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George Carlin
with special
guest Dennis Laird
A Comedy Review |
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It was finally warm, downright hot,
on a Saturday, and yours truly decided golf was in order for the
afternoon.
 Eighteen
holes later, no sunscreen, a few too many beers instead of water,
and this reviewer felt like shit. But, I had a job to do, and that
was to down a couple-five glasses of water, and head out to the
Paramount Arts Centre (right across from the Hollywood Riverboat
Casino!) in Aurora, Illinois, and listen to the comedic wonders of
George Carlin.
Arriving early, I met some friends (I have a few of them -
although they say they just invite me along out of pity - oh well),
we met at this cool new place called Walter Payton's Roundhouse,
basically a converted railroad roundhouse turned into a
bar/restaurant. Not having much time, I ordered a cheeseburger and
an iced tea. I'm only telling you all this because that was one
tasty cheeseburger, damn near one of the tastiest I've ever had. I
must make it a point to return and give a full review, but, sorry, I
digress.
Snarfing down the cheeseburger, it was across a couple of
streets, and I took my seat eagerly awaiting the antics and raving
of George.
But, I had to wait a little longer because up first was a rather
funny comedian in his own right, Dennis Laird. Dennis' act is built
around a guitar and some rather funny songs about life in our times.
Quite a few good laughs were built around the "Karaoke - I sing
better when I'm drunk" song, nice little numbers wailing on all
types of political figures - like the "Gimme Crack Now"
for Marion Barry, and of course, any comedic performance wouldn't be
complete without a few good Unabomber jokes. All in all, Dennis
Laird was pretty funny, and I'd even go see him again. If he's in
your town, check him out. He gets ONE THUMB UP!
But it was George Carlin I, and everyone else, eagerly awaited,
even though I was now feeling like sunstroke had set him.
George Carlin always had a way of throwing humor into the
seemingly stupid world of political correctness, and this show was
no different. His segment on "People I Can Do Without"
touches on way too many nerves and the society we live in. He wants
to get rid of boy scout masters with dildo shops, guys with names on
their belts, people with large gums and small teeth, and women with
arm-hair. I have to say, I agree, I can do without them too.
Rolling right along, Carlin moved into "English
Expressions" that make no sense. When can one be "legally
drunk," when have hotcakes ever sold fast enough to warrant
"selling like hotcakes," and when something "takes
the cake," where are
 you
taking it. My favorite, though, had to be "greatest thing since
sliced bread." I've said it a million times, but George made me
realize there is one better - what about the lava lamp. So now,
thanks to George, I am going to lead a crusade in the new saying
"it's the greatest thing since the lava lamp!" The crowd
loved George, every biting moment, even moving into the next group
of comments on human life.
George Carlin has this great nack of tacking everyday, human
events, and it's not really building a joke around it, it's showing
how we all act the same, and that it's those occurrences where the
joke is. Things like toe-nail clippings that magically shoot across
the room, how all day Wednesday you think it is Thursday, how you
can never tell a person exactly where tha C">
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