George Carlin

This program follows famously angry comedian Lewis Black as he searches for the elusive origin to the most basic component of his career: the joke. Through interviews with comedians like George Carlin, Kathy Griffin, and Robert Klein, Black finds out where humor originates in the brains of his contemporaries in the hopes of finding out where it originated in history. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide

A pedal-to-the-metal race car determined to prove his worth on the tracks discovers that life isn't always about crossing the finish line first in Toy Story director John Lasseter's mechanically minded tale of friendship and loyalty. Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) may be just a rookie, but he's convinced that he can realize his dream of zooming by the checkered flag if he can only make it to California in time to compete in the upcoming Piston Cup Championship. When Lightning takes a detour into the slow-moving, Route 66 town of Radiator Springs, however, it begins to appear as if his shot at the big time has effectively stalled out. Of course, Lightning's exciting cross-country trek wasn't all for naught, and after befriending such quirky Radiator Springs residents as Sally the Porsche (voice of Bonnie Hunt), Doc Hudson (voice of Paul Newman), and Mater the Tow Truck (voice of Larry the Cable Guy), the eager young racer learns that sometimes life is more about the voyage than the outcome of the race. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

"A family walks into a talent agent's office..." So begins "The Aristocrats," a joke kept mostly secret by stand-up comedians for decades. An intentionally "bad" joke, the laughs in The Aristocrats aren't in the punch-line (one of the only elements that's the same every time), but in the set-up, made unique by each comedian who tells it in an attempt to fashion the world's dirtiest joke. The cat was finally let out of the bag by Penn Jillette and Paul Provenza, the seasoned funnymen who gathered together a hundred people to tell a hundred different renditions of the bit. Among those presenting their personal take on The Aristocrats in this film of the same name are Jason Alexander, Robin Williams, Gilbert Gottfried, Jon Stewart, Emo Philips, and Chris Rock. The Aristocrats premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Writer and director Kevin Smith embraces his warm and fuzzy side with this comedy drama about a man who learns a lot about life and love in the wake of a personal tragedy. Ollie Trinke (Ben Affleck) is a guy who seemingly has it made -- he has a great job as a music publicist with a major Manhattan public relations firm, and he's madly in love with his wife, Gertrude (Jennifer Lopez). Ollie is very much excited about the fact he and Gertrude are soon to become parents, but Ollie's joy turns to despair when Gertrude dies in childbirth. Emotionally shattered, Ollie isn't sure what to do next, and he and his newborn daughter, Gertie, soon move to New Jersey to live with his father, Bart (George Carlin), who grows tired of playing babysitter after several months. Juggling his career with single parenthood proves to be more than Ollie can manage, and one day he's fired after he bungles a major press event. Unable to find work, Ollie eventually takes a dead-end job in New Jersey's public works department, and devotes himself to his daughter as he retreats from his own life. But after frequent visits to the local video store, he strikes up a friendship with Maya (Liv Tyler), a pretty girl who works behind the counter. As Ollie finally begins to come out of his shell, he's offered a chance to move back into the music industry, but he realizes that would mean moving back to Manhattan -- and Gertie (Raquel Castro), now seven years old, makes it clear she doesn't want to go. Jersey Girl also features cameo performances from Kevin Smith regulars Jason Lee and Matt Damon, and significantly is Smith's first feature not to include Jason Mewes and Smith himself as stoner archetypes Jay and Silent Bob. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

George Carlin has had a long, mutually beneficial relationship with the cable company HBO. This release documents a 1999 special by the comic entitled You Are All Diseased. Carlin fires away at such favorite targets as religion, airport security, and the ridiculousness of American culture. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

On the cusp of stardom, standup comic Maija DiGiorgio suffered an emotional breakdown while performing before a room packed with a number of the comedy industry's head honchos -- whom were on the receiving end of DiGiorgio's obscenity-laced outburst -- at the Aspen Comedy Festival. Subsequently faced with a nearly industry-wide blacklisting as a result, the comic (and film school graduate) came upon the idea of creating a film journal to document her struggles within the industry, as well as within her own psyche. The result is Bitter Jester, DiGiorgio's 2003 film that started as a document of self-examination and evolved into an examination of success and achievement within the standup circuit. Greatly assisted by the contacts and prestige of executive producer Richard Belzer -- a friend and former employer of DiGiorgio's boyfriend and co-conspirator Kenny Simmons -- DiGiorgio proceeds to gain access to a surprising berth of comedy legends, including Chevy Chase, Richard Pryor, Phyllis Diller, Whoopi Goldberg, and George Carlin, all of whom dispense insightful and sometimes surprising opinions about their individual achievements. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide

Celebrate the winter season with Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends on the Island of Sodor in Thomas' Christmas Wonderland, featuring the voices of Alec Baldwin and George Carlin. The stories include "Snow," "Thomas' Christmas Party," "Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree," "Terence the Tractor," "Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure," and "Special Funnel." The special musical segment features "The Snow Song." This release is recommended for kids aged three to six. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

