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

[mcmchugh99]

Historically speaking, the high-water mark for the US was about 1967. That was the apex of the big post-World War II boom. Then came Vietnam, Watergate, the oil shocks, the loss of millions of manufacturing jobs that have never been replaced, big debts and deficits--and here we are.

[kilbilly]

In reading the posts, I see many don't like what Bill has to say. But if you think about it, he's absolutely correct.

[tanustar]

John Stewart = class! Bill Maher? Not so much!

[samjung23]

I can't stand Bill Maher anymore. He wants attention more than he cares about the future of America. He sounds like the kind of guy who should run for office and do something about it, but he won't. He strikes me as a poser. I wonder if he really cares about politics, or if it's just something that pays the bills?

[ObliqueReference]

He's a comedian dude! He's best at political comedy and it got him two shows so that's why he does it. He's not nor would ever claim to be some sort of leader of men.

[central03]

If you'll remember -- his "comedy" cost him the first show. Why? Because he went too far!!!

[Chironomid]

Seeing a lot of "fragile" in here; you're probably all in debt, too.

[Winston Smith]

Debt free(besides an old student loan that will follow me to the grave)!

[gene poole]

I feel it may come down to race on this one. Maher doesn't recognize that MJ could be remembered for, or is being mourned for, his music. He feels Cobain or Joplin or Lennon are more deserving. Maybe so.
But his reasoning is all wrong.

[tanustar]

Sure looking more like a racial thing every day...howe­ver subtle.

[LeonBNJ]

When I had HBO (I cut it to save $25+/month of my hard earned money and rarely watched it) I often watched Maher. While I am not fond of some of his anti-religion opinions, when it comes to his comments 'New Rules' segment, his commnets on the death of MJ and the twisted media attention of it, he is spot on and among his best comments. He is right when MJ life was sadly too much like America today. That is why we have comedians like Maher.

[tanustar]

Never misses an opportunity to bash America!

[Green-Zanto]

The thing is he's never really said something that wasn't true. Better to be honest and believe the negative truth than to live in a deluded fanatical nationalism.

[Hirnlego]

In order to heal the patient, you need to know what's wrong.

[kuastar]

'America' is not a person.

[BigBagel]

The morons among us don't realize that we're way way past our prime. We're like some old lady parading around in a string bikini. When our unsustainable economic system contracts to it's true size is when people will wake up.

[abbyrose86]

so true...gre­at analogy

[rationalthought1]

Maher tends to oversimplify things to create a bigger target (he is a comedian, after all). But I thought his concluding thoughts on the Michael Jackson "death phenomenon" was dead on. This is a country filled with wonderous natural gifts but one that has lost contact with reality and is lost in denial. We would have gone out for the count (like Jackson) if we had elected a McCain/Palin ticket, but the jury is still out as to whether or not we survive.

[MarionWatts]

I personally think this was Bill's best editorial so far this season. He truly is the spokesman for my generation.

[BluTopaz]

If America's interest in Michael's passing is parallel with his life, how does Mahr explain the rest of the world mourning Jackson so intensely?

This is not a metaphor, just a mean spirited attempt at humor. When the Crocodile Hunter died (can't remember his name right now), for Halloween that year Mahr dressed up like him, with a plastic stingray and fake blood on his shirt, and he walked around staggering like he was dying. That was as insensitive and desperate for a laugh as these comments about MJ.

[Gmoney1]

9 million of MJ's records bought within a two week period - get over it haters -

[tanustar]

Yup! They can't stand it!

[LesaLesa]

Okay, I listened to Maher again and I get his analogy about Michael's life compared to America's profile, which is relative. I get the fact the people are more educated on Michael's moonwalk debut more than man's first walk on the moon. I get the fact that we Americans have more enablers that's hurting us more than helping us. I understand exactly where he was coming from with our obsessions.

But his jokes were a little lame. He's a day late and a dollar short with the MJ jokes. Real Time has been on hiatus for the last month and he missed all the news when it was going strong and now it's a little too late to bring on your funny points. And come on Bill 'over the hill', aren't you a 53?

[hangdogit]

Turning a song-and-dance entertainer into a "civil rights leader" is crazy -- Bill is right about that.

[tanustar]

Please! That was done by the usual suspects, not the average MJ fan!

[sepia830]

Actually it makes a lot of sense. MJ's humanitarian efforts aside, he created music that transended color barriers. Is it not possible that by growing to love MJ, a black man, and his music, it also helped some people become more accepting of other races and black people in general? I'm not saying this is true of the masses, but still... MJ traveled the world and fought for dying children everywhere to be fed. Is it not a basic civil right to be treated humanely?

As for Bill, he needs to put down his bong, emerge from the haze of chronic smoke and work on the quality of his show because it has sucked since Obama took office. Celebrity interviews? Come on, Bill, just because the village idiot is no longer running the country doesn't mean there aren't other politicians who are worthy of being exposed and attacked. Get back to being funny (not a celebrity interviewer) or bow out as gracefully as someone with your personality can.

[Zeta]

It's ironic that during his discussion with Ron Howard about "jumping the shark," Bill Maher was "jumping the shark" at that very moment.