We're in agreement on this point. But the reality is that if one wanted to point out his impact on the entertainment industry, one of the most important aspects was that he (along with a handful of others) made it OK for a mainstream comic to work blue. Really, really, incredibly blue.
My favorite of his bits were actually pretty clean. But let's not water the old man down. He's no longer able to defend himself against sanitization.
And, I don't think his seven words bit was lacking in intelligence. I think it was one of his more astute social observations, and it was so controversial partly because it did touch a deep nerve in American culture. And the "ratshit, batshit" cheer was about the funniest thing I'd ever heard in my life. I don't know if I'd call it smart, but I'd certainly call it funny.
We're in agreement on this point. But the reality is that if one wanted to point out his impact on the entertainment industry, one of the most important aspects was that he (along with a handful of others) made it OK for a mainstream comic to work blue. Really, really, incredibly blue.
My favorite of his bits were actually pretty clean. But let's not water the old man down. He's no longer able to defend himself against sanitization.
And, I don't think his seven words bit was lacking in intelligence. I think it was one of his more astute social observations, and it was so controversial partly because it did touch a deep nerve in American culture. And the "ratshit, batshit" cheer was about the funniest thing I'd ever heard in my life. I don't know if I'd call it smart, but I'd certainly call it funny.