Few names in comedy history loom larger than George Carlin. The legendary comedian was fearless in his takedowns of social norms, constantly pointing his razor-sharp wit toward our worst societal ills. From his early days as a free speech advocate to his multitude of Johnny Carson appearances to his politically-charged specials at the end of his life, Carlin never stopped speaking out for what he believed in.
His approach to comedy inspired legions of the medium’s top artists, and many of them paid tribute to him in “George Carlin’s American Dream,” the new documentary on his life from director Judd Apatow. 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. Fittingly, the documentary was produced by HBO, Carlin’s longtime comedy home that aired his most beloved specials.
The documentary features interviews with Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Patton Oswalt, Stephen Colbert, Bill Burr, Bette Midler, W. Kamau Bell, Sam Jay, Judy Gold, Jon Stewart, along with Carlin’s daughter Kelly Carlin, manager Jerry Hamza, second wife Sally Wade, brother Patrick Carlin, and others.
Part 1 of “George Carlin’s American Dream” will air on HBO on May 20 at 8 p.m. ET, with Part 2 airing at the same time the following night.
