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As Seen On TV

Attell: Carlin Was Comedy's Founding Father

By Victor Balta
Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:42:37 GMT

Dave Attell

By Julie Zied, Fancast.com

While out promoting his upcoming Comedy Central remake of the classic Gong Show at the TV critics press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif., funny man Dave Attell talked about the influence of the late great comedian George Carlin.

"He was the George Washington of today's comedy," Attell said. "People think of him as an icon, which is so true, and the comedy we all do now is because of him. The amount of material he pushed out was incredible, HBO specials every two years, at least 12 specials, and I just did one and I'm exhausted. I don't know where he could get the material for that, and do such an incredible job. He had real points to make about the world we live in."

And if the legend were still alive, would Attell want him as a guest judge on The Gong Show?

"Yes, I think it works best if there's a porn star, a comic, and then someone else, like a foreign guy: the Mexican Tom Cruise, for instance; the guy who does the dubbing for Tom Cruise movies in Mexico. He'd give a different slant on it. I want that guy."

The Gong Show premieres on Comedy Central on Thursday July 17, at 10 p.m.


*** What do you think? Do you agree with Attell's take on Carlin's influence? Are you excited about a remake of "The Gong Show"? Click here to comment!

****** Victor Balta and Tracy Phillips are blogging live from the TV critics press tour. What do you want to know about your favorite shows? Let us know. Click here to ask about your favorite TV shows!


More from the TV critics press tour:





Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 07-10-2008 01:25 PM

Comment

Carlin may be revered by comics but to this comedy fan, he was most notable for his apparent complete lack of any degree of self respect. There was no line that was too low for him, even if the humor content was minimal. Example: Have you ever noticed that the women who are against abortion are so ugly, you wouldn't want to f**k them anyway?

Maybe the comedy audience falls into two groups, those who think that line is funny, and those who regard it as being extremely un-funny, plus offensive, ugly, and the product of a human being who was apparently sadly deficient emotionally, or mentally, or both.

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:41:31 GMT | Dark_Horse

Comment

I feel so sorry for the black youth.
What their elders and their Church teaches them.
How Obama was at a Church for 20 years listening to the teaching of his priest and quits his own Church just because of what others said. If he believed all of that, why did he quit when the priest sermons got out.
I don't think those kinds of teachings just go away after 20 years.
If someone (blacks)wants you to listen to just blacks and not others(whites) because of the color of their skin,
How then are we suppose to live together.
How are Black youths suppose to feel comfortable with whites if this is what they are being taught by their own family and Churches. I feel sorry for the white youth having to deal with different rules then the blacks.
Colleges giving blacks 20pts. when trying to enter a college just because their black. Blacks have more options then whites to get in to a college or jobs. There should be no reason for them not to be quailified on their own skills.What does that do to the white kid?
Blacks use the N word. YOUR family died for that word.
Why would you want to use it again.
The black kids today never had to sit at the back of the bus. but yet they are being brainwashed by family and Churches that they are owed this SPECIAL Privelage from the whites. If your child was hurt, and the only Dr. around was white, Would you let the white Dr. treat your child?

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:14:58 GMT | Quarter

Comment

A George Washington he wasn't! Attell is off his rocker!

George Carlin couldn't make it with the real comedians so he debased himself to appeal to those who were on a "natural high". Carlin was part of what is wrong with today's comedy.

He, however, had a great story-telling voice and did a pretty good job as Narrator on some of the episodes of "Thomas and Friends" on PBSprout (children's public television).

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:38:28 GMT | jazzyt

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