George Carlin on Letterman, Part 1 of 2: 1984-1992

The Late Night Years:
1. May 7, 1984. Panel and stand-up.
2. July 12, 1984. HBO and LP: "Carlin on Campus."
3. November 12, 1984. Book: Sometimes a Little Brain Damage Can Help.
4. July 15, 1986. LP: "Playin' With Your Head."
Why Rob Burnett was sitting in Dave's chair, guest-hosting: Before the show taping, Dave had staffers put their ID cards into a drum-bin, then, throughout the hour he would select at random three who would host the show. Rob, then Late Night's Talent Assistant, was the first to be selected. Later in the show were Stupid Pets Coordinator Sue Hall and Production Assistant Bridget Jackson.
5. February 17, 1987. Film: "Outrageous Fortune."
6. November 17, 1988. LP: "What Am I Doing in New Jersey?"
7. November 9, 1989.
8. April 26, 1990.
9. April 22, 1992 ."George Carlin Live at the Paramount."
10. November 6, 1992. "Classic Gold."

[@pika23]

In football in the fourth quarter they should be able to use knives! * OJ scribbles notes furiously*

[@lynnturman8157]

I think they should have to rotate balls every year: soccer with a bowling ball, tennis with a golf ball, baseball with a volleyball, etc...

[@alfrancisnh]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 sold

[@jamesdobson8382]

Oooohhhhhhh you! Lol

[@jedinxf7]

and replace helmets with a lucky stabbin' hat!

[@marksoquet2618]

Good one 👍

[@kirbsyde8965]

George is my most favorite person to have ever lived. He, alone, made me feel good about being myself and o.k. to think the way I think. 🕯️

[@MisterMister5893]

Not to be pedantic but wouldn't that be your dad and mom?

[@kenmaher1597]

m j n n mji

[@lazonaetereabienestarcolec138]

Reality is a varied exp.

[@caniican]

I agree he's my favorite as well. I can say he's the most funny the most caring and empathetic, the most common sense the smartest the most down-to-earth period. No I honestly just described my own beautiful mother Harriet. But that goes for George as well😄✌🌹

[@beanman550]

This is what started my interest in Carlin. This episode aired just before my 12 birthday. Holy crap I’m 49 now. Thanks for everything George.

[@beanman550]

I speak of the very first episode of this set.

[@e.normastitz6836]

@@plane_guy6051 you got 10years on him😂

[@saund102]

By why wouldn't he ever have Richard Pryor … why did Richard only do Cason?

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@saund102, he did CASON because CARSON was out of town that week. But I always enjoy that replacement host- mister POINT..

[@teresathayn5170]

He's a good teacher! ☺️

[@lynnturman8157]

"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving may not be for you." --George Carlin. He probably says that joke in here somewhere but I remember it from way back when. Always stuck with me.

[@teresinacalliari-perez]

Crazy to be watching this in 2023!!!!

[@welterskelter]

Philosopher. Humanitarian. Comedian.

[@omarmahfouz5599]

he hates humans 😂

[@joannaedwards6325]

He didn't much care much for God either.

[@michaelsalisbury1477]

@@joannaedwards6325 I think that it was a mutual disdain!!!!!

[@joannaedwards6325]

@@michaelsalisbury1477 😄 I would enjoy watching the reactions of raging Atheists when they die and arrive into the loving presence of The Magnificent Creator....are they surprised or ashamed??? 😇

[@shawnyoung8752]

​@@joannaedwards6325so you enjoy watching suffering of anyone who doesn't agree with your views? Let's see what happens on your trip? It would be a great acceptance. If it was true. Cause who can beleive a story that had 2 versions how many years apart?

[@dana.j9062]

George Carlin was simply a natural gifted comedian and a genius!! RIP LEGEND 🙏 🕊

[@FlushDesert22]

"I think he's down there now, screaming up at us." - George Carlin.

[@pickerelrik9970]

a brilliant man who never said he was better…. always observed his area, and could put a smile on a statue,,

[@nancyhowell4505]

Carlin's baseball/football comparison, so enjoyable in the clever way he did it. 👏👍👍🤔😀🏈⚾

[@charlescarver2623]

He was in show business for so long, and when he passed away the news gave him like a 30 second memorial. Reason being is he spent the second half of his career destroying the narrative.

