Fuck Yes: HBO And Judd Apatow Are Making A Doc About Comedy GOAT George Carlin

HBO is teaming up with Judd Apatow for a two-part documentary on legendary comedian George Carlin.

Apatow will produce and co-direct with his longtime collaborator Michael Bonfiglio. The two-part film will feature interviews with Carlin’s family and friends, material from his standup specials and TV appearances, as well as his personal archive. Joe Beshenkovsky will edit and Teddy Leifer will executive produce.

Carlin, who died in 2008, is one of the most famous and influential comedians and social critics in American history. He filmed 14 stand-up specials for HBO and appeared on “The Tonight Show” more than 130 times. Among his most famous bits is the “Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television.” Carlin also hosted the debut episode of “Saturday Night Live” in 1975.

Oh man. I couldn't be anymore fired up for this. HBO Documentaries are typically top-notch. Judd Apatow proved how good he is at making an in-depth documentary about a brilliant comedian/complex man with the excellent THE ZEN DIARIES OF GARY SHANDLING. George Carlin is the greatest stand-up comedian of all-time and has never really gotten his flowers in a proper doc about his incredible career. So this is the ideal set-up for what should hopefully end up being must-see stuff.

The pairing of Carlin and HBO was a natural as that's the outlet where the one-time Hippie-Dippie Weatherman earned legion of his devoted followers, who devoured his numerous specials. "Carlin at Carnegie" is the first one I watched and was immediatly hooked. In addition to his hilarious and astute observations, he made the stupidity and hypocrisy of the world crystal clear in a scathingly funny way, even to a 10-year-old kid. I was blessed enough to be able to see George Carlin live at Symphony Hall in 1989 and it was outstanding (the back of the tour t-shirt read "Simon Says: Fuck You"). Seeing the best ever while he was already a legend yet still producing great material was a thrill even a peckerhead 17-year-old me could appreciate. 

Given the pedigrees, résumés, and treasure trove of material to pull from, I have high hopes for this. Makes me wanna scream "shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits".

While we're here, the Best Stand-Ups Ever:

1. George Carlin 

2. Richard Pryor 

3. Rodney Dangerfield

4. Chris Rock