George Carlin

[mduffy31]

I am just watching my TiVO version of last nights show. First of all brillant as always, but I noticed that he looks a little puffy. Has anyone heard anything about his recent health? I know he spent a little time in rehab over an addiction to Vicodin, but I haven't heard anything else.

[helderheid]

1. no idea but he was funny as hell

[AlCzervik]

2. he is getting older but he is on top of his game, that show was

excellent.

[LuCifer]

3. vicodin and wine?

I thought it was vicodin and wine? He checked himself in to the rehab cuz he thought it was gonna just get worse and become a problem.

Lu

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Yes his face definitely was puffy

and it seems his age is catching up with him a bit. However, he was still brilliant and fiesty has ever. Very political too.

[Atman]

5. Prednisone

He's likely got some sort of cancer. Prednisone is a steriod given to cancer patients and one of it's side effects is "moon face." This according to my wife, an APRN, who also immediately noticed his puffy-ness. Also, on his recent Bill Maher appearance, he made some comment about his ill health, if I remember correctly.

[Kahuna]

11. Could also be a respiratory condition requiring prednisone.

nt

[mduffy31]

14. That is what I thought too...

I am a nurse as well and the first thing I thought of was that he was on prednisone so that is why I asked if anyone had heard if he was having health problems. As far as the post about him and suicide, that has been a part of his act for a long time, so i wouldn't read too much into it that he is contemplating it. During and interview with Imus he stated that the fact that he did lose his wife is why he has been writing so much lately. He started when she was sick and he was home with her, and he liked it so much that is why he continued doing it. One more thing that I like about him is that he is almost bulletproof from the morals and values crowd because this is a man from "hollywood" who stayed married to the same woman till she passed away, and he still wears his wedding band. Just like all of us I would hope do if we had lost our significant other, I know I would be lost without my wife.

[Webster Green]

6. Genius...

He is one of the great philosophers of our time.

That was a great show!

[Sal Minella]

7. Carlin's book "Brain Droppings" is good to snack on frequently.

The man's mind exists in several other dimensions, somehow.

I had the good luck to see him live in Des Moines. He had a gigantic auditorium full of diverse types in thrall -- lots of young people, I was surprised and pleased.

[mduffy31]

15. All are good

Napalm and Silly Putty and WWJBTPC, long title, I love just the little sections of random thoughts. They are good if you in the bath, sitting on the throne whatever and you don't want heavy reading. Everytime I read it I just think, motherfucker, why didn't I think of that.

[Sal Minella]

26. I didn't know he'd written more than one book -- "Brain Droppings"

has enough in it to keep me thinking the rest of my life.......

[Totally Committed]

8. His wife recently died.

It could be that he's depressed by that. He also recently checked into a detox clinic and went cold-turkey off a number of "substances". This "puffy" look often happens because sometimes to ease the transition to sobriety, a person will substitute candy or sugary foods for the "substance" for a mini-rush of energy. This need often wears off after about a year, and the person goes back to looking less "puffy" and either slims back down, or goes on to become obese, depending on their propensity. Given what he always says about fat people, my guess is he'll slim down.

I did notice that his "comedy" was extremely dark. Mostly it dwelled on suicide. His political satire was even laced with death and suicide references. I hope he is being monitored by a therapist or someone who has some influence with him. With what I saw last night, I am franklly worried for him.

Yes, his political stuff was brilliant as always, but that wasn't comedy. I didn't get one laugh or chuckle out of it. I said the odd "bravo!" here and there, but mainly I winced at his meanness, his negativity, and his dwelling on death and suicide. I am worried for him.

TC

[Sarah Ibarruri]

9. His wife died in 1997 of liver cancer and he didn't work for 1 year...

after that. I love George Carlin and hope he's okay.

[Totally Committed]

22. 1997? Wow... thought it was more recent than that.

Hmmmmmmmm... Still think it's the detox thing, though.

TC

[Kahuna]

10. I noticed the puffiness too. Looks like steriods..

I hope he doesn't have a repertory condition. My dad had that and that steroids look.

[smirkymonkey]

12. "When will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?"

His latest book which has fundies in an uproar.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/1401301347/ref=cm_cr_dp_pt/102-1004954-9918530?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

[Swamp Rat]

17. LOL!

I love it! :D

[Midnight Rambler]

13. Um... he's 70

At that age, you're health tends to start to fade, no matter how fit you are.

[No Exit]

16. I dunno, but have you noticed that Bush is addicted to alcohol?

Which one has more influence on what happens to us?

I don't know how Carlin is; at least he hasn't gone deaf from snorting Oxycontin, as has Rush Limbaugh.

[mduffy31]

19. ?

You don't know who George Carlin is. Forgive me, but I must ask have you been living under a rock for the last 40 years. He has been one of the most brilliant comedians for the last 40 years.

[No Exit]

20. Didn't say that.

I watched Carlin last night. He looked great, from where I sit.

Why are you taking time to obsess over/pry into whether Carlin is "addicted" to Vicodin? How is this your business?

If you want to talk addicts, you'll find some who are PROVEN addicts among republican leaders and their cheerleaders. The first one you'll run across is George W. Bush, who is an admitted alcohol addict.

[mduffy31]

21. Relax

I misunderstood, and as far as prying about his addiction, he has been very forthright about it. He came right out and said that he didn't have a problem, but he could see it becoming a problem. So he is as you put it a PROVEN addict. I was asking a question about his other health. This is a guy who is very upfront about himself. That is what I was asking.

[No Exit]

23. But why not comment first on the fact that he was GREAT?

Because he was.

It's almost like someone has to make a pre-emptive strike against anyone who has the cojones to get out there in front of millions, and SAY that this current government is a disaster.

Questions about the messenger can be asked later. I say, first, listen to the MESSAGE.

[mduffy31]

25. Look at the OP

It says "..first of all brilliant..." so how is that not me saying that it is great.

[No Exit]

27. Says it in a dismissive way, with the bulk of the post devoted to

asking irrelevant questions about his personal life.

We have a right to know about the personal life of elected officials. We don't have a right to know about the personal life of non-elected, privately-employed comedians.

That's why I think the discussion should've been about Bush's KNOWN and PROVEN alcoholism, and not Carlin's POSSIBLE or RUMORED "addiction".

[IChing]

18. "The American Dream"

"You have to be asleep to believe it." from last nights show.

[ldf]

24. ONLY george carlin

could get away with humorizing (is there such a word?) last nights topics.

very dark humor. but an excellent show.

and think about it. i DO believe fox could get mass voluteers for a mass suicide, for a new "reality" show. just for a gizmo and to be on teeVEE.

my, how we have sunk to new lows.... as george says, we ARE a dumb populace, and we love it. just like those in control, want it.

:shrug: