Snow Storm And Bill Maher

This is probably in my near future Image via Wikipedia

It has been a ludicrously mild winter so far, but that is all supposed to end tomorrow as we actually return to seasonal temperatures and

weather conditions.  On a selfish level, I don't mind a warmer and less snowy winter. I have lived through enough bitter, biting cold and a plethora of blizzards.

If you have a long driveway and a traveling husband you learn to use the snow-blower and the generator quickly in these pahts.

Alaska and Austria are not faring as well with some of the heaviest snow in years. Perhaps they are magically sending it my way. I plan to hole up unless my sprain gets worse and I have to hit the quick care. With a sprained thumb and a snowstorm coming I better get some sleep.

On the Bright Side, Bill Maher returns this week with his caustic socio-political commentary.  An HBO Press Release earlier today told me:

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER KICKS OFF ITS TENTH SEASON FRIDAY, JAN. 13, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO
DAVID FRUM, ROB REINER AND DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ ARE ROUNDTABLE GUESTS; ALEXANDRA PELOSI AND HERMAN CAIN ARE INTERVIEW GUESTS (10:00-11:00 p.m. live ET/tape-delayed PT), exclusively on HBO, with an instant replay at 11:00 p.m. following the live presentation.

Allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues, the show includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with in-studio and satellite guests.
The roundtable guests this week are commentator David Frum, director Rob Reiner and Fla. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz; documentary filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi is an interview guest.
HBO

Here. Now. The News REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER CONCLUDES ITS NINTH SEASON

What does it say about me when the three news, views and politics programs  I see as most insightful and best at getting to the crux of an issue are headed up by comedians? Maybe it means I'm shallow, or lazy or have ADHD. Or it could be that the real news is afraid to piss off their sponsors.  

Jon Stewart, Admiral Michael Mullen on The Daily Show in 2009Image via WikipediaI think the best is The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.  There is something about him: he has good manners and doesn't poke people with a stick because he can but because he realizes that humor allows him to bring things to the fore with more impact than "real" news.  

Stephen Colbert (Image via RottenTomatoes.com)For example, in budget debate this past year a member of Congress said that Planned Parenthood was mostly an abortion service giving a figure that was about 94% off. I only saw this mentioned at all on The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and Bill Maher.
The Colbert Report and Real Time with Bill Maher are not as incisive due to the demeanor of their hosts.  Colbert plays to a younger demographic with less relevant and more juvenile, even bathroom humor.  But in his pomposity Colbert is playing a role.  While I enjoy Maher's insight he often seems an ass; he believes his own press.  He is not playing the role of a comedian acting as  a journalist as Stewart and Colbert do. Maher actually sees himself as a left leaning but fair journalist. I sometimes find his demeanor and delivery self aggrandizing but the show is funny and he gets very interesting people to debate issues in real time without Robert's Rules of Order. I have often expected them to come to blows.

               

HBO's exclusive series REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER will wrap up its ninth season FRIDAY, NOV. 11 (10:00-11:00 p.m.  live ET/tape-delayed PT) with an instant replay at 11:00 p.m. following the live presentation. Maher's soapbox for his unique perspective on today's political/social and economic issues, the show includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with in-studio and satellite guests.

The roundtable guests this week are Minn. Rep. Keith Ellison, news anchor Chris Matthews and commentator Andrew Sullivan; Mass. Rep. Barney Frank is an interview guest.

Bill Maher 2099, photo David Shankman

              

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER returns for its tenth season in
Jan. 2012.

                

Since his first special on the network in 1989, Maher has starred in nine solo specials on HBO and remains a favorite with subscribers.

Maher has a new book out this month, The New New Rules:  A Funny Look at How Everybody but Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass. If Maher believed in Christmas as a religious holiday he probably wouldn't recommend the book as a gift because of he is no fan of religion. Maher produced and starred in the 2008 feature film Religulous, which examined the irrationality of religious beliefs that are not even found in the tenets of those religions.

Related articles

• Bill Maher Beats A Woman, Goes Dancing (huffingtonpost.com)