The George Carlin of the 1960s
For most, memories of George Carlin on television come from his many HBO specials starting from the 1970s and continuing up until the present day. For others, it was his appearance during the very first Saturday Night Live back in 1975. But, there was another George Carlin that many don’t remember. That is the very young George Carlin from the 1960s.
Before the beard, and the long hair, and the swearing and his “the world is doomed” attitude, George Carlin was a traditional suit-and-tie stand-up comic. He began by teaming up with comedian Jack Burns in the late 1950s, then eventually went his own way. During that time he came up with a number of famous routines including “The Indian Sergeant,” “The Hippy-Dippy Weatherman,” and “Wonderful WINO.” Many of these routines would be performed on shows like The Tonight Show (both the Jack Paar and Johnny Carson versions) and the Ed Sullivan Show.
After the jump you’ll see two examples of his mid-60s television appearances.
The first one may or may not be from the Ed Sullivan Show. Either way, it features Carlin performing “The Indian Sergeant.” The second video is from a 1966 episode of The Tonight Show, with Carlin as Al Sleet — the Hippie-Dippie Weatherman. The Tonight Show video will probably more familiar to those viewers who have spent numerous early morning hours watching television since it was part of the Tonight Show DVD infomerical that aired for several years.
Snipes Headed to the Slammer
Wesley Snipes fought the law. Unfortunately for him, the law won.
Senior U.S. District Judge William Terrell Hodges has sentenced the tax-averse Blade star to three years in prison, resulting from his conviction on three misdemeanor counts of willful failure to file a tax return earlier this year.
The punishment is the maximum sentence Snipes could face after a federal jury found him guilty on Feb. 1.
When a reporter asked Snipes outside the courthouse whether he had anything to say, the actor spread his arms and said, "Like what?"
"Not now," lawyer Dan Meachum added.
The Major League player was not immediately taken into custody, nor was codefendant Douglas Rosile, a former accountant who filled out Snipes' IRS-snubbing paperwork. He was sentenced to 54 months behind bars with three years supervised release. Snipes will get to serve one year on supervised release.
Eddie Ray Kahn, the founder of American Rights Litigators and the head of a group that supports the "legal" avoidance of income taxes, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He had refused to defend himself during the trial.
Snipes and Rosile, who along with Kahn was convicted of felony charges of tax fraud and conspiracy, will remain free until summoned by authorities to turn themselves in.
The harsh sentences came down after a daylong hearing in Ocala, Fla., in which both sides repeated their arguments as to whether or not the 45-year-old action star should face prison time for his IRS-dodging ways.
Snipes donned a black suit and tie for his day in court, arriving at the courthouse with an entourage of roughly a dozen briefcase-toting hangers-on.
In court, he apologized for his actions in a prepared statement, although he never used the word "taxes," as in, his "willful failure to pay them."
"I am an idealistic, naive, passionate, truth-seeking, spiritually motivated artist, unschooled in the science of law and finance," Snipes said, referring to himself as "well-intended but miseducated."
TV gavel-wielder Judge Greg Mathis was among those present in the courtroom for the sentencing. Mathis, along with Woody Harrelson, Denzel Washington and another small-screen jurist, Judge Joe Brown, wrote letters in defense of Snipes, which were made public yesterday and read in court today prior to the actor's sentencing.
The prosecution had long made clear they were gunning for the maximum sentence for the star.
While jurors cleared Snipes of two felony charges and three additional misdemeanors back in February, he was found guilty of willful failure to file his returns between 1999-2001, neglecting to report millions of dollars of income to the IRS. The exact figure ended up being contested, with Snipes' attorneys claiming the star was liable for only $228,000, while the feds claimed the figure was considerably higher$2.7 million, to be exact.
When Carmen Hernandez, one of Snipes' attorneys, argued regardless that this morning that Snipes' crimes weren't serious enough to warrant the maximum sentence, Hodges quickly set her straight.
"Any offense that places my liberty at risk is a serious one," the judge replied.
In a 37-page memo to the court filed earlier this month, U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill called Snipes a "notorious" and repeat offender who should be made an example, not only because of the amount of money involved, but because of the high-profileand, O'Neill said, misleadingnature of the case.
In his petition, he said the star's team has spun the jury's convictions "in the mainstream media as a 'victory' for Snipes" and urged the judge to send the message that Snipes did not in fact "beat the rap."
Job done.
Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt’s Day at the Derby
Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt’s Day at the Derby
Reality co-star couple Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt were on hand in the bluegrass state, as the duo attended the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday (May 3).
Held at the famed Churchill Downs track, the stars of The Hills gladly posed for photographers upon arrival, with Heidi wearing a strapless, multi-colored floral print dress with a pink Kentucky Derby hat and Spencer sticking with a seasonable suit and tie.
During the race, the peroxide blonde pair cheered on as Big Brown validated himself as a super horse Saturday by winning the granddaddy of all equestrian races.
On a sad note, the event had a tragic end - “as filly Eight Belles, who finished second, had to be euthanized on the track after collapsing and breaking both front ankles.”
Rachel and Hayden’s Tokyo “Jumper” Premiere
Rachel and Hayden’s Tokyo “Jumper” Premiere
Arriving in Japan a few days ago, Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen made a Tuesday trip to the Jumper Premiere at Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills in Tokyo.
For the premiere, Rachel wore a “watercolor” dress and styled up her hair to show off a bangy new ‘do. Hayden, meanwhile, stuck with the classic suit and tie.
Accompanied by director Doug Liman, the co-star couple are hoping to see the same success when their new flick hits theaters in Japan on March 7th as they did opening week in the States.
As previously reported by , Jumper soared to the top of the box office after it’s Valentine’s Day release. This past weekend, the film continued to draw strong crowds, pulling in $21.9 million.