I'm just curious if anyone else watches this program and if they enjoy it.

Bill Maher is hilarious. He talks about various current events and issues candidly and very humorously. While I don't necessarily agree with everything he says, the overall panel discussions as well as other guests seems pretty compelling. I like the fact that he just says what he thinks and is not afraid to state his opinion on whatever it is. It makes you realize how culturally taboo so many things are and why progress is made difficult if not impossible.

What do people think?

No Bill Maher fans, eh? What a shame. I know we had some Liberal and Moderate people based on conversations before! lol

Love that show!! The one with Sean Penn and Garry Shandling a few weeks back. I know it is supposed to be funny, but they get into some great debates sometime. Bill Maher is the best.

Garry was hilarious. I had no idea Sean Penn was that knowledgeable and passionate about politics. I thought that Harold Ford, Jr. was really cool too.

Also, I think it's cool that Maher is honest about being an atheist. That is one of the points I disagree with him on. I believe in God, but I don't participate in organized religion of any sect. I just am a spiritual person who believes there is one God and that I can pray to that being anywhere. But still, I respect Mahers atheistic perspective because that is what our nation is about, having different opinions.

New Rules is awesome too. I love the ironic satire of the titles and how he goes after pop cultural and political subjects with such a politically incorrect yet comedic style.

I love Bill Maher but can't get him on TV anymore...do watch Colbert Report and Daily Show on Comedy Central...WISH I had seen Garry Shandling--love him! Just got him as a myspace friend (www.myspace.com/garryshandling) and bought his new DVD!! He is great!!
Wow!! Just found out that segment is on youtube--yippee!! Thanks for the heads-up!

LOL, for sure.

HBO is a really cool network in general. Unfortunately, the last episode for the season was on. I wish there was more! They had PJ O'Rourke and Ben Affleck as the panel with Ron Paul as a guest/satillite interview. It was definitely an interesting show.

The funny thing is, some people would label him as an "extreme" liberal. Yet, I think he comes up with very rational arguments in favor of more liberally Democratic beliefs in order to make our country the best it can be. Plus, add that to the fact that he can state his beliefs in a satirical/humorous way. It's just a fun show both for entertainment as well as political discussion/discourse from a wide range of people.

We have to have our building rewired for HBO--hope to get it soon...but don't have much time lately--too busy lstening to Elliott, lol!

He talked about Sanjaya acouple of times during his monologues. It was pretty funny. I think Maher actually went to AI during Barry Gibb week and saw the show. He was interviewed on AI Extra that week and they showed him in the audience on the actual show, if I remember.

If you like Garry, I think his myspace page could definitely use some good comments! I already posted about 4--figure that's enough, lol!!

Sounds cool. I still need to add him as a friend lol.

His Cell Phone went off right in the middle of the show.....lmao

Yuh, he's a hot ticket--his new DVD combo is hilarious! Like Maher too...

In general, I think people are looking to find the humor in everyday things. Especially with the overall state of the world. That's why I like this show so much. It provides intellectual discussion and even debate on various topics, but with the addition of humor. I'm not saying that you shouldn't watch other more serious and purely informative news, but Maher's show brings an entertainment element to subjects of great gravity pretty successfully.

I just found this thread. Didn't know about it. Love Bill Maher. I love fearless truth tellers that keep laughter up front and center. Yes, cultural taboos abound in our current climate and it's a pretty lonely place right now to be aiming at them. This is why Bill Maher is soooo important. Makes a little wiggle room for the rest of us to speak the truth as we know it.

I say, thank you whomever you believe in, for Bill Maher!! And thank you HBO for continuing to have the courage to air programs like Bill's. It's one of the main reasons I have HBO. I saw him live a couple of years back in Portland, Oregon. The experience was so uplifting and refreshing - as our most of his tv shows. I love how there's a forum for intelligent, articulate thinkers to have lively, no holds barred discussions without screaming and derision.

Some shows are better than others, as in all things. Did anyone happen to catch the one/ones with Ben Affleck? The man should seriously consider jumping into the political arena. He obviously spends a good amount of time researching the issues and developing a clear analysis on many important issues of the day. I find him a way more powerful proponent on political topics than I do as an actor.

I am so going to miss this show during the break! It's like sustenance for me!

It's great to hear that you appreciate Maher too Movin'.

