Carlin was a stand-up comedian whose set list included topics as diverse as language, religion, psychology, and politics. He is renowned for his "Seven Dirty Words" routine, which played a vital role in the 1978 Supreme Court case FCC v Pacifica Foundation.

According to documents requested by Shawn Musgrave, the FBI first took notice of Carlin following his 1969 Jackie Gleason appearance where he "referred to the Bureau and the Director in a satirical vein." They maintain that the bit was "considered to be in very poor taste" and "it was obvious that he was using the prestige of the Bureau and Mr. Hoover to enhance his performance."