Bill Maher: US Is Just Like Michael Jackson--"Fragile, Over-Indulgent, In Debt, Over The Hill" (VIDEO)

On "Real Time" Friday Bill Maher went on a diatribe about how the reason America mourned Michael Jackson so intensely--or as Maher put, lost its "collective shit" over Jackson--was because, well, "Michael Jackson is America." Maher argued that this was case by suggesting that both America and Jackson could be described as "fragile, over-indulgent, childish, in debt, on drugs, and over the hill."

WATCH [segement begins around the 1:45 mark.]

Comments

[DukeNukem007]

Maher hasn't lost a step - he's still a strait shooting comedy stud.

[roguetrader]

I feel that Bill is right. I love this country but we have a ton of flaws. Because we don't like hearing about them, it doesn't mean they don't exist. We should always be trying to better ourselves and we clearly aren't.

[fscuttle]

Exactly . Complacency will get us nowhere.

[Joyana]

Maher forgot that Sarah Palin rebelled against the "Bridge to Nowhere." (After she was for the "Bridge to Nowhere" no less.)

[RuinedSaint]

She didn't rebel against the "Bridge to Nowhere"; she rebelled against using the money for the reason it was given to her.

[HekmabaJuzimax]

I disagree with Bill Maher. America is not over the Hill, because episodes of that show are still airing.

[Marrymeplease]

The Greatest Entertainer Ever. MICHAEL JACKSON

[Keima]

say it loud sistah!

[tanustar]

Co-sign!

[chronic]

Amen!

[SpaghettyIrish]

Not the kind of entertainment that would make one think, though.

[tanustar]

Yup, because when I go to the clubs, pop concerts, weddings etc, I don't want music to make me think, I just want music that I can dance to!

[kuastar]

Try the lyric to "Man In The Mirror"? Makes ME think.

[Joyana]

How did Maher figure MJ was "over the hill?" He sold out 50 concerts within hours of tickets going on sale and his music was in high demand at the time of his death. That doesn't sound like "over the hill" to me.

Maher has a lot of moxie to mock MJ. MJ was a phenomenal talent for practically his entire life of 50 years that brought great wealth to him and his family. He greatly enriched the lives of many others through charity and entertainment. What has Maher done for humanity? To paraphrase MJ, he needs to take a look at the man in the mirror before he mocks others.

[tanustar]

It is simply that musicians connect with people in a way that others don't. I'm sure it was the same when Elvis and John Lennon died! Just as I'm sure other renowned entertainers will be in the future! But, I'm sure the vitriol will be less and in fact, we will be told what a great loss it is because approval will be given by the elites to mourn these people. Media and TV personalities should get a grip! MJ's fans were only mourning his passing as is our right!

[Winston Smith]

John Lennon was murdered. Elvis and Michael overdosed themselves. Big difference.

[tanustar]

Doesn't take away from the fact that they were great and timeless entertainers!

[GeminiMoon]

What the hell does that have to do with anything??

[octopi]

You don't know that about MJ, yet. It is still possible that he was murdered.

[Tyrione]

I was alive when they both died. Sorry, but the media didn't stop the world so we could all fixate on their tragedies. The problem is the media. Mourn all you want.

We just don't need to watch every actual fan get interviewed and cry on National TV. Get it?

[IssuesInFocus]

Don't blame the dead.. Wall to wall media coverage is/was always about ratings!
And about razzle-dazzle--bloated most times and without substance. That said, MJ has a file to track "his work", and real accomplishments. Make up and Big hair cannot hold up to such scrutiny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S8tQEvRKzM

[dteg]

Turn the channel if don't like the MJ coverage. There are 300 channels on the remote. At least MJ did something to deserve the praise that he got.

[tanustar]

I choose to mourn the following when they die: relatives, friends, colleagues, former teachers, people who were good to me, pets, the tree that my late grandpa planted, even leaders who have done more good than harm and yes, my favorite entertainers! I say thanks for those who have sacrificed and a pray for those who have suffered. But, generally, I do not mourn the death of politicians, royals, reporters and satirists!

[xmw]

oh bill you forgot...and coming back better than ever!

[moionfire]

Er, I don't understand why everyone keeps saying the country "lost it" over Micheal Jacksons death.

Outside the 24 hour news, other media ,and his hardcore fans in the streets, where is the supposed over-reactions???

If you want to see over reaction that would be the UK over Princess Diana, which was over the top. Or maybe John Lennons, and Elvis's death...

Spend time away from the TV and travel around the country- the majority of the country did not go "over the top of Michael jackson's death"

[shearm]

You basically just said 'besides the over-reactions, where is the supposed over-reactions?'

[MarsAmbassador]

Thank you for proving his point about fragile.

[tanustar]

I agree with Bill Maher's late pal George Carlin, that MJ was the greatest entertainer ever! Will Bill Maher ever be called the greatest SATIRIST ever! I think not! Leave MJ alone! And, quit attacking his fans! "Live and let live" Isn't that the libertarian motto!

[BannedInBoston]

WAKE UP AMERICA!

(Oh, never mind. Roll over and go back to sleep, America.)

[tanustar]

Bill Maher is over the hill!

[Gmoney1]

Bill forgot talented , charitable and too trusting - I wonder why -

[tanustar]

These clowns are suggesting that artists and entertainers must not be mourned collectively by society because they obviously contribute nothing to it. However, its perfectly okay to mourn the following groups of people: world leaders aka politicians, royals, fallen soldiers and reporters! These people alone mean everything to us! Get real!