I'm amazed by how many people are able to ignore the fact that Bill Maher is a raving misogynist because he is a liberal atheist and therefore on their team.
It makes me think of this exchange from the American President:
Lewis Rothschild: They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand.
President Andrew Shepherd: Lewis, we've had presidents who were beloved, who couldn't find a coherent sentence with two hands and a flashlight. People don't drink the sand because they're thirsty. They drink the sand because they don't know the difference.
Also to be fair Maher did reference Megan Fox to Diaz a little bit earlier in the interview so perhaps it was a nod to her quote "I go to the set thinking I'm not going to have any female friends, because that's the reality of the business. From what I've experienced, women aren't good friends to one another. When guys want to hang out with you because your personality is badass, women immediately hate you." - Maxim, July 2007" jut a thought....
Yet another reason to love Cameron Diaz. This, added to her "I'm more into savory than sweet" comment last week on The Daily Show, and I am even more in friend-lust with her than ever.
@queenieinmanhattan: Ditto. I really think this is taken out of context...not Bill's (whom I love except for when he makes misogynistic comments) but Cameron's...
She'd just debunked a rumor that she was a germophobe, and talked about how much of what people in the media say gets blown up and misinterpreted. So I think from that point forward, she was taking extra pains to make sure that her words weren't distorted.
Just my take. I found her actually very refreshing. I loved it when she said how much she loved and appreciated the women in her life.
Only Bill Maher could use an interview with Cameron Diaz to bitch about how evil women are. When I was in high school and he had Politically Incorrect, I used to think he was clever. But after 9/11 and the cancellation of his show, the crazy came out. All he ever does is bitch about religion and women, the two great evils of the world.
@amowls: Pretty much all of his comedy specials have included some rant about nagging women. He made news after he mocked a breast feeding protest and suggested the women go to Hooters instead. When there was some drama over Ellen adopting a dog he said things like this were the reason people doubted a woman could be president.
@amowls: At the most random occasions. Once during an episode of cribs he showed this beautiful Balinese carved door he had in his house and then started ranting about how he would never be allowed to have it if he had a wife.
She was actually pretty cool and self-depricating through this section of the interview. Even the "not in that way" quip was more playful than anything else. It was Maher who was weird asking the question the way he did.
I don't know if we should fault Bill Maher for saying that girls are usually haters... even the best of researchers can fall victim to observation bias.
@MizJenkins: I am sad you don't like Will. But I understand. He is the king of stupid humor in my book, and makes some missteps. But I continue to think he's genius.
Now, most stupid humor bugs me. Unless I am stoned.
I too love the Sweetest Thing...I wish they'd leave the "too big to fit in here" song in the actual movie!
@rocknrollunicorn: I saw the first ten minutes, in which they are in a club in San Francisco filled with attractive straight men. I couldn't watch the rest.
That was a weird interview. I watched about three-quarters of it and he didn't sound like his usual smarmy, sarcastic self. He was almost...reverent. And boring.
That said, I cannot decide if I like Bill Maher or hate him. I like his political stances, for the most part, I like that he will tell unvarnished truths and I really like his "New Rules" segments.
But my god, he has a caveman's mentality about women and people with disabilities. I cringe whenever he says the word "retards" (and he uses it often) and when he starts a sentence with "women always..." He is smarter than his frat boy persona and I wish he would put that quick-wittedness and intelligence to better use.
Honestly the most irritating thing about the dude, is that somehow he's managed to convince people he's actually fucking intelligent. When he ever actually discusses any sort of political or economic or strategic theory its so so obvious how completely out of his depth he is. Why do we continue to elevate these idiots?
@bluebears: ha thank you for that - it's a huge source of mystery to myself and my husband why this man is given any credit at all. Not only is he not particularly clever, he's not funny either. I am at a loss to explain his success, such as it is. Then again I also think that US late night chat shows are a bunch of crap and that David Letterman et al are just not funny. I suppose there are some things that do not cross the atlantic well, after all.
@emilyanne: At least Lettermen et al aren't held up as having some sort of political knowledge. But yeah, I have literally never laughed at anything the guy has said ever. He's a 14 yr old with an inflated sense of his own intelligence. I remember back in the day he went around calling himself a "libertarian" and using it as sort of analogous to "independent" It was clear he didn't have the first fucking clue what a libertarian actually was.
@bluebears: i'm far from bill maher's biggest fan (that role is clearly taken by himself), but i do sometimes watch his show and i do find that he makes good points, or at least he lets panellists make good points. i find his bluntness refreshing.
