Was George Carlin Influenced By Bill Hicks?

[Edwardo Piet]

I'm not sure what to think after watching the following vid:

[youtube]vJQ2w77Z4wA[/youtube]

WARNING contains some VERY STRONG LANGUAGE bla bla bla...18+

PS: Obviously because George Carlin was older than Bill Hicks, and because he did comedy before Bill Hicks...the video only claims the POSSIBILITY of George Carlin being influenced by Bill Hicks later on in George Carlin's Career

I am a fan of Bill Hicks and I have only recently been watching George Carlin and I think he's very funny and intelligent too...I have no idea if George Carlin was REALLY influenced in any way by Hicks... I just want to know what you guys think because I'm not really sure....

After watching the vid I would like those who have, if possible, to comment with thoughts on the matter....

[allan175]

Well, after watching that I'd say "influenced" was an understatement.

Not my idea of humour though, I've never found Hicks to be that funny (there are funny bits but it's padded out with loads of swearing (just to give it shock value as far as I can see)).

[Edwardo Piet]

Well, after watching that I'd say "influenced" was an understatement.

Not my idea of humour though, I've never found Hicks to be that funny (there are funny bits but it's padded out with loads of swearing (just to give it shock value as far as I can see)).

Well I certainly think that I'd agree that Bill Hicks was often maybe a bit too vulgar and harsh; but I also think he certainly was a very intelligent man and he often spoke the truth, and I also think OFTEN his comedy was very intelligent too, and funny - as for the swearing I think it often adds more emotion to the words - it's the vulgarity that sometimes I think's maybe a bit unecessary.

That's what I think anyway. I think he was certainly a very honest guy.

I don't know much about Carlin... I only started watching him yesterday...so far I think he's intelligent too, and so far I think he's atleast pretty funny...I thought his take on the 10 commandments was BRILLIANT.

[Darwinian]

You have to watch it all!!

[youtube]lHB0cFZ5TBY[/youtube]

[Tiberius]

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_hicks, Hicks both influenced and got influenced by George Carlin

[allan175]

You have to watch it all!!

[youtube]lHB0cFZ5TBY[/youtube]

Brilliant! A very unexpected ending!

[Edwardo Piet]

I only learn't about George Carlin a few days ago....he's not as famous here as in America....

What's weird is that even though Bill Hicks was American he was and is more famous here in Britain than he was in America.

EDIT: I just watched the video... lol but what's this got to do with Hicks and Carlin? lol

[chatpilot]

I am personally not familiar with Bill Hicks but have been a fan of George Carlin for years.In his defence I must say he is witty and was known as a word meister here in America.His skits on religion and god were hilarious and so true.

[solidsquid]

Much of Carlin's work surround similar themes which he has used long before anyone knew who Bill Hicks was. Carlin was influenced in the late 60's by Lenny Bruce and eventually it showed up in his own routines and life.

The Carlin clips are mostly from his later appearences and contains content that is not new at that time, much of it is stuff that he talked about many, many years before. After years of listening to Carlin I would be more inclined that Hicks was influenced by Carlin than the other way around. I remember the Rice Crispies and abortion jokes going back to his early 80's work.

This isn't to take away from Bill Hicks though, I think Hicks had some great stuff as well.

However, it could just be the old cliche' that great minds think alike.

[Edwardo Piet]

Much of Carlin's work surround similar themes which he has used long before anyone knew who Bill Hicks was. Carlin was influenced in the late 60's by Lenny Bruce and eventually it showed up in his own routines and life.

The Carlin clips are mostly from his later appearences and contains content that is not new at that time, much of it is stuff that he talked about many, many years before. After years of listening to Carlin I would be more inclined that Hicks was influenced by Carlin than the other way around. I remember the Rice Crispies and abortion jokes going back to his early 80's work.

This isn't to take away from Bill Hicks though, I think Hicks had some great stuff as well.

However, it could just be the old cliche' that great minds think alike.

Good post.