In this hourlong made-for-cable comedy special, taped live at the Beacon Theater in New York City, veteran comic George Carlin combines his typically dirty-mouthed observational humor -- including material from his book Napalm & Silly Putty -- with jokes and anecdotes of a decidedly splenetic nature. An extended introduction establishes Carlin's New York credentials and addresses the aftermath of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks of September 11, 2001 (which occurred after most of the set's material was written). Carlin then lightens the mood, poking fun at a wide range of subjects, from farts and "lip crud" to traffic accidents and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Once he's warmed up, though, the meat of his performance consists of a list of "People Who Ought To Be Killed." These include readers of self-help books, parents who display bumper stickers about their kids' "minor academic achievements," men who use hands-free cellular telephones on the street, people who wear visors, singers without surnames, folks who state the obvious on their answering machines, hot air balloonists, consumers who buy gum and other small-ticket items with their charge cards, gun enthusiasts and would-be space colonists. Over-the-top profanity and oblique social commentary lace each of these extended complaints and grievances. The final piece of material -- an explanation of why the Ten Commandments should have been reduced down to the Two Commandments -- brings the set full circle as Carlin vents his political and religious beliefs and makes pointed barbs at religious fanatics who kill in the name of god. George Carlin: Complaints and Grievances was broadcast live on HBO on Nov. 17, 2001. The comic's longstanding relationship with HBO stretches back to 1977; Complaints and Grievances is his 13th special for the premium cable network. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

The frequently recurring title characters, employed by writer and director Kevin Smith as supporting players in several of his films, are put to rest with this comedy that focuses on them exclusively. Jay (Jason Mews) and Silent Bob (Smith) are a pair of stoned New Jersey slackers who have long been used as the templates for a pair of popular comic book heroes, Bluntman and Chronic. When they learn that their alter egos are to be turned into a major motion picture without their consent or compensation, the pair sets off for Hollywood to sabotage the production. Along the way, they encounter an ape, a nun (Carrie Fisher), the cast of Scooby-Doo, a Charlie's Angels-style band of sexy women who use them as stool pigeons in a diamond heist, and an unhinged wildlife ranger (Will Ferrell). They also meet up with some regulars from the Smith canon, including Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams), Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks, Jason Lee as Banky Edwards, Alanis Morissette as God, and actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in dual roles as themselves and two other familiar characters. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back co-stars numerous other recognizable performers in roles of various sizes, including Shannen Doherty, Jason Biggs, James Van Der Beek, Shannon Elizabeth, Tracy Morgan, Judd Nelson, Chris Rock, and George Carlin, among others. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Part of the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends video series, children will learn the importance of working together with others through this video, which includes a "best-of" compilation of episodes, from on the PBS television series, about getting along and working nicely and being friendly with other people. The episodes included on this tape are "Old Iron," "James in a Mess," "Duck Takes Charge," "Tenders & Turntables," "Percy Proves a Point," "Trust Thomas," and "Percy & the Signal." Thomas and his friends Gordon, Sir Topham Hatt, Percy, James, and the rest of the crew are all present on these educational yet fun episodes on getting along while working or playing with others. This video is for children ages one to five. ~ Cecilia Cygnar, All Movie Guide

Would you believe that the last living descendent of Jesus Christ is a woman working at an abortion clinic in Illinois? And that she's been sent on a holy mission with two minor characters from Clerks and Mallrats as her guides? Prepare to suspend any and all disbelief as you watch the religious satire Dogma, the fourth film from writer/director Kevin Smith. Bethany (Linda Fiorentino) has been disappointed in life and has found her faith severely tested after her husband leaves her when she discovers she cannot have children. So Bethany is all the more puzzled when she's approached by Metatron (Alan Rickman), a grumpy angel. Metatron wants her to help him stop Bartleby (Ben Affleck) and Loki (Matt Damon), two fallen angels who were ejected from paradise, have escaped from exile and are heading to New Jersey. If they are able to pass through the arc of a certain church, it will prove God is fallible and the world will come to a swift end. Bethany has no idea what to do or why she's been given this project, but she heads out anyway, with her assigned assistants Jay (Jason Mewes), an appallingly rude former dope dealer and self-styled ladies man, and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith). Along the way, Bethany picks up more helpers, including a celestial muse named Serendipity (Salma Hayek) and Rufus (Chris Rock), who claims to have been the 13th apostle and that Jesus owes him 12 dollars. Boasting a huge supporting cast -- including George Carlin, Jason Lee, Janeane Garofalo, Bud Cort, and Alanis Morissette (as God) -- Dogma proved to be highly controversial even before its release. Miramax Pictures, owned by Disney, financed the film, but several weeks before Dogma's world premier at the Cannes Film Festival, they announced they would not release the picture and intended to sell it to another distributor (which would turn out to be Lions Gate Films). Director Smith, however, has always contended that Dogma is a film about the importance of faith, if not organized religion. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This video offers viewers a taste of comedian George Carlin at his best, before a live and appreciative audience. Filmed live in New York City, Carlin offers viewers a wide range of his unique comedy style, from his observational humor to his often cutting remarks about society and government. Intended for adult audiences, parents will likely find that the language and content of this video make it inappropriate for younger viewers. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide