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Who is George Carlin?

Well, if you’re a fan of stand-up comedy with even the slightest interest in history then the name should ring a bell.

He was a major influence on the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Patton Oswalt, Bette Midler, Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, and Bill Burr, among others, and managed to reinvent himself after a serious struggle with substance abuse.

In the two-part documentary George Carlin’s American Dream, you get the full spectrum of the comedian’s career covered with brutal honesty.

This write-up via IndieWire:

The special provides a deeper look into Carlin’s personal life than ever seen before, pairing his early family life with his iconic performances to paint a detailed picture of the comedy icon. It also digs into the drug problem that plagued Carlin for much of his adult life…

Dubbed the ‘dean of counterculture comedians,’ Carlin’s career spanned half a century during which he headlined 14 HBO comedy specials and appeared on ‘The Tonight Show’ over 130 times, constantly evolving with the times and staying sharply resonant up until his death in 2008 and beyond.

Part one will air in the US on HBO on May 20, with part two airing the following night.

Keep an eye out for that American dream chirp which is among his most famous:

Two-time Emmy winner Judd Apatow co-directs the documentary with Michael Bonfiglio, who also boasts an Emmy win.

[source:indiewire]