Bleep! Bleep! George Carlin To Receive Mark Twain Humor Prize

"It was a very big event in his life and his career," said Bob Kaminsky, an executive producer of the Twain evening. "It is a long way from the stage at the Cafe Au Go Go on Bleecker Street to the chambers of the Supreme Court."

Carlin, a native of New York City, started his career in 1956 at a radio station in Shreveport, La., when he was in the Air Force. In the early '60s, he began his solo act and his performances and albums were instant hits.

He struggled with personal issues. In the 1970s he developed a cocaine habit and heart problems, according to his Web site.

With the advent of cable television, his audience expanded and he did a series of specials for HBO. But his fans grew younger when he did the voice for the American version of "Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends" as well as appearances as Mr. Conductor on "Shining Time Station."

Carlin has been embraced by the Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor generation, as well as the followers of Chris Rock and Stephen Colbert.

"He is observational. He observes human nature and that is part of the parallel between him and Twain. They both love language, and George would say a lot of his humor comes from language," Kaminsky said.

Cited in Carlin's case are his questioning of unnecessary words, such as seating area, free-of-charge and emergency situations.

In 2004, he was voted No. 2 on Comedy Central's 100 greatest stand-ups, trailing only Pryor.

The tribute will be held Nov. 10 at the Kennedy Center, taped by WETA-Channel 26 and broadcast in February by PBS stations. Tickets go on sale Aug. 11.