Ben Affleck does seem to know a great deal about politics as well as Sean Penn. I love the panel discussions because for the majority of the time they do have intelligent discourse about topical issues in both Domestic and Foreign policy. The main notion Bill seems to always come around to is how pertinent it is to have conversations and enlightening debates on a wide range of Political and Social topics.

He also has a range of people as panelists from varying political affiliation and overall walks of life. It's a great thing to see a diverse number of people debate these topics.

ITA :yes:

I'm going to miss of all of the hilarity of this show till next season. Out of curiosity, who are your other favorite comedians? (Political or not)

Mine are: Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Sarah Silverman, Billy Crystal, Dane Cook, Richard Pryor, Josh Blue, and a few others.

love that show...I enjoyed the Sean Penn appearance & the Ben Affleck night was good aswell. I always look forward to the 'New Rules'. I often cheat & go on HBO.com & read them first. He's a clever guy. Actually I'm just a HBO addict. This is one of my faves:


"And finally, New Rule: Conservatives have to stop rolling their eyes every time they hear the word, "France." Like just calling something "French" is the ultimate argument winner. As if to say, "What can you say about a country that was too stupid to get on board with our wonderfully-conceived and brilliantly-executed war in Iraq?"

And, yet, an American politician could not survive if he uttered the simple, true statement, "France has a better health care system than we do, and we should steal it." Because here, simply dismissing an idea as French passes for an argument. "John Kerry? Couldn't vote for him; he looked French." Yeah, as opposed to the other guy who just looked stupid.

Now, last week, France had an election, and people over there approach an election differently. They vote. Eighty-five percent of them turned out. You couldn't get 85% of Americans to get off the couch if there was an election between "Tits" and "Bigger Tits," and they were handing out free samples!

Now, maybe the high turnout has something to do with the fact that the French candidates are never asked where they stand on evolution, prayer in school, abortion, stem cell research or gay marriage. And if the candidate knows about a character in a book other than Jesus, it's not a drawback.

The electorate doesn't vote for the guy they want to have a croissant with; nor do they care about private lives. In the current race, Ségolène Royal has four kids, but she never got married. And she's a Socialist. In America, if a Democrat even thinks you're calling him "liberal," he grabs an orange vest and a rifle and heads into the woods to kill something!

Madame Royal's opponent is married, but they live apart and lead separate lives. And the people are okay with that for the same reason they're okay with nude beaches; because they're not a nation of six-year-olds who scream and giggle if they see pee-pee parts!

They have weird ideas about privacy. They think it should be private. In France, even the mistresses have mistresses. To not have a lady on the side says to the voters, "I'm no good at multi-tasking."

Now, like any country, France has its faults, like all that ridiculous accordion music. But, their health care is the best in the industrialized world. As is their poverty rate. And they're completely independent of Mid East oil. And they're the greenest country. And they're not fat. And they have public intellectuals in France. We have Dr. Phil!

They invented sex during the day, lingerie and the tongue. Can't we admit we could learn something from them?

So, from now on, all you high-ranking Bush Administration officials, because the French are righter than you on most things, when France comes up in conversation, you are not allowed to roll your eyes. The only time you get to do that is when your hooker from Ms. Julia is blowing you. "

New Rules is a very funny segment. The one you posted above EC, is a great example. I like the format of beginning and ending with a monologue to surmise various points he has made. It permits the audience to retain the ideas more effectively and compliments the notions spoken about well.

he's very very good at what he does...he knows it too.

I liked how there were such diverse panelists. Actors, Politicians, Musicians, Writers. They had very compelling people of variant view points converge to discuss a lot of important issues of the day. I remember John Legend was on one of the episodes earlier this past season. It's just cool to have a show like this where it's honest opinion that isn't spun.

I really miss this show. :(

Can't wait till next season!!!

I just wanted to let everyone know that he recorded a new stand-up comedy show. It's called Bill Maher: The Decider. It's absolutely hilarious. You can get it through HBO On-Demand.

You know Soul..I didn;t think it was that good. His material didn't sound too original or fresh to me. It sounded a bit regurtitated..do you know what I mean?

