Lewis Black: the new George Carlin


Lewis Black is definately one of the funniest comedians performing today. I have the DvD LEWIS BLACK:UNLEASHED, and I taped BLACK ON BROADWAY, and they never fail to make me laugh. He's the new George Carlin, I think. Seeing him ranting and raving on stage always makes me laugh. I dare anybody not to laugh at BLACK ON BROADWAY. I would love to see Lewis Black and George Carlin do a show together.

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I think George Carlin actually had said at one point that Lewis Black was one of his favorites performing today. Black truly is brilliant, I admit. His humor tends to go over some people's heads (by that I mean the subject matter, not the ranting and hand gestures) but the greatness of his style is how he's so logical in what he's discussing, yet he's doing it in such an irrational rant. Usually a rant isn't supposed to make sense, but Black is making for some hilarious social critique out of a rant, a really interesting feat.

Like most comics, he pokes fun at real life situations, but I think he makes use of irony and shows the absurdities of life in ways few other comics ever could. He points out weird things in life that don't make much logical sense, like Carlin, and shows exactly why they're so senseless. The other interesting thing is that he doesn't really glorify anything; his humor is in how he tears inane things to pieces, and that's what gets such a strong reaction. Black's also interesting because, like Carlin, he rarely gives you a life story, or a hilarious encounter he went through, and even when he does he's not the center of attention, the situation is. A good example of this is when he talked about when he experienced "five seasons in four days."

I don't know if he's the next George Carlin, I'd have to give him maybe five years or so to see how he develops, but I would say he's got a good chance. He really is an exceptional comedian, a very talented stage performer who employs intelligent yet wildly angry critiques of the most illogical things this world has seen. The only thing that I think makes Carlin's act a bit better is that Carlin employs different voices and a few sound effects. Still, I'd say he'll be on the level of Carlin one of these days. All he needs now is a book.

"Vulcanologists said last week's eruption was the biggest one since Thursday. SINCE THURSDAY! Note to the idiots in the lawn chairs - MOVE!!"

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"but the greatness of his style is how he's so logical in what he's discussing"


There's nothing "logical" about Black's inane ramblings. I recall watching an interview where he seamlessly jumped back and forth, in the same breath, between defending the Marxist ideal of how a centralized, totalitarian government couldn't possibly be evil or oppressive because it would comprised of "people" (yeah, Hitler, Stalin, Lenin and Mao were all "people", *beep* and complaining about the government under Bush.
In other words, the same Left Wing *beep* demagoguery about how totalitarianism is evil EXCEPT when the Lefties do it.

Black is an angry idiot who doesn't know the first thing about what he's screaming about, but wants everybody to think what he tells them to think, regardless.

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There are, however, differences between the two's comedic style. Black is more focused on politics than Carlin. Carlin has a lot of focus on language than Black. Also Carlin did not adopt the ranting, angry style of comedy until late in his career (I think it first began with the show "Jammin' in New York"). The kind of focus Carlin has on language, Black has on the weather.


May there be mercy on man and machine for their sins

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I watched a tape of one of Carlin's shows from back in the 70's I believe. He was a much more serious kind of fellow. Didn't have his gruff demeanor that most of today's generation find so endearing. And he was slightly more political as I recall. I may be incorrect on that last part though. It has been a while since I watched the tape. He had a foul mouth, but not like the show he did a couple years ago. He was cussing just for the sake of doing it at that show. Sometimes wouldn't even tell a joke, but would just say a string of cuss words.

I haven't seen Lewis Black Unleashed, but Black on Broadway wasn't as funny as I had hoped. I bought it having not seen it prior because I was a fan of him on the Daily Show. A lot of it, particularly in the first half wasn't very funny.

Not to mention that f-ing half of the show was devoted to applause breaks. I HATE IT when people applaud after each f-ing joke! I don't pay to hear some idiot clap his f-ing hands. I paid to hear Lewis Black or whoever the comic might be!!!! People, if you go to see a comedian, either laugh or don't. That's it. If something isn't worthy of a laugh, DON'T APPLAUD JUST BECAUSE HE OR SHE SAYS SOMETHING! IT'S MORONIC!!!! QUIT IT!!!! For each applause break you create, that is one less joke the comedian will tell because of time constraints. And its especially irritating if you are sitting at home watching a DVD of some f-ing schmuck grinning like a jack-@ss into the camera while the comedian DOESN'T TELL ANY JOKES!!!!!!!! ARRRRRGHH!!!!!! That pisses me off.

Anyway, my point was: I like Lewis Black, but he's no Carlin. I think he needs to circulate and percolate some more for another decade or 2 and THEN let's see if he's a Carlin.

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Yea he is hilarious (his fingers are hilarious lol) I loved when he says "they got that soy milk by my cow *beep* milk "*lol*) I actually cried for 10 minutes after he said that....it takes alot for me to laugh that hard..my chest was hurting so bad from it....he made me laugh threw the whole thing...the next carlin maybe...but the last few hbo comedy specials ("I'm swiss", "black on broadway", "big steaming pile of me","life is worth losing", "never scared") are the funniest specials I have watched in a long time.....I got them all on tape....Hbo did a great job getting them for specials

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I think all these messages prove logical.. I of course don't think Lewis Black is the next George Carlin... they both make us all laugh for totally different reasons. Where everyone thinks most of the stuff they do makes sense they are total opposites. Here is a for instance: George Carlin will talk about stuff that is useless things people do but we do actually do these (i.e. Going to Sleep in the afternoon and waking up and its night and you don't know what day it is).. whereas Lewis Black is more sensible and when he refers to the election of 2004.. he says it is like voting for two bowls of sh*t.. and he is right.. no matter how many people agree or disagree with me lololol If you were to use another instance you can think about his Dick Cheney/Iran Metaphor in "red, White, & Screwed."

Carlin and Black are both brilliant comedians and they always know how to make you laugh but they still have different styles, I love watching Carlin's Stand-Up.. but I think I can seriously repeat Lewis Black as Well.. if not more than Carlin.

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Yeah Lewis Black said that Carlin is one of his comedic influences


"The only thing dumber than a Republican or a Democrat is when these pricks work together."-- Lewis Black

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they are not comparable. they are equally brilliant, but their approach is completely different.

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