Slog: News & Arts

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1

Bill's costume makes him look like a gay wizard.

Posted by Pastey Boy | October 28, 2007 2:27 PM
2

But Bill, what about Harry Potter and the Balance of Earth. Even Al Gore recognizes the threat posed by dark wizards.

Posted by Giffy | October 28, 2007 2:52 PM
3

It's like Olbermann but with cutaway shots of captive grinning celebripundits. Martina looks great if unhappy to learn she's meant to sit there looking alert.

Posted by Tomasyalba | October 28, 2007 2:57 PM
4

Remember back when Bill Mahr took risks? Now he snipes at fantasy fiction geeks.

Posted by elenchos | October 28, 2007 3:04 PM
5

What? The sniping at geeks thing was a teeny, tiny part of that clip, elenchos. Methinks you got bored very quickly and stopped watching.

And god, I'm pretty sure I still don't like the guy but I want to have SO MUCH SEX with Andrew Sullivan.

Posted by chauncey | October 28, 2007 3:16 PM
6

Bummer, video is no longer working. Did big brother pull it that fast?

Posted by LT L | October 28, 2007 3:52 PM
7

Nevermind, it is working for me now. For some reason I got the "this video is no longer available" message.

Posted by LT L | October 28, 2007 4:02 PM
8

OK, yeah he dared to offend the administration with a 24% approval rating and threw a lifeline to the guy that just won a Nobel prize. Eat your heart out Lenny Bruce. But that was nothing: taking a stand against kids without Halloween costumes! No way! He's going to need a bodyguard if he's going to live on the edge like that.

Oh, and I forgot: Sullivan is a tool.

Posted by elenchos | October 28, 2007 4:22 PM
9

@8, so now that people agree wit him, he is less cool. Let me guess, your the kind of guy who only likes a band until other people do.

Posted by Giffy | October 28, 2007 4:42 PM
10

I'm not telling you whether he's cool or not cool. I'm not telling you whether he's funny or not funny.

I'm just asking if you remember back when he took risks. Compare that with the way he is now, and decide for yourself.

Posted by elenchos | October 28, 2007 4:52 PM
11

awesome that he's repeating the 'republicans are wusses' meme and taking back the american flag from their bed-wetting hands.

Posted by karst | October 28, 2007 5:30 PM
12

@10, your missing the point. He's saying the same things he always said, they're just not risky anymore. He attacked Bush in 2001 right after 911 and he is attacking him now.

Would you prefer he change his views just so he can be edgy.

Posted by Giffy | October 28, 2007 6:07 PM
13

OK, OK. You're right.

Now that the most popular, mainstream opinions have caught up with Bill Maher, there is no longer any need to challenge conventional wisdom. The time when we needed a comedian to make people question their assumptions is past.

It's like, wow, we've reached the end of history.

Posted by elenchos | October 28, 2007 6:17 PM
14

why is this required viewing?

Posted by tree | October 28, 2007 6:28 PM
15

@13, again you miss the point. Perhaps it is necessary for someone to challenge 'conventional wisdom', but to expect Maher to change HIS views based on whether people agree or disagree with him is silly.

Posted by Giffy | October 28, 2007 6:28 PM
16

No, I get it. You're saying his views are in such perfect harmony with the majority that for him to mock any of those views would be tantamount to questioning... himself.

Can't have that. Make fun of yourself and you might look weak. Indecisive. Better to stand tall and pick on the Harry Potter fans.

Posted by elenchos | October 28, 2007 6:48 PM
17

giffy and elenchos need a life

Posted by blue in a redstate | October 28, 2007 7:11 PM
18

A few more of this guy and I'd think your country had a hope of surviving the next ten years.

Posted by Alex | October 28, 2007 7:37 PM
19

That was pretty good, I guess. Mildly funny, nothing surprising.

Posted by Amelia | October 28, 2007 8:00 PM
20

@13 elenchos = Fukuyama of pop culture

Posted by vooodooo84 | October 28, 2007 8:36 PM
21

Some posters have Harry Potthead hard-ons?????????

Posted by BillyBob | October 28, 2007 8:51 PM
22

@14 Why is this required viewing?

Obviously Dan is warning you not to show up at his door without a costume...you have been warned!

Posted by clarity | October 28, 2007 10:06 PM
23

What exactly is a rule? Am I the one who doesn't know what that word means, or is it him?

Bill Maher has never been terribly funny, nor has he been very good at complaining about the administration and everything that's happened in the past 6 years in clear and intelligent fashion. I'm glad he's been outspoken, but I wish he was better at what he does.

Posted by Chris in Tampa | October 29, 2007 1:05 AM
24

Love the Glengary Glen Ross reference. Candy is for closers.

Posted by Gabriel | October 29, 2007 3:16 AM
25

Sullivan is a conservative tool.

Posted by SeMe | October 29, 2007 9:02 AM
26

You know, 99.999% of the time I agree w/ elenchos, but he's wrong about Bill Maher.

People on this slog think there's nothing unusual about Bill because what he's saying reflects what we've all been saying for years. But where else in popular culture, other than Daily Show/Colbert Report, are people doing this and doing it so specifically? Everyone says Bush is a retard, but they rarely call him on specific statements and specific actions?

Also, he's funny. I can't sit through Olbermann's increasingly shrill and context-free monologues- I feel like he's the "I'm mad as hell!" guy from _Network_.

By being on HBO, Maher reaches an audience a gagillion times the size of Savage Love and the Slog put together. More power to 'im.

ps- HP fans: I've invested ~150 hours reading the books to my daughter, stood in line for book 7, etc etc. His comment about Dumbledore is fine. Having read the hundreds and hundreds of posts in "Dumbledore=Gay" thread, Bill's right- who cares? This will neither advance LGBT rights nor cause any harm to her bank account.

Posted by Big Sven | October 29, 2007 9:55 AM
27

sigh...bill maher is dreamy...

not sure what elenchos wants from maher; is he supp. to be frothing at the mouth or something?

and funnywise, he hit the ball out of the park everytime...stewart and colbert are good but not quite as consistently...letterman is old and tired; leno hasn't been funny since 1986...if then.

Posted by michael strangeways | October 29, 2007 2:52 PM

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