George Carlin: The Counterculture Comic

The legendary comedian whose routine about forbidden words led to a landmark legal battle over free speech.

• The Arrest (1972): Arrested at Summerfest in Milwaukee for performing his ‘Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television’ routine.
• The Charge: Police charged him with disorderly conduct and profanity, claiming he caused a disturbance.
• The Legacy: The case was dismissed, but a later broadcast of the routine led to a Supreme Court ruling (FCC v. Pacifica) defining ‘indecency’ on air.