George Carlin was a pillar of counterculture media for his long and prolific career. Although he's no longer with us, his spirit lives on in the television shows he wrote, the movies he starred in, and the various comedy specials that are still referenced today. Virtually every comedy skit show and several modern comedians have been inspired by his genius.
Geroge Carlin was one of the pioneers of the comedy special as we now know it, and HBO was one of the first channels to sponsor the innovative new medium. Ranking the best George Carlin specials isn't just difficult, it's ridiculous because they're all equally great. Here are a few of the best times that George Carlin was playin' with our heads.
Updated September 6, 2022 by Kristy Ambrose: Both technology and nostalgia appear to have the same reach these days, and more of George Carlin's television and cable specials are available via the magic of the internet and streaming services. Much of George Carlin's older material is coming to light aftrer years of obscurity, igniting a new intrest in his work. Not all of these compilations and stand-up specials are digitally remastered, at least not yet, but the material is just as great as it always was.
11 Playin' With Your Head (1986)
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This is an aptly named special, with most of the subject matter being language and how it's used and misused. It sounds tame, but Carlin brilliantly applies this to some personal and social situations with hilarious and often cringe-worthy consequences.
Although the special was filmed in the 1980s, the monochrome colors and minimalist background make it look more like the early 1990s. As funny as the subject matter is, it might be preferable to some fans as audio. Despite the decor, this is considered by many fans to be some of George Carlin's best stand-up routines.
10 George Carlin At USC (1977)
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This isn't just a great special, it's a look back to when cable TV was an experimental concept. Carlin actually opens the show by talking about "making a tape to watch later" and he's referring to the show being taped for a new channel called HBO.
Some versions even include a warning for viewers that might be more sensitive to the racy subject matter and language. Carlin doesn't shy away from taboo subjects that would even raise eyebrows today, and even at the beginning, he was talking about a subversive view of American culture.
9 Life is Worth Losing (2005)
Lucky number thirteen on the list of HBO specials featuring George Carlin, this is also one of his more cynical forays into the depths of human nature. In a way, it recalls a lot of his earlier shows where he plays on words and exposes the hypocrisies, silliness, and general stupidity of people, government, and institutions, and there are still alot of laughs to be had in spite of the dark material.
The live taping of this show has an interesting history, telling a story of a welcoming foray of applause for Carlin that went on so long it took a while for the show to actually begin. Several false starts had to be edited out of the final product that fans will find these days.
8 It's Bad For Ya (2008)
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It's thirty years later, and Carlin isn't any less pissed off. He opens by throwing shade at several public figures and a few of the sports heroes that were trending at the time for the wrong reasons. Getting old certainly hasn't discouraged him either, as he continues by extolling the advantages of being an "old f*ck."
It's hard to believe that this special was recorded only a few months before his passing. He's just as sharp and articulate as ever, and his voice has all the manic energy of earlier specials.
7 You Are All Diseased (1999)
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Carlin is at his dark and cynical best in this special, which was recorded at a time when HBO comedy specials and jitters about the turn of the century were at their peak. The size of the venue and the reaction of the audience are an indication of Carlin's popularity.
This is the show that starts out with the "Complaint Department" bit, and the various segments are eerily prescient. Carlin talks about germs, domestic terrorism, and airport security, among other things.
6 Back In Town (1996)
More than any other of the vintage specials, this one is getting some extra attention in the present day because of the opening rant regarding abortion. Even at the time, it was a topic that not a lot of public figures in entertainment or politics were willing to talk about.
Today, Carlin's words sound like deeper wisdom, and that's terrifying in a way because he also sounds like a raving but hilarious maniac for most of this show. The dark turn that would signify his 21st century comedy had already taken a firm hold as part of his comeback in the late 1990s.
5 Carlin At Carnegie (1982)
Comedians in the early 1980s had to have props, which explains the exploding fruit of Gallagher and the bunny ears of Steve Martin. That's also why this special occasionally features Carlin sitting behind a simple wooden desk mimicking a news anchor.
There's a lot of material in this show that resonates with Carlin's later comedy, such as the way language is used socially. The bit about the fine line between clean language and curse words is the one that makes this particular show famous, and it's one of the reasons that every segment of this show is preceded by a warning about the content.
4 Complaints And Grievances (2001)
Despite the tense social environment at the time, George could still do almost everything he wanted. Almost. The original title for this special was "I Kinda Like It When a Lot of People Die" but the events of 9/11 prompted a change.
Not to say that Carlin dodges the subject. Like every sensitive issue, he faces it head-on, taking on the jingoistic cliches that dominated the political discourse of the time and challenging the assumption that more security meant more safety.
3 On Location: George Carlin at Phoenix (1978)
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The On Location series was a whole library of performances by the nation's most popular comedians as one of HBO's earliest projects. Since they're also taped live, are uncensored, and often include some backstage footage along with interviews and reactions from fans, these shows can be filed under the documentary genre as often as comedy.
Present copies of this particular episode of On Location exist but they aren't exactly top quality, and that's a part of the charm. The 1970s was a different time and place, and the energy of daring new concepts like Home Box Office was authentic and alive. The audio on this show is just fine despite the old video, and that is what's really important anyway.
2 What Am I Doing In New Jersey? (1988)
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This is one of the George Carlin specials that was filmed during a time when it was customary to open the HBO version of the show with a brief dramatic interlude. Carlin is taking a cab to New Jersey, and he clearly doesn't want to go, likening the experience to "something to do with original sin."
Carlin played at Madison Square Garden several times, but this was the one special where he singled out his home of New York for some good-natured teasing. The venue of the Paramount Theater is a small one, which is perhaps why this is one of the first specials that showed more of the audience and Carlin himself.
1 Jammin' In New York (1992)
Carlin goes right for the jugular from the first moment, in this case, the Gulf War. He doesn't just talk about the war in general but takes on plenty of social issues that he felt infected not only people on an individual level but also American foreign policy.
Carlin is at the height of his popularity and talent during this period, wearing head-to-toe black and ranting with righteous fury. Not only that, it's apparent that he's enjoying the home crowd in New York City's Madison Square Garden. As far as ranking the best George Carlin specials, this was one of his personal favorites.