If you miss Real Time as much as I do....
June 15, 2006 1:47 PM   Subscribe

Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher Not quite as politically charged as Real Time or Politically Incorrect, it's Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher. Previous guests include: Jon Favreau, Dean Koontz, The Dixie Chicks and Josh Ritter.
posted by matkline (24 comments total)
 
I enjoyed his show back when it was on broadcast (I don't get HBO) but he just seems like such a smarmy dude.
posted by delmoi at 1:48 PM on June 15, 2006


What an ass this guy is. Once while clubbing in Vegas, he threw a fit about standing in a long bathroom line. "Do you know who I am?" he kept shouting? Seriously.
posted by b_thinky at 2:01 PM on June 15, 2006


Derek says it sucks and it sounds like some over the top long-form branding commercial. Is it really that bad?
posted by mathowie at 2:02 PM on June 15, 2006


Derek thinks it sounds like a cheap imitation of Politically Incorrect, which is now a pretty has-been formula for shows.
posted by cellphone at 2:04 PM on June 15, 2006


Bill Maher makes a really good argument for 180th (or however old he is times 3) trimester abortions.
posted by fenriq at 2:13 PM on June 15, 2006


b_thinky: hil-air-rious!
posted by sonofsamiam at 2:16 PM on June 15, 2006


How to tell you're not in a good club? Bill Maher is there.
posted by delmoi at 2:19 PM on June 15, 2006


Mildly entertaining, don't think I'll be rushing back for seconds. Good idea though.

b_thinky, for real? Maybe he was coked out of his brain or something because he comes across as a reasonably self-effacing guy on his shows... I've definitely enjoyed some of his work on Real Time.
posted by Onanist at 2:27 PM on June 15, 2006


I wish he'd get a show without a live audience. Nothing is worse than all that hooting and hollering at every stupid half-baked platitude uttered by some posturing celeb or comic (and I don't normally mind hearing celebs talking about politics).
posted by mullacc at 3:00 PM on June 15, 2006


His opening monolgues have always suffered from poor delivery, in my opinion.
posted by Mach3avelli at 3:19 PM on June 15, 2006


Surprised to see all the Maher hate here, as I've always held him in the same regard as Colbert and Stewart as cutting-edge comedians. And Real Time's guests have always been top-notch - Who else on TV actually has former heads of state join their discussions of politics?

And New Rules are consistently rofl funny.
posted by mek at 5:47 PM on June 15, 2006


I think his HBO show is very good, but I do also get the feeling that I wouldn't like him much in person. Delmoi's adjective "smarmy" describes it pretty well, I guess.
posted by uosuaq at 6:29 PM on June 15, 2006


b_thinky, for real? Maybe he was coked out of his brain or something because he comes across as a reasonably self-effacing guy on his shows... I've definitely enjoyed some of his work on Real Time.
posted by Onanist at 2:27 PM PST on June 15 [+fave] [!]


I shit you not. This was back in 99, I was a semi-regular viewer of his show at that point. I'd heard some things about him to that effect (that he's an arrogant prick) but ever since that moment I literally can't stomach him. Even if he makes a point that holds water logically, it's just repulsive.

Bill Maher is an ass.
posted by b_thinky at 7:27 PM on June 15, 2006


Surprised to see all the Maher hate here, as I've always held him in the same regard as Colbert and Stewart as cutting-edge comedians.

It doesn't surprise me that people don't like Bill Maher, he does come across as kind of a prick (and the bit I've read about it seems to confirm that). But I liked P.I. and I like Real Time as well. Once you get past the smarm, Maher is acually very, very astute with politics. You can compare him to John Stewart, but JS not really a stand-up comedian (yeah, I know, he was one). Maher is all comedian, old-school even--witness his awkward Johnny Carson-esue monologues. Both guys take themselves way too seriously, but one thing I like better about Real Time is that he tackles a lot more stuff--in part because it's an hour-long show.
posted by zardoz at 8:08 PM on June 15, 2006


He occasionally makes some good points and the show is often pretty funny, but I just don't know how seriously I can take someone who starred as Mullet Man #1 in Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death...
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 7:22 AM on June 16, 2006


He's an ass, but at least he reads and tries to argue honestly.

I didn't think Fishbowl was all that great, but it's an intriguing idea, and it could become something interesting and a little different.
posted by chicobangs at 8:14 AM on June 16, 2006


Interesting? Different?

Sort of like Amazon.com's improved recommendation services! Try them today!
posted by sonofsamiam at 8:24 AM on June 16, 2006


I really like Real Time, but didn't like Politically Incorrect- it packed too many controversial issues into too short segments with too many people yelling over each other. However, Real Time can be quite thought-provoking. It is only as good as its guests, so sometimes requires just fast forwarding to New Rules. I'm still waiting for my mom to send me this past season on vhs.

Hmm, I'm not liking the quality of sound on fishbowl so far.
posted by overanxious ducksqueezer at 10:04 AM on June 16, 2006


Real Time should be required viewing (ala Clockwork Orange) for anyone who continues to support the current administration.

Amazon Fishbowl may just be the Methadone I need to get me through until my next fix of Real Time.

P.S. Anyone b_thinky dislikes = recommended veiwing IMHO.
posted by HyperBlue at 11:10 AM on June 16, 2006


viewing
posted by HyperBlue at 11:10 AM on June 16, 2006


Real Time should be required viewing (ala Clockwork Orange) for anyone who continues to support the current administration.

Yeah, cuz what Ben Affleck thinks is, like, soooo important!
posted by b_thinky at 11:45 AM on June 16, 2006


I LOVE Bill Maher. almost as much asthat girl who loves Anderson Cooper
posted by ackeber at 12:15 PM on June 16, 2006


sonofsamiam, I did make a point of saying "could become." It's awful shilly so far.
posted by chicobangs at 1:09 PM on June 16, 2006


BILL MAHER MAKES MY GENITALS SWELL
(all of them)
posted by overanxious ducksqueezer at 2:43 PM on June 16, 2006


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