Comedians honor(?) Carlin at Twain fete

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on November 12th, 2008

The Washington Post’s account of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (to the late George Carlin) ceremony on Monday night contains this sweet story from presenter Lewis Black:

Black recalled that he couldn’t persuade his elderly father to travel to a ceremony at which Black was to receive a comedy award. Told that Carlin would be there, his father lit up. “Do you think I could meet him?” asked Black’s dad. Told he could, the old man eagerly agreed to the trip. “An 82-year-old groupie!” Black said last night, concluding, “Without your presence among us, George, the world is a less funny place.”

Author Paul Farhi noted that there was much foul language. And, in a somewhat incomprehensible move on the part of the Kennedy Center, the producers showed Carlin’s “Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television” clip and bleeped out the naughty words. We’re aware that a pared down version of the proceedings will be shown on public television in April, but did they really have to bleep it for the folks actually in the house? Especially when the folks who are presenting seem unconcerned about editing their speech. If you’re worried that those in attendance will be offended by foul language, perhaps you should think twice about giving the award to Carlin. But who in their right mind would attend a ceremony to honor Carlin and expect any kind of proscription of language?

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