Bill Maher - classic!

Of course, I like John Maher; and also Fred Maher's drumming on Lloyd Cole's early solo work - magnificent.

I used to think that he was unbearable -- but get past his smirk and he has some intelligent things to say.

http://www.thezreview.co.uk/posters/posterimages/d/dccab.jpg

Since no one has really responded to Maria D's question, I'll go ahead and agree- it was exciting to see Michael Moore butt heads with protofascist David Dreier, and to Maher there representing Common Sense, backing up more, and shutting up Dreier.

Also exciting was proving how ridiculous Nader's stance is, though the former PM of Canada made the point stronger than the comedians (they are comedians, both Moore and Maher, remember).

hurray for those who don't fall neatly into one camp -- it shows they think for themselves.

-- Maria D. (maria...), July 31st, 2004 4:15 PM. (later)

Thinking for yourself = classic; Pro death penalty = unthinking acceptance of american cultural values (but that's my opinion)

huh? i thought the hipoisie CW on maher was that he was a crypto-fascist hack, ie his whole schtick is making a very average american political position sound angry and 'edgy' and somehow under attack.
-- g--ff (gffcnn...), July 31st, 2004 8:41 PM

If only the average american political position was an eagerness to legalize marijuana, and acknowledgement that the terrorists are 'courageous' if nothing else. Crypto-fascist? That's Brit Hume, not Bill Maher.

xpost Ann Coulter - I had a theory that he was sleeping with her- why else would he even listen to her babble?

thanks google

-- oops (don'temailmenicelad...), July 28th, 2004.

I think that's probably why he seems so smug and off-putting to me. That and the skeeviness.

Impending fatherhood is starting to play havoc with his MIND!

democrats are crazy, republicans are crazy. why oh why isn't there a politics for NORMAL ASSHOLES like u & me?" BEWARE PPL WHO SAY THIS KIND OF THING.

like Nader? heh.

Kim Campbell, whom I believe was a Conservative PM, made a very parliamentocentric argument to Nader who quite obviously understood none of it. It was funny to see Maher and Moore on a stage together and the most narcissistic person there was still Nader.

I think it's unfair to refer to David Dreier as a crypto-fascist. He's just an old fashioned conservative asshat. Watching Moore and Dreier argue made me realise how screwed we are in this country. Both had valid points surrounded by irrational and illogical nuttiness. Moore is just an amalgam of (mostly)incoherent resentments against the Bush regime and Dreier just a relatively incoherent Bush loyalist. Twenty years from now, when the emotion has been switched to other subjects, historians will look back at all this and wince at both sides'self importance and inability to appeal to anything except their uncritical bases.

Of course, 'libertarian' had a meaning long before the 'Libertarian Party' came along, so who knows what he means.

You don't really hear this kind of stance on televison. Thinking back on this moment, and the way the news cut away from Sharpton's convention speech, because he went away from the script, political comedians like Maher seem sadly neccesary.

but back to fresh air, after Maher, she had colin quinn on and he just sounded like the biggest fucking idiot you have ever heard in your life.

xp some of his shows can be worthwhile.

still, better, more substantive debate is had on ep of Crossballs...

Richard Pryor was the first winner. Bob Newhart, Carl Reiner, Steve Martin, George Carlin, Bill Murray, etc....some duds too, but I guess comedy's all subjective. But Mel Brooks refused the award three times and Robin Williams also refused the award.

I'm on the edge of my seat over whether Maher will accept it. He's so well known for his modesty, a humble craftsman.

No prize for you, Bill Maher.

If the award is presented by the Trump Center for Performing Arts and Sycophancy, then this means Maher has missed his perfect chance to stand on his dignity and refuse it. I'm sure he's disappointed, but wait until you hear who does get the award.

Russell Brand

So the next few years are going to be some combo of Gutfeld, Joe Piscopo, Joe Rogan, Rob Schneider, Whitney Cummings...

Kelsey Grammer

If it's Dennis Miller, at least I can pretend it's for his mid-'80s run on Weekend Update. (Easy for me when it's like 95% of what I've seen from Dennis Miller.) Same with Joe Piscopo's work with Eddie Murphy on SNL - he was the best and only constant foil for Murphy during their time there. (Also, he had a good novelty record that he recorded around the same time.)

Piscopo apparently so hard to work with SNL staffers had a running joke - "Eddie Murphy's success has gone to Joe Piscopo's head".

Bill Maher will win the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the Kennedy Center said Thursday, less than a week after the White House forcefully denied that the comedian, who has had a hot-and-cold relationship with President Donald Trump, would win it.

Oy veh

If Maher actually has to give it to Trump, that is a really fucking sad level of fealty and venality.

Trump is much funnier than Bill Maher, so it would also be correct.

otoh idiocy that's unintentionally funny doesn't deserve to be recognized with that kind of prize, not unless they rename it as the Mark Twain Prize for American Stupidity.