Carlin performing

Forty years ago today, on July 21, 1972, logical comedian, George Carlin, was arrested for performing “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television“ at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. So began Carlin’s association with the great debate over Obscene v. Indecent that would surface again the following year in the famous FCC v. Pacifica case, also involving Carlin’s routine.

Having not been alive in 1972, it wasn’t until the 1980s that I saw Carlin’s infamous banned routine. I now have friends that have posters of this routine printed out for all to read. My partner has the list of words memorized. Carlin’s stance on censorship means as much today as it did back in 1972 when he was arrested for saying those words.

So, for all those rebellious types out there, I give you…Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television (but thankfully we aren’t on television, are we?) ;D

Related articles

• The Court Flees from Expletives (newyorker.com)
• You Can’t Say That on Television: 40 Years of Debating Dirty Words (time.com)
• George Carlin (b:May 12, 1937 – d:June 22, 2008) George WAS the MAN (mikesfilmtalk.com)