I thought Bill Maher was strange

[kimmerspixelated]

last night. Things didn't flow properly, had a weird feel to it, jeez he even gave Robert Klein a hard time! However, Travis Smiley was excellent! Maybe I was just tired, but something didn't seem right about the show, or maybe it was just him!

[Demeter]

1. Well, He IS Strange. So Are the Times

Sometimes two kinds of strangeness don't mix.

[PA Democrat]

2. Were you as surprised as I was at the abrupt end to his "New Rules" segment?

It seemed as if someone didn't have enough time to finish the script and ended with cutting remarks about Hillary and Obama. Smiley was impressive, and Richard Klein is incredibly well-informed for a comedian. i actually think he is more up to date on the issues than Bill Maher seems to be.

[Joey Liberal]

16. He ran out of time at the end of New Rules

Give Maher a break, will ya? Just be glad we have his show on HBO. Tavis Smiley is, of course, more up to date on the issues because he hosts a daily radio show.

[dbonds]

3. I agree, there was something off kilter

I don't always agree with Bill, sometimes strongly disagree. But last night he was abrasive more than usual. Picking fights and not thinking things through. Even new rules sucked. Maybe he wasn't stoned for a change.

[OwnedByFerrets]

4. I have had that same feeling with him for some time.....

its gotten to the point where I can barely watch anymore.

[Kurovski]

5. Tavis. I missed the show, maybe I'll check it tonight.

[hisownpetard]

6. Is it on again tonight? At 11?

[Kurovski]

9. It's on tonight and Monday.

I get an east coast feed. There are like 10 HBOs or something.

HBO E
HBO W
HBO NbyNW
HBO 1
HBO 2
HBO 3
HBO COM
HBO BOOBS

[hisownpetard]

12. Thanks for the info, Mr. K. But, really - HBO BOOBS??

:shrug:

[Kurovski]

15. It's

a joke. :spank: But I know I've seen naughty parts flashing across my screen when flipping through the HBOs. All kinds. I'd stay to watch, but with the internet handy day and night...what's the point?

[hisownpetard]

17. I'm glad you clarified that. It's not that much of a stretch to think there is a channel

like that. I mean, there's a whole chain of restaurants called "Hooters," right?

Teeheeehee.

[DeeDeeNY]

7. He considers Ann Coulter his friend

That's all I need to know about him

[KharmaTrain]

8. The Best Show In A While

Mahrer's show is live...and WYSIWYG. There's no editing or re-dos (I see them regularly on the Daily Show) and if things screw up, they can drastically alter the ebb and flow of the show. I've noticed that Mahrer isn't very good at "tap-dancing" or handling things when they mess-up and it affects the show (like when he had a heckler kicked out of the studio).

I actually thought last night's show was one of his better ones. Tavis Smiley was excellent...saying things that needed to be said and heard. Robin Wright is one of the better stenographers, but offers little to the party as she's more afraid of alienating "contacts" and undisclosed sources than really speaking out...and Robert Klein...while I've loved the man for over 30 years...is yet another Hollywood/Entertainment buddy who is great doing stand-up but is poorly informed and isolated from much of what's happening.

Last night's show was a tough one in that they dealt with substansive issues that don't lend easy to one-liners or grandstanding rhetoric. Dan Savage also added to the mix in what was definitely a high-brow discussion that is rare to see/hear on a television.

[Fredda Weinberg]

10. It found the sexual tension too painful to watch, but I hope they're happy n/t

[LibertyLover]

11. We've tried to watch Maher a this season a number of times

and have been turned off by his contempt for Hilary. (Disclaimer - both my husband and I like Hilary, but will vote for whomever is the Democratic nominee.) And he just hasn't been very fun - New Rules haven't been amusing, he's been abrasive with guests. So, now we check the program out on Friday nights, but generally turn it off within a few minutes.

[Joey Liberal]

13. Klein has some right wing tendencies

Love Bill Maher's show.

[SeattleGirl]

14. Cutting off the New Rules was really strange.

Usually his last New Rule is a pretty good commentary on an issue, but last night, it was like he just cut it off, or didn't have a longer Rule for the last one.

And he did seem a bit off, too.

I do agree that Tavis Smiley was excellent! He was spot on in calling Buchanan a "racial arsonist", along with the other things he said.