‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson’ welcomed controversial comic George Carlin in 1972. The two men discussed George’s arrest for saying the ‘Seven dirty words’ in a comedy routine.
Johnny starts the interview by making George promise he won’t get him into trouble! Johnny says, “I’ve been reading about your problems in Milwaukee, and they busted you there or tried to bust you, or there’s a court case pending.”
Johnny continues, “Because you allegedly, let me put it that way, used some words in your act that brought about a bust saying that you were, what was the technical language in the situation?”
George responds, “Disorderly conduct hyphen profanity. As opposed to, I guess, disorderly conduct, drunk disorderly conduct, or something else. The state didn’t want to have anything to do with it, and they didn’t want to prosecute because you’re covered by the first amendment and freedom of speech.”
He continues saying that in the city, the police always remind him of how he plays in every place. They also remind him of the “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television.” Johnny and George start to discuss the first amendment, and Johnny says it doesn’t protect everything you say.
He tells George that there are limits that are set in place. They talk about whether George uses these words often and if he is careful with how he says them. George says it depends on how you feel. He tells Johnny, if you’re angry, leave those words out of it because they could be hurtful.
George believes if you are relaxed and messing around with friends, then those words are acceptable. George says it all depends on how you are saying the word. Johnny listens intently and finds the topic extremely interesting throughout the interview.