Really? I did recognize some of the jokes he said because he said them on his show. However, I think he highlighted a lot of really important truths and did so in a hilarious way. I liked when he would go on a tangent about a particular topic, but it still connected to the main topic. The only criticism I could find was the use of the same jokes in some portions of the set. Otherwise, I found the comedy to be entertaining and thought-provoking. I think if you follow a particular comics career as a fan, all things seem to lose their freshness, you know? You become accustomed to their style and sometimes can finish their sentences haha. It's all good. I agree this wasn't his best, but I still thought it was very good.

I love that too!! Kathy Griffin is also brilliant at doing that..it sounds so effortless & unrehearsed..very clever. I listen & wonder if they'll remember what they were talking about before going on a particular tangent & they always get back to it miraculously, which is quite remarkable when you consider I can't walk down an aisle at Publix without forgetting what I was looking for ( I'm not even in my thirties ) yet they can stand on a stage in front of a few thousand people, cameras & bright lights & remember absolutley everything they need to say!

I think Bill Maher is absolutely terrific. I watch his show when I remember to catch it, and now that the season is done I believe HBO will do re-runs again this year. I hope so.

We watched The Decider, too, and really enjoyed it.

Last year after Bush made that comment, we all got t-shirts; my husband's says, "The Decider!" and mine reads, "No. I'm the decider." and my daughters says, "Hey! But I wanna be the decider!" All from cafe press, which has a wealth of hysterical political t-shirts. They don't go over well in our uber-ultra-conservative neighborhood, but that just makes me enjoy wearing them all the more.

If you enjoy Bill Maher you must enjoy Lewis Black? To me, he is so funny that I can hardly catch my breath when he's performing. My mouth is open wide and I laugh so hard that no sound comes out at all. Red White and Screwed is absolutely hilarious. We flew into Vegas in March to go see him at the MGM. It is super-intelligent hysterical stuff. Catch his act if you can.

JackieB, I completely agree. Lewis Black is a very talented comedian as well. I gravitate towards politically and socially conscious comedians because non-spun truth is really funny. That's why people like Bill Maher, Lewis Black, and Whoopi Goldberg are among my favorite comedians. They mix interpersonal/observational life humor with social commentary to provide a unique comedy set that goes beyond just humor. It challenges your beliefs and is intellectually engaging at the sametime.

I love Lewis Black...he's one of my fav's. As for Bill Maher, well, I think he's Hugh Hefner's love child.

LOL, he does resemble him. I might have mentioned this....but I can't wait for the new season!!!

It's back. I saw a new one the other night where he touched on all the things he missed while he was off. Like the doofas in charge of the mines in Utah and so on. Also - So funny - a basket of baby stuff for Bush's daughter, including the axis of evil mobile for over the crib and the Bush INaction figure; it doesn't do anything.

Bill Maher to me, is just and out, and out socialist, and is extremely UBER rude and and degrading to those who do believe in God and hold religious beliefs. Of course I have, for the most part, conservative beliefs, but mostly when it comes to the government running or controlling ANYTHING, etc.;) I do though, completely believe in free speech etc, so I suppose he has a right to say, and believe, what he does. That is what I love about this country so much, and I hope we never lose that right...FREEDOM!!!! ;)

My fave comedians would be Will Ferrell, Chris Farley, Eddie Murphy, Gene Wilder. Wanda Sykes, Michael Ian Black, Hal Sparks, Chevy Chase, John Candy and I absolutely love Frangela..the two ladies on Best Week Ever on VH1..omg, they KILL me, and my all time fave, hands down, was Richard Pryor;)

I can't believe I missed the season premier!!?? How dare life and obligations get in the way of Real Time! lol. Thanks for the recap, Jackie.

Socialist? I'm pretty sure he labels himself as a true libertarian. More in line with the variey of Democrat that Bill Clinton was. The funny thing is, the more that time goes on, the more tiresome these labels get. Republican, Democrat, Independent, w/e. I think these things reduce us to expected stereotypes of what we should believe. I mean, how do you account for a Republican who is pro-choice or a Democrat who is Anti-immigration? I guess my point is, that we are complex beings that can't be reduced to labels. Yeah, they stand as operational social and cultural definitions, but eh lol.

