It's hard to fathom the impact that comedian George Carlin has had on the art of stand-up comedy and culture itself. Much like Mark Twain, Carlin established himself as a philosopher and notable social commentator through the art of making people laugh. His decades of work and the timeless aspect of his macabre material have resonated with many during dark and uncertain times.

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So much so that The 40-Year-Old Virgin's Judd Apatow co-directed a documentary titled George Carlin's American Dream to pay tribute to the legendary comedian who went from burnt-out hippie to a misanthropic geezer who gleefully gutted every sacred cow. The documentary has high anticipation among fans, and it's worth reviewing the movies and specials that made Carlin the deity that he is in the comedy world today.

10 Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back Has A Hilarious George Carlin Cameo

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Clerks director Kevin Smith had a consistent working relationship with Carlin as he cast him in three of his films. While Carlin had bigger parts in some of Smith's films like Jersey Girl, his funniest cameo was in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back as a hitchhiker willing to offer seductive favors for a ride.

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Carlin's hitchhiker takes time to educate Jay and Silent Bob on the "rules of the road" while lambasting them on their hang-ups. It's a very small part, but it's laugh-out-loud funny and true to Carlin's love of raunchy and vulgar humor.

9 Richard Pryor: Omit The Logic Chronicles Carlin's Legendary Peer

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If there's a Mount Rushmore of stand-up comedians, Pryor and Carlin both share the space. Carlin and Pryor were peers who started out at the same time and ended up rivaling each other for who had the most heart attacks. This documentary is a must-watch as it has an intriguing story of the relationship between comedy and pain.

Anyone interested in the biographies of comedians will be fascinated with Richard Pryor's story, which included growing up in a brothel and accidentally setting himself on fire in a cocaine-fueled stupor. Both Pryor and Carlin are pioneers in the art of profane comedy and this is a satisfying companion piece to American Dream.

8 On Location: George Carlin at Phoenix Highlighted His Edgy Evolution

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Many current stand-up fans prefer Carlin in his later years as opposed to his early hippie years. But this special and albums like Class Clown are crucial to understanding Carlin's story. Filmed in 1978, this special highlighted Carlin’s transition from the clean-cut Ed Sullivan comedian to the edgy stoner who grew his hair long and questioned society.

Comedy routines like these, which may seem quaint today, were revolutionary at the time. It should be noted that while this special doesn't include the original "Seven Dirty Words You Can Never Say On TV," it does have its splendid sequel "Filthy Words."

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7 Back In Town Proves Carlin's Commentary Is Timeless

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The late 90s HBO special Back In Town proved how Carlin's commentary is, in most cases sadly, evergreen. In an astonishingly bold move, Carlin chose to open up his special with biting criticism of the inconsistencies of the pro-life movement.

Carlin's pro-choice material is viscerally funny and incredibly relevant given the newly renewed debate around the recent Supreme Court leak. In true Carlin fashion, this special also showed that he could balance heavy subjects and pepper them in with fart jokes.

6 Dogma Is A Sacrilegious Film That Reflected Carlin's Stand-Up

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Dogma showcased another Kevin Smith and Carlin collaboration, but this movie may be more reflective of Carlin's stand-up given its critique of organized religion. Carlin nailed the role of Cardinal Glick who tried rebranding the Catholic Church's image with the "Buddy Christ" statue.

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Carlin delivered one of the best lines in this blasphemous comedy, such as his deadpan concession that when it came to the church, "mistakes were made." According to Smith, viewers can't stream this service due to a past deal with the Weinsteins, so any chance to see Dogma should be seized.

5 Jammin' In New York Was The Beginning Of Carlin's Final Phase

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George Carlin considered Jammin' in New York his favorite special and many fans agree. Much like Class Clown, Jammin' displayed a significant change in Carlin's persona that would define the rest of his career. Carlin went from the mischievous hippie to the cantankerous scholar with scathing wit. Carlin managed to keep his social commentary funny as he added blue humor to his Noam Chomsky-like chiding of the U.S. foreign policy.

Most importantly, Carlin also established his signature jubilance over impending doom with his closing bit "The planet is fine.... the people are f***ed."

4 Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling Goes Deep Into Another Comic Genius

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Acclaimed comedian Garry Shandling was encouraged to do stand-up at a young age by George Carlin after showing him his material. This led Shandling to embark on a career that eventually led him to create the esteemed sitcom The Larry Sanders Show. Judd Apatow directed a wonderfully tender ode to his comedic mentor who also had a gigantic influence on comedy and sitcom formatting.

The documentary has an Emmy award-winning analysis of the insecurities of Shandling and the tragedies that drove his neurosis. If Apatow's Carlin documentary is as good as this film, fans are in for a treat.

3 You Are All Diseased Is Brilliantly Blasphemous

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You Are All Diseased is another contender for Carlin's best special. He continued to exhibit his merry, misanthropic humor in his 11th HBO special that was on the cusp of the new millennium. Throughout Carlin's career, he always playful poked fun at his Catholic upbringing and conservative values. But in this special, his closing material annihilated the hypocrisies of organized religion.

Carlin mocked preconceived ideas such as the existence of Hell, where God will punish anyone who violates his rules, "but he loves you!" This is quite possibly Carlin's best closer as he ended by encouraging his audience to search for a higher power by praying to the actor Joe Pesci.

2 Bill And Ted's Excellent Adventure Had Carlin As A Cool, Futuristic Mentor

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Carlin found a calling more as a comedian than his original dream as an actor. However, Carlin was almost born to play the sage time traveler known as Rufus in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter said Carlin "brought class" to the role of Rufus, as it allowed him to channel his laid-back hippie roots for the character that saved Bill and Ted's history report.

This wholesome stoner comedy is ironic regarding Carlin's legacy because Rufus' future is delightfully utopian, which was antithetical to Carlin's actual predictions. But in both universes, the fictionally awesome one and the present dystopian one, Rufus and Carlin are both cool, counter-culture icons.

1 Complaints and Grievances Showed Carlin At His Best Despite Being Filmed A Month After 9/11

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Carlin was originally going to name his 12th HBO special "I Kinda Like It When A Lot Of People Die" to accompany a piece that encompassed his grim comedy. However, the events of 9/11 made Carlin change his course, considering the special was filmed at the Beacon Theater in New York City ten weeks after the attacks. Carlin briefly addressed the events to acknowledge the elephant in the room and dismounted from the uncomfortable vibe artfully.

While the mood of the country was somber, Carlin was still sharp, brutal, and funny as he used the special to rattle off pet peeves that aggravated him to the point of homicidal thoughts. Filming a special right after a national tragedy takes a level of guts that only an Irish New Yorker with an affinity for dirty words could pull off.