[@lawdawg6730]

May he rest in peace

[@JohnnyLovato36]

In Late 1972 in San Diego at Funky Quarters where I saw Cheech & Chong and many Top San Francisco Bands, (Bill Graham Productions Mainly) … I saw a 34 year old George Carlin and really Excited because I knew him from Television on so many TV Shows over the years! BUT! he was So, So Tweeked out! THE ROOM WAS SILENT For the whole show! He couldn’t Complete a thought and it was painful to see. He seemed to be in a place that many of our contemporaries NEVER Got Out Of and or never saw 30 years old, we’re in our 70’s now! Thank Goodness His Best Stuff Was Yet Too Come! … R.I.P. Geo!

[@JohnnyLovato36]

🤜🏽🤛🏽🤙🏽✌🏽👌🏽

[@wayneyadams]

I love the Baseball Football comparison. Only a creative mind like Carlin has could come up with those jarring differences.

[@donfronterhouse4759]

Albums!! Who remembers those? What a different time. No cell phone, maybe a beeper and you hunted down a payphone and hope you had enough change.

[@hiroehayes593]

7 words you cant say on TV, but he said them anyway !

[@connievino4226]

What are they. I never knew. Before my time.

[@merlinsclaw]

Carlin was just the master.

[@patton303]

I could watch George Carlin breaking up David Letterman for days.

[@siggylloyd3566]

All we ex-late-night viewers tend to hear about (mostly from one another) is how excellent Johnny was as a straight man, with his intuition and quick adaptability to comedic situtations as they evolved during conversations with his guests. I think these George Carlin visits highlight just how good DAVE was at playing the straight man, as he always attempts to accommodate Carlin's thought process, and to keep the comedic narratives flowing. Just as smart and generous as Johnny in that respect, and it deserves more mention.

[@silverspike3864]

Extremely gifted and side splitting unique God broke the mold r.i.p. George.."wonderful wino the big sound in the big town"!

[@seanentzel9616]

Omg..... I can hear/tell Carlin is avoiding the trap questions and giving great responses to them

[@LukeMcGuireoides]

Carlin was a good man, compassionate, considerate, and smart.

[@koba2260]

1:33:15 George yelling “NO!” from afar gets me rolling for some reason 😂

[@josephkelley8641]

George had family nearby. (One that I lived around my year in L.A. Same hotel I originally stayed-at) More a week-by-week (room) than an actual hotel - i.e. a dive I think you would call it. Yet a PRICEY dive, i.e. 170-per-week on my AMEX. Back in late 80's. Anyway, did George Carlin EVER take care of his family - and they're the FIRST to say so. Incredible dude George, won't be seeing another George Carlin. Anytime soon.

[@dianewinters8628]

I've watched this so many times. I miss George so much.

[@QuantumBraced]

"I am 51 now. That's 9 Celsius by the way". LOLOL.

[@pjtheory]

Terrific collection. Due in large part to the insanity of the past 5 years, Carlin's genius has seemed to have had a renaissance. I have heard Bill Burr, Jerry Seinfeld, and Bill Maher talk about Carlin's rightful place on the Mount Rushmore of stand up comedy. In most lists of the greatest stand up comics of all-time, Carlin is considered the 2nd greatest comic of all-time. Richard Pryor is usually ranked #1, but Carlin was a far more unique (e.g., nobody has attempted to copy him) and prodigious (e.g., record 14 HBO Specials, consistently toured for over 40 years) stand up comic.

[@victoryak86]

I’d putCarlin Pryor together as equally funny but very different. Both are head and shoulders above most other comics. Of course it’s subjective as well.

[@snailindustries]

Idk Carlin was universal whereas Pryor leaned way too heavily on using N-bombs and black culture

[@joannaedwards6325]

Both equal I think doing voices and characterizations. Where Pryor seemed to mellow with age, Carlin seemed to me, to become increasingly angry.

[@WIZ-BK-LA]

@@snailindustries Are you saying that Carlin spoke to the majority Caucasian world where Pryor spoke to the minority black world. I wonder why? I don’t want to assume they grew up in different environments and spoke based on their own experiences and they do look a little different but I can’t seem to put my finger on what it is.

[@snailindustries]

@@WIZ-BK-LA Carlin resonated more universally that’s all I’m saying. Not taking away from Pryor but I guess if I don’t get it I don’t get it. Different strokes 🤙

[@bernadettepergolese4607]

I MISS GEORGE CARLIN !!! :( My favor comedian of all times ...

[@furnitureconsortium]

that was a damn good Jackie Stewart impression 😆

[@edub9930]

3:05 how intuitive he was even way back when. Rest easy great one

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

Wym "back then"? He was already like 50 at that point and has probably made this joke many times in his shows. It would be impressive if he was like 6 years old or something.

