Thursday, October 23, 2014

The Seven Deadly Sins


They named a street in Manhattan this week for the late George Carlin, an irreverent comedian who grew up on West 121st Street and loved that neighborhood.  The street sign - green and white - reads "George Carlin Way" but it is a one way street so they only gave him half an accolade. He is best known for his gig "seven dirty words" that you could not say on television. (Any grammarians can find "them" on YouTube if interested.) I learned from my Baltimore catechism the seven deadly sins which you CAN say on television but no one would be listening. I recall when Elvis appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show - 1957 - the straight-laced Sullivan tried to keep the cameras above the entertainer's waist. And when NBC censored Jack Paar - 1960 - for using the term W.C. he walked off the show. I guess we have come a long way but in what direction?
tjs

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