@flexanimous: Again I suppose it's a matter of what you're used to - in contrast to people like Jeremy Paxman or John Humphreys in the UK, Maher doesn't even seem that blunt, he just seems awfully smug and not that well-informed. Most of his arguments seem to degenerate into the scoring of cheap points and it just all seems a little undergrad in terms of the humour. But again I do admit that it could be that it simply doesn't translate to me.
@flexanimous: I will not contend that he has never made a good point, but oftentimes I feel that his "bluntness" is seen as someone actually making a point when it's really just saying something, even something completely random. I used to watch Politically Incorrect and everyone always gushed about how great the debate was on that show, but it actually became, for me, a perfect illustration of how people can not follow an argument through and instead mistake some smart-ass remark for an actual point.
@HarpMadness: yes! exactly. and this goes back to my original point that what we have chosen as a society to highlight as a good example of debate or intelligence figures and platforms that are basically parodies of the same. Its like a huge put on.
@bluebears: I've heard people say the same thing about Jon Stewart, though. Mind you, I think Stewart is crazy intelligent, very well informed, and extremely funny. But I watch Maher specifically because I don't always agree with him, but he usually has guests who are bright and articulate and is fair in the sense that everyone gets a say.
The sad truth is, in the U.S. the ONLY political discussions going on that are actually tackling the issues in a way that actually addresses them A. a mock news show B. a faux and ironic conservative pundit and C. Bill Maher. All of which are technically, at some level, meant to be at least part comedy. No one else is doing it.
@tiredfairy: You're right, that is incredibly depressing. I have to say that I also think Maher is deceptive in that it looks initially like the guests are having a fair say but he's pretty swift to jump in with a cheap gag if he doesn't agree so there isn't actually a real discourse occurring.
@emilyanne: Well, we may just be interpreting that differently. And usually it depends on the guest/subject. He may disagree, and sometimes he gets pretty emphatic if it's something that seems illogical to him, but they do get to voice the opinion. Which is better than, say, Fox News. And also pathetic, since Fox is supposedly news and Maher is a comedian/host running an arguably funny show.
To me it's that...I don't think he has to be entirely fair, as the format is clear, and it's been on forever. People know what they're getting into. And also I can be petty and I like to see Conservatives smacked down. :}
@tiredfairy: fair enough, although I refuse to accept that Fox news is an actual news channel, due to the fact that it doesn't even pretend to be one itself.
06/29/09
It makes me think of this exchange from the American President:
Lewis Rothschild: They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand.
President Andrew Shepherd: Lewis, we've had presidents who were beloved, who couldn't find a coherent sentence with two hands and a flashlight. People don't drink the sand because they're thirsty. They drink the sand because they don't know the difference.
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Plus, yeah yeah I know intelligent discourse and all that, but holy moly did she look stunning...
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She'd just debunked a rumor that she was a germophobe, and talked about how much of what people in the media say gets blown up and misinterpreted. So I think from that point forward, she was taking extra pains to make sure that her words weren't distorted.
Just my take. I found her actually very refreshing. I loved it when she said how much she loved and appreciated the women in her life.
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I mentally smite all who use that term.
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He's such an asshat.
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Wouldn't want to date him, but can't really hate him.
/sounds like a new chick flick
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ZOMG, that movie alone almost makes up for Will Ferrell. I said "almost".
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I love it, btw.
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Now, most stupid humor bugs me. Unless I am stoned.
I too love the Sweetest Thing...I wish they'd leave the "too big to fit in here" song in the actual movie!
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That said, I cannot decide if I like Bill Maher or hate him. I like his political stances, for the most part, I like that he will tell unvarnished truths and I really like his "New Rules" segments.
But my god, he has a caveman's mentality about women and people with disabilities. I cringe whenever he says the word "retards" (and he uses it often) and when he starts a sentence with "women always..." He is smarter than his frat boy persona and I wish he would put that quick-wittedness and intelligence to better use.
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:envy:
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The sad truth is, in the U.S. the ONLY political discussions going on that are actually tackling the issues in a way that actually addresses them A. a mock news show B. a faux and ironic conservative pundit and C. Bill Maher. All of which are technically, at some level, meant to be at least part comedy. No one else is doing it.
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To me it's that...I don't think he has to be entirely fair, as the format is clear, and it's been on forever. People know what they're getting into. And also I can be petty and I like to see Conservatives smacked down. :}
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C'mon guys, she was only kidding around. It's not like she turned all red-faced and screamed "I ONLY LOVE COCK, NO VAG FOR ME!!!!!".
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/vitriol