tier: right up there with Lenny Bruce & Richard Pryor. His influence on several generations of comics is well known. I've seen the man 10 times, but no more.

The man still has the capability to be very funny, but he is so bitter, negative & bleak that the act is actually painful to watch. His voice at one time had great range as he utilized it to full effect with his characters. Now it only emits these grizzly guttural tones.

Carlin doesn't realize the 1970's are long gone, but at age 70's he's a creepy, creaky, cranky, caricature of his former hip & creative self. Also, the uniform he wears makes him look even sillier, you have this aging, grey beard wearing jeans and a black tee shirt, he resembles a homeless man rather than a legendary comedian. Moreover he sounds heartless & hateful.

This guy is class and he will make you laugh. I can't stand vegas. and i want to buy his DVD's George keep up what you do. You will make me live forever! Thanks!

Only in America can someone sell a rehearsal as a regular show. I have nothing but respect for Carlin, and understand the age thing, but crib notes while on stage? Give your audience more than that please.

All is not what it seems with Mr. Carlin. In fact, he owns a home in Las Vegas. Strange that someone would own a home in a city he considers "soul deadening." Perhaps this is Mr. Carlin adding to his stage persona.

Ha ha .
Owning and Loathing in Vegas.

The man is 70 years old and still performs acts consisting of completely new material. Do you morons have any idea how freaking hard that is to do? You may think comedy is easy but we're not talking about your famous 'jay-walking' anecdote you mangle every Thanksgiving. Give the man his props, he deserves every one of them. Dog bless ya, George!

I saw this performance and I didn't think the notes were a big deal - he barely glanced at them. I think he is wise to get his HBO performance ready by trying out certain jokes on a real audience.

Wade Collins: His comedy is funny because it is real, and in reality people are bitter and negative, he just has the guts to say what lots of other people are thinking. And are you really bringing up his fashion sense?!?! LOL So you think he'd be funnier if he dressed in designer suits?

commenter Al: I doubt you were at the show because it couldn't be called a rehearsal. It was the best comedy act I've seen in Vegas in a long time. Using "crib notes" didn't give the audience anything less, and will help him give an even better performance on the HBO special, which is a MUCH more important performance than the Orleans.

Greg C : I wanted to check your claim about him owning a home here. He owns a condo in the Las Vegas Country Club that he bought in 1999. To me that doesn't imply that he loves Las Vegas, rather that he'd prefer to stay in his own private residence over some generic strip hotel room when he's performing here.

Thanks, Sarah, for doing some research and confirming I'm right. In fact, the "condo" you speak of is actually located in the exclusive Regency Tower, where a number of Las Vegas' richest residents own units. Your theory that Mr. Carlin eschews the entertainers suites provided to headliners by Las Vegas resorts is somewhat novel. However his ownership of property in Las Vegas clearly makes his complaints about the city look suspiciously like a part of his fabricated show business identity. It's not the first time someone in entertainment has done it.

"Using "crib notes" didn't give the audience anything less, and will help him give an even better performance on the HBO special, which is a MUCH more important performance than the Orleans."

So the paying audience is less important than HBO? Sarah, that's not how it works. The audience paid for a performance, they got a rehearsal, with crib notes no less. Orleans should refund the tickets, and have Carlin pay for use of the facility like any other rehearsal space.

Don't make excuses for a man that can well afford to pay for what he uses. He's in SHOW biz, so he should at least pretend to put on a proper show.

Thanks Sarah for explaining how comedy works. Your world must be pretty bleak. Like I said I've seen George likely more than any of you, I know funny & George still can be funny briefly, but he's so dark it skews his humor. Yes he looks like a street bum, and I think it does matter when you're 70 years old. But that's a minor point, Carlin is a hypocrite. He's bagged on Vegas, George its a free country go work somewhere else. All I can say is never again, I won't waste my money on the old guy.

I didn't attempt to explain how comedy works, I explained why I like his comedy. And my world isn't bleak, I'm just realistic. I'm actually amused that you accuse him of being "heartless and hateful" when you are the one with the insults and negative comments.

Sarah - are you a friend of the columnist? Your comments get approved, my respones to them do not. So far I don't see how they differ much in tone or quality.

Al: It wasn't at all like a rehearsal, George had a great performance. Were you even there?

Hi Al. Sarah Is the photographer for Movable Buffet. Greg C., who seems to be on the other side of this, is a former colleague. I don't think I have an opinion on this argument beyond my view that I found Carlin extremely funny, and in no way felt like I was at a practice concert. He clearly cares about getting his wording exactly right, and, as a writer, I can identify.

The reason your response was not posted sooner was that it was lost behind two entire screens of Beacher praising comments that pushed you off my viewing page. I have since caught up. Sorry, for the delay. There was nothing sinister in it. Yrs., Richard

The indefatigable Sarah Gerke speaks!

So Richard, a question: There is no photo credit attached to the Carlin picture. Has Ms. Gerke put down her Pentax and picked up the proverbial pen? Is this picture exclusive to The Buffet, or merely bought from a stock photography site?

The suspense is killing me, man!

I saw the show. Enjoyed the warm up commedian. George, was well, George. Older, more political and hard edged. Many would be shocked by some of the things he said. Some things bothered me, but I did laugh at most of his material. I will probably watch his next HBO special just to see the finished product, but to be sure, George is not as young, or as clever or as funny as he used to be. Neither am I. That's a shame.

I always loved George when I was younger and he's still extremely bright, intelligent and quick, but now he's very bitter and seems to hate everything. EVERYTHING. To curse God etc (and I'm not a religious person) isn't really all that funny.
Instead of performing, he should write a book about his years as a comedian. He's so angry that most of his act isn't funny anymore.

Liz Goode has a suggestion and hopes Richard will pass it along to George Carlin:

I thought you were one of the funniest people on the planet when you gave us the "7 words you can't say on television." I'd love to experience the thrill again, and would like you to consider working up a new routine called "the 7 (or 11, or..) words you can't say unless you want to have your phone tapped." I think it would be pertinent and impertinent , and exactly because of this you could do it up exactly right and make us cry with glee again.

Count me a fan, man.

And P.S. - feel free to pass my email address along to George, please, Richard, if you would be so kind.