Standup comedian and satirist George Carlin died of heart trouble on Sunday. He was 71. He was known for his routine "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television," which led to a key Supreme Court ruling on obscenity. George Carlin also appeared in several HBO comedy specials.
Share your favorite George Carlin moments in Newsday's guest book and view photos of George Carlin throughout his career.
Fans waiting for a taste of "Sex and the City: The Movie" can check out your local Steve & Barry's for the official merchandise slated to hit stores today. Be sure to enter for your chance to win a shopping spree or free movie passes too. Click here for more details.
By Mike Casey
For everyone out there who refuses to pay Cablevision the extra $10/month for HBO and 13 b.s. channels you'll never watch, I pose a question:
Have you ever been out drinking with your friends when suddenly the conversation turns to the latest hit HBO show?
It might sound like this:
"Oh my god, 'Big Love' is my FAVORITE!"
Or this...
"The Sopranos are SO GOOD!"
Or this...
"I love Johnny Drama! 'Entourage' is hysterical!"
Or this...
4) "I just got finished watching all of my Tivo'd episodes of 'Rome'"
If you're like me, and you've never watched any of these shows, you might politely respond in one of four ways:
1) I've never seen it. I don't get HBO
2) I've never watched it. I don't get HBO.
3) I don't know what you're talking about. I don't get HBO.
4) Jesus, enough already, I don't get HB-friggin-O!!!
I know, I know -- it's not our friends' fault for sharing their mutual enjoyment of overpriced cable programming. But that doesn't make it any less annoying when the topic of conversation shifts to something that seems funny to everyone but us.
But finally, perhaps, a compromise. When I was visiting some friends in Baltimore recently, I was informed that I was missing yet another great new show on HBO -- something called "Flight of the Conchords."
"It's basically a two-person folk band from New Zealand," said friend Ashley, "And they perform all these really funny songs."
Seriously, I thought, this is what passes for comedy? But before I could spit out my response, Ashley said, "I have a CD in my car, you should listen to it."
Ahh! A CD, or compact disc! I can listen to those! So listen we did. And laugh I did. For once, I felt part of the group. It was enlightening. Not enlightening enough to make me order HBO, but enlightening nonetheless.
So to my fellow HBO non-users, follow this advice: Watch the following YouTube clip. You'll be sitting at the cool table at work before you know it. . . 'Cause, ya know, they have those at workplaces.