[@drrobert8678]

Anyone who is a fan of Carlin will enjoy the whole video. Anyone new to Carlin should start with the 1989 shows on. Completion videos show the good and the not so much and Carlin was a bit off of his game through much of the 80s. When he did regain his footing in the late 80s then the best was close at hand. Bonus for Letterman's fans of the bizarre show concepts with the partial relief host segment. As always with Don Giller videos good quality and helpful descriptions. Time well spent.

[@bobbysbluebooster]

After watching your norm collection on this channel it’s fitting for me to see this posted. Norm and George are both in my all time top 5. Well done.

[@janelliot5643]

@RMP JR WHAT? WHAT? Who did he sell out to? if this is true it explains his environmental stance

[@andrewthomas891]

agreed

[@RB-ib3mo]

Do people still think that there are some normal people in Hollywood showbusiness? Every single one of them are part of a cult/ "private club"all with masonic links, think of things like the friars club, or the shriners(Don rickels often mentioned it), satanic churches (Sammy Davis Jr as one example), the Rotary clubs and the list goes on and unfortunately gets far darker. By definition Hollywood showbusiness people are all "sellouts" to the normal public. They earn huge amounts of money but just like politicians, there's a price to be paid if you want to be in the "Hollywood club". Not one of the ones that have success in Hollywood have clean hands. They all have something to hide.

[@bobbysbluebooster]

@@RB-ib3mo bro chill, I’m just talking about comedians.

[@RB-ib3mo]

@@bobbysbluebooster yeah I guess I came off a bit too harsh there. Wasn't intentional.

[@jackleonardo2167]

@Don Giller is a good man for going through hundreds of hours of LN/LS footage and splicing them together-especially this one of George Carlin; the Jack Hanna compilation, Meg P appearances-with show dates and info to boot! thank you for such great work!

[@dongiller]

Thanks, Jack!

[@jackleonardo2167]

@@dongiller we should be the ones thanking you-daily- for the enjoyment you bring to everyone!

[@joannaedwards6325]

Such a hard worker. Thanks Don.

[@michaelsalisbury1477]

Why thank these guys for posting these it's a a pleasure to watch!!!

[@michaelsalisbury1477]

@@jackleonardo2167 Wwhy thank Him for posting these it should have been a pleasure!!!!

[@Sloozen1]

Great job Don. That's a great collection!

[@grggsctt]

This is gold. Carlin is legend.

[@acegikmoii]

George......the oracle. Not many people knew George could see the future and provide such prophetic advice.

[@-The-Darkside]

Letterman cracking up at 25,25 minutes cracked me up This just gets better the more it goes.

[@letthesunshinethru2355]

"I was a loner, as a kid. I had an imaginary friend, but I didn't bother with him". GC 47:10

[@MisterMister5893]

Wow, Don. I saw your other videos in the playlist (side panel) and you've done a lot of leg work. Such a cache of wonderful material. Thank you, sir.

[@randyj420]

Brilliant collection of 1 of the best and 1 of my faves. When I was a kid, my family was gifted several of his albums, signed. What a treat to have been exposed to those records as a youngster.

[@andrewgilmore7669]

George was always a big favorite of mine. Thanks for posting!

[@sportsfix6975]

They did come up with off road boating!! A man ahead of his time!

[@ajn465]

Your Letterman vids are the best. Period.

[@CharlyRightNow]

George Carlin was a genius and way ahead of his time!

[@victoryak86]

Thanks for your compilations. Yours are done with greater care and thoroughness than most others, as testified by your many followers and positive comments.

[@dongiller]

Thanks!

[@ronaldjohnston7918]

Dear victoryak86, Who loves you? ... I'll wait patiently for your answer, but I will not hold my breath for you. LOL = Lots of Love and lol = laughing out loud. God Loves Ya...

[@Eazy-ERyder]

I think in the first one, especially when doing the earlier versions of the awesome Football vs Baseball, my man George was HIGH af Lol. You can tell and I LOVE him! God Bless Mr. Carlin and R.I.P.

[@sumthingwickedly]

RIP George and Norm loved them on Letterman

[@michaelsalisbury1477]

shona McdonaldNorm Mcdonelll couldn't hold a candle holder candle to George!!!!!!!!!

[@michaelsalisbury1477]

shona Mcdonald Norm was nothing compared to George!!!!!!!!!

[@sumthingwickedly]

@@michaelsalisbury1477 loved them both

[@sumthingwickedly]

@@michaelsalisbury1477 pretty snide shitting on Norm actually I like the both of them as did letterman n he rated Norm so no need

[@JohnNiemsMusic]

George's 1992 LIVE HBO SHOW was when as he said he took himself to a higher level and he never looked back! George is missed more today than ever! RIP GC! May 12 1937 to June 22 2008!

