Bulletin … bulletin … bulletin!
June 23, 2008
In memory of George Carlin, here’s an almost surreal bit of black-and-white TV.
It’s Carlin, just 29, doing “Wonderful WINO” on ABC’s “Hollywood Palace” on Saturday, Dec. 10, 1966.
The then-clean cut comedian is introduced as “one of the best” by (believe it or not) Jimmy Durante.
Less than six years later, Carlin, sporting long hair and a mustache, would be arrested in Milwaukee, Wis., on obscenity charges for doing his “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” routine from his brand new album “Class Clown.”
The charges against Carlin were later dismissed, and if the Great Schnozzola was offended, he didn’t say anything.
Goodnight, Mr. Carlin, wherever you are:
P.S.: Contrary to popular belief, New York’s WBAI-FM wasn’t cited for playing “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” over the air. In fact, on Oct. 30. 1973, the station played Carlin’s monologue “Filthy Words,” from his latest album “Occupation: Foole.”
A listener complained to the FCC, and the resulting court case, FCC v. Pacifica Foundation, established the current (though nebulous) legal standards for broadcast obscenity.
