A new George Carlin comedy special has been released on YouTube, despite the fact that the comedian has been deceased for over 15 years. The special, cleverly titled George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead!, is attributed to the AI-generated Dudesy, with the Dudesy voice introducing the hourlong special by likening it to “Andy Kaufman impersonating Elvis or like Will Ferrell impersonating George W. Bush.”
But George Carlin’s daughter, Kelly Carlin, isn’t convinced or amused by the argument. In a statement posted this week on X, Kelly Carlin said:
“My dad spent a lifetime perfecting his craft from his very human life, brain and imagination. No machine will ever replace his genius. These AI generated products are clever attempts at trying to recreate a mind that will never exist again. Let’s let the artist’s work speak for itself. Humans are so afraid of the void that we can’t let what has fallen into it stay there. Here’s an idea, how about we give some actual living human comedians a listen to? But if you want to listen to the genuine George Carlin, he has 14 specials that you can find anywhere.”
Dudesy is an AI-generated podcast “host” in which it learns from existing data to generate and speak on a range of topics. A weekly Dudesy podcast and YouTube show is co-hosted by actual humans Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen, who do not appear on the new “Carlin” special.
In George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead!, Dudesy introduces the AI-generated stand-up routine by explaining that the jokes will address “subject matter I think would have interested [Carlin] today” Topics include mass shootings, transgender rights and billionaires including Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. (Sample “Carlin” observation: “The world is teetering closer and closer to the edge of World War III on a daily basis and the American public is debating who can and can’t compete in recreational f*cking floating!”)
In an exchange in the replies section of her X statement, Kelly Carlin squared off with Michael Crane, who hosts a YouTube entertainment channel about wrestling.
“Art is art,” Crane wrote to Carlin. “You’re simply caught in a greedy mindset (the others might be doing it as well), when not realizing this will simply bring more eyes to your dad. You’re concerned about money and not spreading art.”
Kelly Carlin responded, “I’m worried about his legacy. His reputation. His art. I’m allowed to do that as his daughter and while I’m alive. It’s important that these corporations don’t rape & pillage art. Don’t assume you understand who I am and what values I live by.”
George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead! is the second Dudesy comedy special, the first being a stand-up routine using the AI-generated voice of former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The special was removed after Brady threatened legal action.
This all seems so ridiculous to me. There are tons of comedians out there to watch and support and discuss. With YouTube and podcasts, we have more content than ever. I get missing your favorite comedian, especially one who was so vocal about social issues, but I think it’s better to move on than to pretend to know what they would have said if they were still around. What do you think?
via: Deadline
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