The George Carlin Show
Encyclopedia
The George Carlin Show is an American sitcom that aired on the Fox network from January 1994 to July 1995. It was created jointly by veteran TV producer Sam Simon
and the show's namesake, comedian George Carlin
.
), a taxi cab driver living in New York City. The show, for the most part, took place in The Moylan Bar, run by bartender
Jack Donahue (Anthony Starke
). The setting's real-life basis was the now-defunct Moylan Tavern, a younger Carlin's neighborhood bar on Broadway
between La Salle Street and Tiemann Place in the Morningside Heights neighborhood, and owned by the grandparents of film critic and author Maitland McDonagh. As Carlin recalled in 1994, "The Moylan Tavern. It was where I saw[Lee Harvey] Oswald
shot. It was where I headed during the[1965] blackout
. The Moylan is where I came of age." The name of the show's bartender character, Jack Donahue, was taken from that of real-life owner Jimmy Donahue, who bought the bar from the original owners. The set itself, however, resembled another upper-Broadway bar, Carlin said: "Cannon's — where my father used to drink."
As Carlin noted on his website:
He later elaborated in his posthumously published autobiography Last Words
:
He went on to speak of not enjoying the committee-style writer's room, which he felt alienated anyone who was not a professional television writer.
Sam Simon
Samuel "Sam" Simon is an American director, producer, writer, boxing manager and philanthropist. While at Stanford University, Simon worked as a newspaper cartoonist and after graduating became a storyboard artist at Filmation Studios. He submitted a spec script for the sitcom Taxi, which was...
and the show's namesake, comedian George Carlin
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
.
Synopsis
The series centers on George O'Grady (George CarlinGeorge Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
), a taxi cab driver living in New York City. The show, for the most part, took place in The Moylan Bar, run by bartender
Bartender
A bartender is a person who serves beverages behind a counter in a bar, pub, tavern, or similar establishment. A bartender, in short, "tends the bar". The term barkeeper may carry a connotation of being the bar's owner...
Jack Donahue (Anthony Starke
Anthony Starke
Anthony Starke is an American actor. Starke is well known for his one episode role in Seinfeld, playing the 3rd person-speaking character Jimmy in "The Jimmy", as well as playing Jack on The George Carlin Show, on Fox.-Biography:...
). The setting's real-life basis was the now-defunct Moylan Tavern, a younger Carlin's neighborhood bar on Broadway
Broadway (New York City)
Broadway is a prominent avenue in New York City, United States, which runs through the full length of the borough of Manhattan and continues northward through the Bronx borough before terminating in Westchester County, New York. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to...
between La Salle Street and Tiemann Place in the Morningside Heights neighborhood, and owned by the grandparents of film critic and author Maitland McDonagh. As Carlin recalled in 1994, "The Moylan Tavern. It was where I saw
Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald was, according to four government investigations,These were investigations by: the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Warren Commission , the House Select Committee on Assassinations , and the Dallas Police Department. the sniper who assassinated John F...
shot. It was where I headed during the
Northeast Blackout of 1965
The Northeast blackout of 1965 was a significant disruption in the supply of electricity on November 9, 1965, affecting Ontario, Canada and Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, and New Jersey in the United States...
. The Moylan is where I came of age." The name of the show's bartender character, Jack Donahue, was taken from that of real-life owner Jimmy Donahue, who bought the bar from the original owners. The set itself, however, resembled another upper-Broadway bar, Carlin said: "Cannon's — where my father used to drink."
As Carlin noted on his website:
He later elaborated in his posthumously published autobiography Last Words
Last Words (book)
Last Words is an autobiography by American stand-up comedian George Carlin. It was published on November 10, 2009. In Last Words George Carlin tells the story of his life from birth to his final years. He also wrote a special parting gift to the world. The book contains photos taken throughout...
:
He went on to speak of not enjoying the committee-style writer's room, which he felt alienated anyone who was not a professional television writer.
Cast
- George CarlinGeorge CarlinGeorge Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
as George O'Grady - Paige French as Sydney
- Michael G. HagertyMichael G. HagertyMichael Gerard Hagerty , also known by his stage name Mike Hagerty, is an American actor. He is known for playing comedic blue-collar workers, including his recurring roles as a building superintendent, Mr.Treeger on Friends and the manager of a muffler shop on HBO's Lucky Louie.Hagerty is...
as Frank MacNamara (Season 2) - Christopher Rich as Dr. Neil Beck
- Alex RoccoAlex RoccoAlex Rocco is an American actor. His roles have ranged from comedy to playing gangsters in Mafia movies.-Early life:...
as Harry Rossetti - Anthony StarkeAnthony StarkeAnthony Starke is an American actor. Starke is well known for his one episode role in Seinfeld, playing the 3rd person-speaking character Jimmy in "The Jimmy", as well as playing Jack on The George Carlin Show, on Fox.-Biography:...
as Jack Donahue
Season 1
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1 | "When Unexpected Things Happen to George" | January 16, 1994 |
| 1-2 | "George Sees an Airplane" | January 23, 1994 |
| 1-3 | "George Goes on a Date (Part 1)" | February 6, 1994 |
| 1-4 | "George Goes on a Date (Part 2)" | February 13, 1994 |
| 1-5 | "George Helps Sidney" | February 20, 1994 |
| 1-6 | "George Expresses Himself" | February 27, 1994 |
| 1-7 | "George Gets Some Money" | March 6, 1994 |
| 1-8 | "George Destroys a Way of Life" | March 20, 1994 |
| 1-9 | "George Loses His Thermos" | March 27, 1994 |
| 1-10 | "George Speaks His Mind" | April 24, 1994 |
| 1-11 | "George Looks Down the Wrong End of a Thirty-Eight" | May 1, 1994 |
| 1-12 | "George Plays a Mean Pinball" | May 8, 1994 |
| 1-13 | "George Lifts the Holy Spirit" | May 15, 1994 |
Season 2
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 2-1 | "George Gets a Big Surprise" | October 16, 1994 |
| 2-2 | "George Runs into an Old Friend" | October 23, 1994 |
| 2-3 | "George Goes Too Far" | October 30, 1994 |
| 2-4 | "George Gets Hoist By His Own Petard" | November 6, 1994 |
| 2-5 | "George Pulls the Plug" | November 13, 1994 |
| 2-6 | "George Gets Caught in the Middle" | November 27, 1994 |
| 2-7 | "George Really Does It This Time" | December 4, 1994 |
| 2-8 | "George Shoots Himself in the Foot" | December 11, 1994 |
| 2-9 | "George Does a Bad Thing" | December 18, 1994 |
| 2-10 | "George Puts on a Happy Face" | December 25, 1994 |
| 2-11 | "George Helps a Friend" | January 1, 1995 |
| 2-12 | "George Digs Rock 'n' Roll Music" | April 10, 1995 |
| 2-13 | "George Tells the Truth" | July 9, 1995 |
| 2-14 | "George Likes a Good War" | July 16, 1995 |