Ryan ChartrandFollowing an impressive performance from opening act singer-songwriter Vance Gilbert, the crowd at Cal Poly’s Performing Arts Center anxiously awaited the evening’s main attraction, comedian George Carlin.
At approximately 10:30 p.m., Carlin stepped onto the stage to a tumult of thunderous applause, cheers and whistles.
As he referred periodically to the table and notes on his right, Carlin explained he was working with a host of brand-new material. He said he wanted to make sure the audience got a great show without the B.S. mistakes. He then looked at the crowd and, in classic Carlin sarcasm, explained: “Not that it really matters, because let’s face it, I’m here for me, you’re here for me, now let’s move on.”
At 70 years old, Carlin’s in-your-face, take-no-prisoners brand of humor is still as fresh today as it was in the 1970s.
Carlin zoomed effortlessly through opening bits such as “The Three Dirtiest Jokes Anyone Can Tell,” labeling each with a one-word distinction accordingly: 1) vile; 2) disturbing; and 3) disgusting.
Following the punch lines of the second and third jokes, some audience members were left with a somewhat mixed reaction. Carlin brilliantly pointed out that those people who “ooohed” would be the same ones telling the joke later on at midnight.
“That is so true,” said Norberto Garcia Jr. of Atascadero. “It’s like (Carlin) knows how to really read people and he is able to put that into his comedy.”
Carlin had the audience roaring with laughter to other comedy routines such as “What’s Wrong With Today’s Children,” “How To Get Out Of B.S. Conversations,” and “Classic Words And Phrases.”
Carlin’s brand of humor does not beg forgiveness. He speaks what is on his mind and does not worry about offending anybody. In the world of George Carlin, everyone is fair game.
“If a Carlin show was an episode of ‘Survivor,’ no one would get the Immunity Idol,” Garcia said.
On the other side of the comedic coin, there are some younger audience members who found Carlin’s blunt humor a little disturbing.
Hannah Juul-Boore, a recent Cal Poly graduate, said this was the first time she ever saw a George Carlin comedy show.
Her overall opinion of the performance was a bit mixed.
“Some of the material was a bit crude for my taste,” Juul-Boore said. “I enjoyed a lot of his jokes but I wasn’t cracking up the whole time like I thought I would be.”
“But for all of that, he is a classic, and you’ve just got to respect that.”
Mike Manfrin, a computer science sophomore, had a positive opinion of the show.
“This is the first time I have ever seen him and overall the show was pretty funny,” said Manfrin.
Manfrin said he didn’t have any problem with Carlin’s all-out-there style of comedy.
“I think it was good because he comes out and says a lot of things that need to be said,” said Manfrin. “Only he does it with humor.”
Manfrin offered up a final thought to anyone who has never seen Carlin do his thing: “Anyone who hasn’t seen George Carlin should,” said Manfrin, “but be sure to go with an open mind.”