[@strangequark420]

"Station identification." I sure miss those days.

[@PatrickKeating]

Two Legends meeting and two of the best to ever do it!! Appreciate your tireless work always Don!

[@walt5620]

Hard to believe that the first few appearances were FORTY YEARS AGO

[@GameTime-yj6qv]

OJ would absolutely kill with that rule change in the fourth quarter

[@robertlester8239]

Thanks Don for all the time and effort you put into this compilation. It really makes my day. All the best. 😂

[@ElimanGibba]

To me & a lot of like minded people ,George Carlin is/was a civil rights advocate !

[@mickeykmiller]

Oh George...we could sure use you now.

[@ganjyqc]

1. May 7, 1984. Panel and stand-up. 0:00 2. July 12, 1984. HBO and LP: "Carlin on Campus." 10:55 3. November 12, 1984. Book: _Sometimes a Little Brain Damage Can Help._ 19:26 4. July 15, 1986. LP: "Playin' With Your Head." 30:08 5. February 17, 1987. Film: "Outrageous Fortune." 41:25 6. November 17, 1988. LP: "What Am I Doing in New Jersey?" 53:16 7. November 9, 1989. 1:00:18 8. April 26, 1990. 1:09:49 9. April 22, 1992 ."George Carlin Live at the Paramount." 1:21:48 10. November 6, 1992. "Classic Gold." 1:32:30

[@poohbeartube]

Thank you. I was about to provide this info also.

[@poohbeartube]

​ @Don Giller Thank you for this excellent compilation. I suggest you review and add these timestamps to your description which by the way I read and appreciate.

[@johnnybsteelriff]

George is not widely known in the UK but thanks to You Tube I've seen a lot of him and rate him very highly. Pity he has gone but a great man!!!

[@TheRamsesII]

I can't stop smiling :D

[@afellowamericanafellowamer5317]

I miss Dave's show. It was the one show i always watched every night. It was before the internet of course. If you wanted a book, you went to the bookstore.

[@katiezee2]

I always loved his joke from the 70s..." I have a drug problem. My problem is - I can't get any.' Maybe not so funny nowdays, with what we know now -- but it was funny back then

[@curbozerboomer1773]

Truth be told....he actually was confessing to his drug usage during that time frame...and it likely contributed to his 30 year battle with cardiovascular problems...Many of us Boomers had a naive fascination about drugs, and some of us paid a high price when it came to health problems later in life.

[@joannaedwards6325]

Fav drug joke said by the stoner character on Taxi tv show, " This drug is great but it has a horrible side effect.....it wears off! budum bump!!

[@katiezee2]

@@joannaedwards6325 hahaha

[@lewis123646]

Lol, "What was she really like!?" That's delightfully random Rob Burnett, future head of WWP got called in from the pen. Thanks @dongiller

[@DBEdwards]

Funny segment. Guest host Rob Burnett. . ONLY on Letterman. SO COOL

[@drwooly]

Don; Gotta give you big, BIG thanks, for putting all these clips of the King of Comedy…never got to see him live ( same w/ Robin Williams ) left a big hole in MY Bucket List. Again, thanks!

[@kristinef-akakfan1603]

That was great! Thank you!

[@DBEdwards]

REALLY FUNNY. Thank you for posting. Very very entertaining

[@StealthyLiving]

You know Norm saw this and created his skiing and fish thing. RIP Legend everyday I learn more.

[@lucasbrown222]

Exactly what I thought too

[@lucasbrown222]

100 yard dash... then fish!

[@teocantsleep4611]

This. He reused a lot of jokes by giving them his own spin.

[@jackdemus7890]

Thank you for these!

[@wandaloskot]

Hands down the most intelligent and brilliantly funny comedian in history.

[@robertsprouse9282]

He was that way, hands up, too. In fact, lets see a show of hands.

[@cedricnora4481]

Any Harry Potter fans perk up when they heard "Full contact Chess"?

[@arlen1630]

I had such a great time hanging out with Garage and dinner was fantastic...the only part that really sucked, was when my gd alarm clock woke me😢

[@vrvaughn]

I saw George at the Celebrity theatre in Phoenix early 70’s.. It was the 7 dirty words tour…

[@lovestadt]

Don, you’re doing such a great job. Thank you!

[@gregcollis9688]

Still love Carlin's incredibly insitefulnes😂😂😂...😮

[@roberthanson579]

This is a cool video. Thanks!

[@oughtssought1198]

LOL! Hi Don. got a laugh when I saw yr name since we just had a conversation elsewhere 197k subscribers! Well done, sir!

