George Carlin (1937–2008) stated he was “changed forever” by the comedy of Lenny Bruce (1925–1966): “The defiance inherent in that material, the brilliance of the mimicry, the intellect at work, the freedom he had.” In Carlin’s early career, he believed that the role of a comedian was to speak out against authority. Carlin’s approach mellowed on his television appearances, but by the late 1960s, he had regained the role of social satirist.