Podcast: Real Time With Bill Maher, HBOFrequency: Weekly
Duration: 60 minutes
Content: In Real Time, a panel of guests discuss current events. Recent guests include Jason Alexander, Dan Rather, Martha Raddatz, Chris Rock, John Ridley, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Fmr. Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-FL), Mia Farrow, Seymour Hersh, Sen. Joe Biden, David Mamet, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Steven Weber, and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA). Whew! And that's for three podcasts!
My Critique: Bill's outrageous, yes. Inappropriate, often. Thought provoking, indeed. In danger of being vilified like Ann Coulter? No question about it. This comedian/pundit pushes the envelope and he forces people to think and react. This is where he is different from Ann Coulter:
- He's genuinely funny.
- He invites guests with opposing viewpoints to discuss topical issues.
- He's as irreverent towards the Democrats as towards the Republicans,but conservatives don't seem to pick up on that.
- He provides an entertaining, thought provoking, and enjoyable hour.
My podcasts sit in queue and are shuffled. As soon as I hear the opening bars to Bill's show, my ears prick up. No, I don't always agree with him. This is a free country after all. But I give the man credit for treating us as sentient, intelligent beings.
My Rating: Two earbuds if you are a Bill fan; none if you've attended Jerry Falwell's Liberty Univer
sity
Rating system:
Two Ear Buds: Highly recommended
One Ear Bud: Ok, but needs improvement
No ear bud: Don't bother.
Want more Maher? Click here for a Washington Post interview.
To read my other Podcast Junkie Reviews, click on the labels below.
2 comments:
I totally agree. I’m a huge Bill Maher fan. Say what you will about the man, he always manages to construct cogent arguments. I think he’s brilliant. I also think he has balls. He has appeared on the O’Reilly factor numerous times. Sadly, I think he may be a tad misogynistic and insensitive. Oh well, no one’s perfect.
I find his arguments specious and slavishly devoted to a tired old leftist agenda. I see him as the rather dim and spineless son of wealthy parents who swallowed every bit of dogma regurgitated in his direction from professors at some third-rate college.
How he's come to be perceived as a "rebel" and "politically incorrect" is beyond me. As for funny, the best comedy usually contains an element of surprise. Mrs. Maher's little boy hasn't said or done anything the least bit surprising.
I suppose it's a good gig. When he's exposed as having no factual knowledge of a subject he says, "Hey, I'm a Comedian". When the audience fails to respond to the LAUGH NOW sign, he can contend that he was being "serious for a moment".
There ARE people on the political left who are capable of viewing the world as dynamic who offer fresh ideas. Mrs. Maher's little boy isn't one fo them.
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