I respect your view on Maher, Yellin. As you said, we all have the right to voice our opinion and live the way we like. Honestly, if more people lived with that sentiment, we would probably have a more peaceful world. Instead of being concerned with other peoples religion, sexual orientation, race, gender, socio-economic status (the list goes on), we could focus on enriching our lives and making ourselves better. In turn, we learn to be more comfortable with who we are/what believe and better interact with people vastly different from ourselves.

ok, maybe I was a bit harsh...lolll;) That is why so many people are surprised to hear that I have more conservative beliefs, or that I vote republican, but what they don't understand is that does NOT make me a "rich" no feeling, idiotic, racist, etc etc person. You are so right about labels. I just believe in things like lesser govt involvement, people taking care of themselves (although I am the first one to take care of everyone, BUT me..lol), the right to bear arms, being faithful in a marriage, fighting back when terrorists SOB's come after us..(and believe you me, it is gonna happen again, only the next time, it ain't gonna be pretty;( )I think that global warming and that people and "our big, bad SUV's etc are the cause of it" is total bull..I mean the dinosaurs didn't drive..hehe, things like that. I do though, believe in gay rights, and abortion to an extent (more if it is medically necessary etc), and I believe in the death penalty, and we need to put rapists, and child molesters, and murderers etc AWAY, no therapy, or feeling bad or sorry for CRIMINALS, or ILLEGAL immigrants needed. I am also a Christian, and I attend a congregational church filled with all kinds of people, with many diff, beliefs, and it is the kind of place that you are right, I wish the world was..non judgemental, supportive, friendly, funny, the stories the pastor tells really teaches real life skills, and kindness, etc. My husband is a UBER-conservative, and so I listen to all sides of stories, dems, repubs, indep, everyone. then just make a call on the best candidates etc for me;) I never like to judge those for feeling or believing in those they wish, as that truly is, what makes the word go round. ;) Thank you for understanding!! ;)

I really enjoy Bill Maher Yellin' & agree with a lot of his 'viewpoints' BUT it's hard to argue with your overall synopsis... :rotfl: . He is rude & beligerant at times but it's a tv show first & that's what gets him the ratings he enjoys I suppose.
I really respect people that know what they stand for fully without apology & that applies to people on both sides on the moral & political spectrum....so I say that to you also.
Indifference & apathy are worse...don't you think?

What I love about Bill Maher, and others, is that they serve a very important role in a true democratic country, of puncturing holes in status quo-sacred cows. If we, as individuals and as a society, want to evolve and grow, that means we need to look as impartially as possible at our current agreed-upon truths and see if they continue to shine as brightly after that examination.

Most of our beliefs come from those around us, be they family, church/temple, friends, co-workers, community members and also TV, newspapers, magazines, etc. The more you roam outside of those boundaries, either through travelling, especially outside one's comfort zone and into foreign places, or through reading and researching other points of view radically different from those around you, the broader your perspective gets.

Often comedians serve this function - popping holes in our current beliefs to make room for more light to be shed and perspectives to open up. The ones who play this role are often villified as stepping outside of the status quo is never easily accepted. I very much admire all those who provide this service for us.

I also want to say that Bill Maher is still a human being, with all the perfections and imperfections that accompany that status. As a woman, his views sometimes really piss me off. But that doesn't make me throw out all the other wonderful, courageous, insightful things he has to say. And whenever I notice myself getting the least bit defensive about a topic he's piercing, I look at it as an opportunity to examine why I'm so touching on that subject.

Mainly, I'm thankful that in this current world where up is down and black is white and right is wrong, it does take a comedian to point out the absurdity all around us. And it's been pointed out by many, that it's interesting that some of the most honest reporting happening on TV right now, comes to us courtesy of comedy - as in John Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher. Hummmmmm?????

ok...now you're just flat out scaring me girlfriend.. :blink:

what am I gonna do with you?...how can you have such insanely brilliant taste in men & register so far off the common sense chart... :hide:... ooooh I know you're gonna get me for that one.

you know I love ya.. :fangirly:

I can't believe you would think something like this and pass judgement like that...I expected more from you

Dinosaurs didn't drive because they knew the value of mass transit. Do you know what the single car dino driver would have done to migratory patterns? And it made economic sense as well...do you have any idea what APR financing was like back then??

I hope you take the time to reflect next time before you make such incendiary comments.

plus they couldn't afford the insurance.

What do you call a dinosaur that can't drive a car?

Tyrannosuarus Wrecks.

:yes: