Let's pretend for a moment that you never saw George Carlin perform stand up. Even if you never saw one of his HBO specials or never heard his "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television," it's highly likely you know George Carlin. My son knows George Carlin, only he knows him as Mr. Conductor. From Rufus to Cardinal Ignatius Glick, here are some Carlin characters beyond the stand up.
Rufus in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
I loved "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" and "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey" and George Carlin played Rufus in both films. Rufus was the guitar-playing guru who guided Bill and Ted and he was great.
Mr. Conductor in Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends
If you have kids, you know Thomas the Tank Engine. George Carlin played Mr. Conductor who narrated these stories. Other narrators include Ringo Starr and Alec Baldwin, but Carlin was the best.
Munchie in The Simpsons
In D'oh-in in the Wind, George Carlin and Martin Mull played a couple of hippies who knew Homer's mom back in the '60s. This is the episode where we learn Homer's middle name. It was great Carlin who was previous lampooned by The Simpsons in The Last Temptation of Krust.
Cardinal Ignatius Glick in Dogma
The Buddy Christ is hilarious. Carlin is also great as the hitchhiker in "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back". Here's the text of Carlin's Dogma speech for those who can't watch the video below.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now we all know how the majority and the media in this country view the Catholic church. They think of us as a passe, archaic institution. People find the Bible obtuse... even hokey. Now in an effort to disprove all that the church has appointed this year as a time of renewal... both of faith and of style. For example, the crucifix. While it has been a time honored symbol of our faith, Holy Mother Church has decided to retire this highly recognizable, yet wholly depressing image of our Lord crucified. Christ didn't come to Earth to give us the willies... He came to help us out. He was a booster. And it is with that take on our Lord in mind that we've come up with a new, more inspiring sigil. So it is with great pleasure that I present you with the first of many revamps the "Catholicism WOW. " campaign will unveil over the next year. I give you... The Buddy Christ. Now that's not the sanctioned term we're using for the symbol, just something we've been kicking around the office, but look at it. Doesn't it... pop? Buddy Christ...
Carlin was smart and funny and he had that great voice. Even if you've never seen him perform, you knew George Carlin.
