Comic legend George Carlin said his job description was foole, on the Occupation Foole album. He said he always wanted to fill out official forms that way, but would add the final “e” to piss people off. Stan Chervin, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of the film Moneyball, will explore Carlin’s day and night job in an upcoming official biopic, according to Variety.
“We are honored to tell the story of one of the most important and influential comedians of all time, and to do so alongside those who knew him best,” Jackal Group’s Chairman and CEO Gail Berman and President Joe Earley said in a joint statement. “In addition to shaping comedy and culture for decades, and entertaining generations of audiences, Carlin’s battle to protect free speech continues to impact our daily lives and is as relevant as ever.”
The film is also being produced by Carlin’s former manager and best friend for 35 years Jerry Hamza, who executive produced 11 of his comedy specials, as well as the stand-up’s former agent Bruce Kaufman.
“I’m very excited to be involved with a film based on George’s life,” Hamza said in a statement. It was wasn’t until after George died, I realised he was a hero. As a performer, George would never ‘sell out,’ and never comprise his beliefs – I learned so much from him. I think the public will be very happy to learn about George’s life. He was truly the top of the ladder in his field.”
Does this mean we’ll get another famous comic playing a famous comic scenario, as in Man On The Moon? Possibly. There’s no word on casting yet, but Carlin’s legacy carries more than enough clout in comedian circles for it to be a pretty sought after role.
Carlin was born in New York City in 1937 and his irreverent urban verbal sparring took on politics, religion, and language itself. Legendary comedian Lenny Bruce anointed, or condemned, Carlin as his successor, saying “You are the next one” long before his bit “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” was adjudicated in the U.S. Supreme Court, resulting in a landmark trial that changed the way the American government could regulate speech on broadcast and radio.
Carlin’s career spanned five decades. He recorded 23 albums, pulling in five Grammy Awards, appeared on The Tonight Show more than 130 times, hosted the first episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975, and made 14 comedy specials for HBO.
Carlin died at the age of 71 in 2008 on June 22, 2008, the same year he was named the 11th recipient of the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain prize for American humor.