George Carlin's comedic journey takes the stage
NEW YORK >> For comedians of a certain age, there was one album that was worn out on the turntable, dutifully memorized and acted out. That was George Carlin's signature “Class Clown.”
“The way George Carlin looked at the world and broke it down taught so many of us how to be comedians,” said Judd Apatow. “He injected the software into our brains about how to think as a comic.”
Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio have teamed up to honor Carlin, the dean of counterculture comedians, by directing the twopart HBO documentary “George Carlin's American Dream.” The first half aired Friday, with the second on Saturday.
“For most people, he is on our Mount Rushmore of comedy,” said Apatow, whose contributions include “The 40-Year Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up.” “He is definitely one of the best thinkers but also writers and performers that comedy has ever had.”
The documentary traces the rise and multiple rebirths of Carlin, from mainstream, groomed comic in a skinny tie and slicked-back hair to bearded, long-haired provocateur.
That change — from playing a mocking hippiedippy weatherman on variety shows to a more authentic comedian talking about power, language and human foibles — took its toll.
“He took a big hit financially,” said Apatow. “He was making $12,500 a week in Las Vegas in the late '60s. That's crazy money. And it went from that to getting paid almost nothing in coffeehouses in Greenwich Village.”
The documentary also plainly discusses Carlin's wicked coke habit and personal turmoil. Kelly Carlin, the comedian's daughter, would have it no other way.
“I think we're all better off when we take people off a pedestal — not to take them down, but to raise ourselves up to their level,” said Kelly Carlin, who co-executive produced the series.
An A-list of comedians are interviewed, all attesting to Carlin's genius, including Jon Stewart, Paul Reiser, Stephen Wright, Alex Winter, Paul Provenza, Robert Klein, Bill Burr, Bette Midler, Kevin Smith, Stephen Colbert, Hasan Minhaj and Judy Gold.