[@geraldframinghammer2626]

It's like Dave always gave 2 segments to George.

[@debbieramsey-hanks3757]

Thank you. Genius

[@brigittecaron2081]

when are we going to see another George.....he really was unique..!!!

[@ufafgd]

Unfortunately, probably never. The extreme left socialist wokee world we live in wouldn't stand for it. If Carlin were alive today doing material on current events, he would be protested against outside his home by people who identify themselves as rocks and silly puddy. Recently, I mentioned Carlin at my job in a lunchtime conversation. About ten people around the table. 8 hated him. Apparently, they didn't like some truth through humor. Sad.

[@garygibson5983]

THANK YOU DON!!!!!

[@Firm-Tofu-King]

² hours of Carlin I've never seen 🤪

[@metrodonkey8093]

as good as ever!

[@privateprivate1865]

I think Carlin was being honest when he said he felt much more comfortable. It was a much more natural setting in Carlin despised anything unnecessarily pretentious.

[@largebiff1743]

The Gospel according to George.

[@davefs25]

Oh man. Nice compilation.

[@unclenoob3062]

Mr. Giller, thanks for doin this.

[@johnnynbk]

...never been a hull like this

[@hankkingsley9183]

Comes to the show with enough material to cover his appearance. Not something you see much for talk show guests now.

[@laserbeast8020]

i like the guest host guy lol

[@AUTOPSY666]

He's the producer.

[@andreimitrica77]

Same

[@DstrtdMnd]

Best channel on KZbin.

[@MarvFitBikesKicks]

My favorite person to ever live

[@charleswood2682]

I just enjoyed a Smithwick's while watching your Irish red video. I'm working on upping my BJCP credentials to national, and am enjoying having a beer and studying with you. Please keep up the excellent work!

[@nomnom112]

We miss you cici.

[@poohbeartube]

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce two entertaining, experienced bs artists who are adept at shooting the breeze.

[@erichaynes7502]

56:00 ish I laughed because for some reason(lighting? attire?) I chuckled to myself "this is so 1988"

[@denisrivarola2387]

I imagine Carlin looked like that in his 20's too.

[@jamlocys1235]

This man's brain 🧠 is very complex

[@trentmason009]

I wanted so badly to laugh during his first appearance. Oh well. It was at least interesting to see how this paved the way for all the great comedy that came after. Also, it reminded me that we all progress. Carlin certainly tapped into his true might as a comedian later on when he was extra pissed at the powers that be and the insanity of life.

[@siggylloyd3566]

What you may not know is that Carlin's "new sports" shtick is older than this particular appearance on Late Night; I seem to recall black-and-white footage of him doing material on this subject on Sullivan or somewhere.

[@krisjones74]

In my opinion, his best work was in the early/mid 70s.

[@joannaedwards6325]

@@krisjones74 Yes!!!! BEFORE he was angry all the time.

[@VIRGONOMICS]

Genius

[@GeneBurnett]

The only comedian working right now who really reminds me of George...especially early and mid-period George...the quick mind, the attention to language and wordplay...is Mark Normand.

[@ericmartine902]

Thank you so much for this comment!!!! Just looked him up!

[@milesbolton734]

What about Louis ck?

[@loverdudley4208]

Normand is very bright and quick, and I love him, but his language/idea constructions aren't in the same galaxy as Carlin - YET. His podcast partner Joe List is, in my opinion, is sharper as a performer. Normand's humor really bogs down often with sophomoric ideas: gays, pee, tits, etc., but but never in crystalized ways like early Carlin material did. In summation: Normand isn't truly original...he's just very funny, not enlighteningly so.

[@GeneBurnett]

@@loverdudley4208 I agree. He just reminds me of Carlin. I love George but Mark actually makes me laugh out loud more, even if George makes me think more.

[@SB-fv4sn]

Look how cute they are.

[@RD2564]

George was still loving his coke in the first clip from 1984, dude suffered urges to abuse substances his whole life.

[@shawnyoung8752]

So? What?

[@user-vg2eg7oo5n]

When George hosted the first SNL, he said you could see him grinding his jaw, due ti coke. Also, George Carlin was nver invited back to SNL and George said Lorne Michaels was a hands on k_ _ _s, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ er, in his book.

[@jedblaugrund597]

Any thoughts on why the stand-up/home base stops were reversed in the first appearance? A bit awkward compared to the usual way.

[@dongiller]

No idea.

[@t3hrasterbator]

@@dongiller "Going home", perhaps?

[@ralph0901]

burns and carlin, they put out an album and I have it