# George Carlin in rehab? Say it ain't so! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 28, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854 "2004-12-28T01:26:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/21 "2004-12-28T18:08:13Z")
I defy anyone to read [his new book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1401301347/qid=1104257582/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/104-8840727-2543144) and not laugh. He’s gotten angrier, not less funny. I guess I have to use my sig in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/22 "2004-12-28T18:19:47Z")
People should have been worried when he was doing radio commercials for non-alcoholic beer in the mid-90s. His last couple HBO specials have been so recycled, I think the only reason that he didn’t go into the 7 words routine was that it was TOO well known. He had to recycle his weaker stuff. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/23 "2004-12-28T18:24:08Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > radio commercials for non-alcoholic beer Feet of clay. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/24 "2004-12-28T18:25:24Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Class Clowns with adult supervision are either boring or in D-Hall. Without adult supervision, there is no need for the class clown. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/25 "2004-12-28T18:27:03Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > People should have been worried when he was doing radio commercials for non-alcoholic beer in the mid-90s. Or the 10-10-321 TV commercials. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/26 "2004-12-28T18:36:52Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > Or the 10-10-321 TV commercials. WTF? He actually did explain that somewhere. Basically he wanted to clear his debts and start fresh. Yes, shockingly, he appeared in commercials for the money. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/27 "2004-12-28T20:58:13Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > I defy anyone to read [his new book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1401301347/qid=1104257582/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/104-8840727-2543144) and not laugh. I have that book. On the one hand, it does have quite a bit of funny material. On the other hand, it also repeates material he used in the last two books. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/28 "2004-12-28T21:09:14Z")
> [@Governor Quinn](#): > > On the other hand, it also repeates material he used in the last two books. Okay, so it’s not just me then. I thought maybe I was hallucinating or something. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/29 "2004-12-28T21:50:32Z")
On the upside, if Rush has a relapse and checks into the same place while Carlin’s in there, Carlin’s material about the experience will be the finest comedy ever. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/30 "2004-12-28T23:35:33Z")
I saw the story this afternoon and immediately thought, “How many Dopers will retract the vitriol spewed toward Favre and Limbaugh for being addicted to a painkiller?” Then I remembered the politics. I’ll just say I hope anyone with an addiction that seeks help is successful. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/31 "2004-12-29T00:39:50Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > I saw the story this afternoon and immediately thought, “How many Dopers will retract the vitriol spewed toward Favre and Limbaugh for being addicted to a painkiller?” And then you remembered that most people were picking on Rush for his hypocrisy, not just his addiction. Right? ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/32 "2004-12-29T02:29:54Z")
I was bummed that he was off the wagon, although in a different way than before. He was one of the biggest influences on me of anyone in the 70’s… imaging driving around a dry county in bible-belt Kentucky and having Toledo Window Box playing on the 8-track… 🙂 On the other hand, I did pick him a few weeks ago in the Celebrity Death Pool over in MPSIMS… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/33 "2004-12-29T02:33:09Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > And then you remembered that most people were picking on Rush for his hypocrisy, not just his addiction. > > Right? Sounds good to me. AFAIK, Carlin has never come out against using drugs. ---
**Author:** ![rfgdxm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@rfgdxm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rfgdxm)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/34 "2004-12-29T02:35:24Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > George Carlin is going into rehab! :eek: [http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/books/12/27/george.carlin/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/books/12/27/george.carlin/index.html) Because “I use too much wine and Vicodin.” Shocking! Outrageous! Not that he has a drug problem, but that he would choose rehab! Say it ain’t so, George! The world is upside down! The bottom is out of the universe! ☹ Good goddess. I’ve used lots of wine and Vicodin years ago. I thought this was normal back then. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/35 "2004-12-29T03:19:48Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > I saw the story this afternoon and immediately thought, “How many Dopers will retract the vitriol spewed toward Favre and Limbaugh for being addicted to a painkiller?” > > Then I remembered the politics. > > I’ll just say I hope anyone with an addiction that seeks help is successful. If Carlin had advocated the wholesale jailing of drug addicts, like Limbaugh, I think you WOULD be hearing a few words on the topic from us. (Probably better suited for GD or the Pit, but wouldn’t want anybody to MISUNDERSTAND, y’know.) ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/36 "2004-12-29T03:28:34Z")
**duffer** , in a way I almost admire your consistency. Carlin is one of the greats. I’ve never achieved his level of fatalism and complete disdain for hope concerning the human race – but then, I’m only 44. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/37 "2004-12-29T03:33:08Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > Carlin is one of the greats. I’ve never achieved his level of fatalism and complete disdain for hope concerning the human race – but then, I’m only 44. I would be interested to hear his take on the current nightmare in Asia. ---
**Author:** ![Phantom\_Dennis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@Phantom\_Dennis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phantom_Dennis)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/38 "2004-12-29T07:51:27Z")
> [@rfgdxm](#): > > Good goddess. I’ve used lots of wine and Vicodin years ago. I thought this was normal back then. Vicodin is actually a combination of two painkillers (hydrocodone, a synthetic opiate, and acetaminophen, the active ingredient in OTC Tylenol). While alcohol may potentiate the effects of hydrocodone, the combination is not particularly dangerous in normal dosages. But alcohol and acetaminophen can create a buildup of toxic, potentially life-threatening metabolites in the liver. Never drink alcohol with anything containing acetaminophen! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/39 "2004-12-29T15:15:39Z")
> [@](#): > > I never heard Carlin suffered from chronic pain; I wonder how he came to get hooked. He’s supposedly been clean of pot and coke for years now. Just a speculation, but Carlin was understandably distraught by the death of his wife a few years ago (they had been married 36 years). He didn’t perform or do any public appearances for over a year after her death. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854/40 "2004-12-29T17:26:06Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > Just a speculation, but Carlin was understandably distraught by the death of his wife a few years ago (they had been married 36 years). He didn’t perform or do any public appearances for over a year after her death. I didn’t know that. I wondered why I hadn’t seen any new Carlin albums released in a while. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-carlin-in-rehab-say-it-aint-so/281854.md?page=3)