Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This?

I'm giving this one star for every joke I hadn't heard yet (a few of them were genuine laugh-out-loud gut-busters) . It's probably my own fault for overexposing myself as a regular watcher of Real Time, and semi-frequent listener/viewer of Club Random, and a listener of the What This Comedian Said Will Shock You audiobook. So the premises are just what Bill Maher talks about these days. Many of the punchlines seem familiar, too. Watching this gave me the same feeling I used to get watching his stand-up before I got on board with him -- at times it feels more like a humorous lecture than a stand-up special.

You may have heard over the past 4 years how bill has slowly crossed over to the other side. Well not quite that far but he certainly has let distance and daylight between his formerly loved party and its more modern incarnation or evolution today.

I hadn't really watched bill in ages myself. Mostly just because of access and interest more than anything. I always felt fairly lukewarm about him generally.

Not to say he isn't funny or that his style at the time simply didn't suit me or perhaps more his biased views that might have tinted his routines and comedy or other shows.

Still seeing this for the first exposure to bill in so long i have to say i like it.

I thought it was a fair classic comedians of yesterday trying to not be victims of the mob or cancel culture or some extreme political loyalty over just loving comedy their personal opinions and finding an audience.

There are digs on both sides. Personally im often a bit right biased myself and i had no issue with excessive or even a majority of biased topics jokes or presentations.

It all seemed like fair or balanced or enough neutral content i didn't mind. I could swear it was a vast majority of criticisms of more modern extreme left views and platforms or issues.

I don't take the time to watch many stand up comedy style performances these days but i am pleased to have watched this one.

Full disclosure- I am not a a huge fan of Bill Maher; however, I liked this special a lot. This is a very honest and bold stand up that daringly attacks insanity on the left and right. While he takes on Trump's madness he also takes on the madness that is Woke thinking in the 21st Century. He very intelligently distinguishes Liberalism, a Progressive way of thinking, and Wokeness, a disease of the mind and society. I don't love his delivery, but I do agree with a lot of his messaging. Even on the stuff I don't agree with- who cares- the whole point is that we should have the ability to disagree. His attack on collegiate thought and young people is so on the mark. This is smart thinking and thoughtful provoking.

Bill Maher's been talking about the same things for years now. If you don't go outside your comfort zone and change up your material, you're a very tame comedian. Chances are if you went to see this show you've already heard all this before. Now I agree with a lot of what he's saying, but it doesn't really matter. What matters is if it's funny or not. And the answer is "eh." I chuckled a few times but the score I'm giving it isn't because it's very funny. It would at least be a 6 if that were the case. If you're a huge Bill Maher fan you have nothing to lose, listening to him talk about the same thing for the past 5 years. Otherwise, I would t really say it's particularly worth checking out as a "comedy show."

It's true. Said that to set the foundation.

I mostly avoid American news/media since 2017ish. Yeah, I catch stuff here in there. Not much. Over these years, didn't have an opinion about Maher one way or the other. I will say, I did love Maher from way back in the day.

Last six months, I do watch Rubin Report almost every day. You probably already know their relationship. They just went to a Lakers game together, right? From what Rubin shows, I really like. But, a lot of what Rubin says about Maher aren't feelings I have. I feel like Maher is way more like Rubin and I than Rubin understands.

Saying all this because this disagreement with Rubin's views on Maher is what made we watch this.

Watching made me feel Maher's way more like Rubin and I than Rubin can even imagine.

Overall, it was a homerun from Maher. He 100% says what he thinks and believes and he didn't judge anybody. Ok, maybe he judged a little. But, whatever. None of that bothered me 1 bit.

His honesty and not worrying about offending anyone is what makes me love this!