Tony Hendra Will Pay Tribue to His Buddy George Carlin

The original editor of National Lampoon, author of “Father Joe,” and all around funny guy Tony Hendra checked in with Imus today to a) make fun of him, and b) talk about an upcoming event in honor of our late pal George Carlin at the New York Public Library.

But first, Hendra would have to sit through a mind-numbingly redundant argument between Imus and Charles about newspapers, or something, causing Hendra to impatiently declare, “This is really embarrassing, this old lesbian spat here.”

Back to the issue at hand, A Tribute to George Carlin will take place Wednesday, March 24, as part of the New York Public Library’s Live at the Library series. Hosted by Whoopi Goldberg and featuring Ben Stiller, his comedic parents Jerry Stiller and Ann Meara, director Kevin Smith, and many others.

“We’re doing a segment about the seven words you can never say on television,” said Hendra, referring to what is widely considered Carlin’s most famous bit. “Which, as you probably know, became a Supreme Court case.”

Given recent news that Pope Benedict’s brother, a priest in Ireland, might have taken part in abusing innocent children, Hendra, whose book “Father Joe” is about his 40-year friendship with a deeply spiritual monk, commented, “The Pope is in a jam.”

He’s in such a jam, in fact, that he might have to step down, leading Imus, Charles, and Hendra to wonder how that sort of event would transpire. Would it be a dramatic, Nixon-like farewell from the door of a plane, his hands waving overhead flashing dual peace signs as he proclaims, “I am not a pope”?

“Any longer,” Hendra added.

Tickets to A Tribute to George Carlin can be purchased at www.NYPL.org, or by finding out where Hendra lives and banging on his door until he gives you some.

-Julie Kanfer