Bill Maher: I'll Never Win An Emmy Because I'm Atheist

Bill Maher's Emmy curse is legendary: he has been nominated 22 times — 11 for "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher," nine for "Real Time with Bill Maher," and twice for comedy specials — but he's never won.

And he thinks it has something to do with his views on religion.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Maher said that religious Emmy voters don't vote for him because of his outspoken atheism.

"A panel of like 10 people watches one tape," he said. "If half of those people are religious, that probably eliminates me right there. A lot of people wouldn't vote for such an outspoken atheist, someone who made 'Religulous.'"

In the same interview, Maher weighed in on fellow atheist Christopher Hitchens and the religious people out there hoping Hitchens, who is battling esophageal cancer, will make a "deathbed conversion" to religion.

"People who are waiting for that are going to be disappointed -- because I don't think he's going to die," Maher said. "I expect him to be back on our panel, if not this season then next. People wish the fear that drives them their whole life would now drive him, because he's got cancer. But he's not a fearful guy, so it's not going to happen."

Read the full interview at The Hollywood Reporter.

Earlier this year, Maher told the Los Angeles Times that it's his mix of outspoken views that prevents him from winning an Emmy, not just his atheism:

Honestly, my take is that you cannot speak the truth about as many things as I do without incurring the wrath of some people who vow every year not to vote for me. I'm sure that happened after I said what I said about 9/11. [While Maher did not side with the terrorists, he did say that flying a plane into a building is not "cowardly" as some called it.] I guarantee there have been those who pledge, "I'll never vote for him because he's an atheist and says all those things about God." Others probably declare, "I'll never vote for him because he doesn't think we should get a flu vaccination."

Comments

[BetteB]

07:39 PM on 10/29/2010

Once people have access to freely thinking for themselves without being told what to believe by a system that DEMANDS that questioning the system is the ultimate no-no, scaring small children with hell, or creating fear of homosexuality which makes young people rather die to come back again rather than live with what religion hath wrought, then there will be no need for people to be passionate about helping information that is VERY useful get known. You cannot know what you do not know, and you cannot learn what you do not know when you are indoctrinated with dogmas used to control others through various fears, mainly fear of death though. It's just data.

[RevengencerAlf]

04:32 PM on 09/23/2010

I respect someone's choice to practice any religious beliefs, or lack thereof, of their choosing. Anyone who attacks a person based on their choices regarding personal religious belief and worship is simply a bigot, no matter how much they may claim otherwise. All the holier than thou atheists who actively knock and harass people of religion are just as bad as missionaries exploiting third would countries to convert people.

The reason Billy Boy will never win an Emmy is two fold, and neither part is the fact that he is an atheist. For one, he's not that great. He's good, but he's just not as fantastic as he seems to think he is. Second, he openly ridicules, mocks, and encourages hate against people due to their religious beliefs. No one like that deserves an award, ever. I don't care if it is an atheist mocking a Catholic, a Protestant mocking a Muslim, a Mormon mocking a Jew, whatever. It is all equally appalling and shows an extreme shallowness of character that should not be overlooked under any circumstances.

[BetteB]

07:43 PM on 10/29/2010

Anyone who questions information which has been pounded into their Reality is "wrong" to question, or dangerous and so refuses to consider new information is limited in their Reality.

Religion encourages hate against homosexuality.
Santa C.

[aptanalogy]

11:59 PM on 11/04/2010

Don't be naive. You must see that religious extremes and extremists are dangerous to the human "project" as a whole. If he was JUST attacking their personal beliefs, that would be one thing. But that's not the totality of religion; more than personal spirituality, it also includes community-based, often politically-oriented, and always socially-relevant rhetoric and practices which, in many cases, have conversion as an important goal. It's generally taught to children before they are old enough to question, and it perpetuates equal measure of tolerance/love, and hatred/fear. It is not through holy books that we have made moral progress, it is through our transcending of the pettiness inherent in the era during which such books were written, and this progress is based on a more complete picture of a more civil human society, not emerging cultures 2000 years ago.

[rissasnamma]

01:25 PM on 09/23/2010

I agee with Marr he will never aquire the fame he seeks because he is an atheist but thats his choice to take the wrong path
He will never win awards simply because he sucks

[Mr Vegetarian NY]

08:59 PM on 11/09/2010

Yeah, but you can't stop watching him.
Get a life.

[General Public]

05:43 PM on 09/17/2010

Less people are willing to vote for us atheists than are willing to vote for Muslims, homosexuals, blacks, or other groups that are hated or discriminated against, according to polls. There is a whole lot of intolerance towards atheists, which is why you don't see any openly atheist politicians, since only a small percentage of religious people are willing to vote for atheists. They accuse us atheists of being the intolerant ones, when we regularly vote for religious politicians (having no other choice). We are quite an unpopular group in the United States, all because we are smart enough not to believe in ridiculous Bronze Age superstitious nonsense. Many people think faith is necessary to be a moral person, when in fact faith is more often an impediment to morality, making people think they need to be good to be rewarded with heaven rather than punished with hell, instead of making people realize they should be good just because it is the right thing to do and that is reason enough. I am more moral than any religious person because I do what is right because it is the right thing to do, not expecting any divine reward or expecting I would get divine punishment otherwise. "God" is a self-contradictory non-concept anyway. I don't know how people manage to believe in something that doesn't even make any logical sense. It's funny how people in cults are ridiculed but large religions get a free pass for their crazy beliefs.

[Eppur Si]

10:01 AM on 09/21/2010

Oh good. Kant weighs in on the issue. I respectfully disagree. There are a lot of reasons for people to aspire to moral behavior. A lot, but not enough. I have no interest in debunking any of them. Anything that makes people want to behave better is fine with me, including faith and including, if you wish, superstition. If it helps you to carry a rabbit's foot, then it helps. I don't care that the rabbit's foot has no magical powers.

Bill Maher's problem (aside from the fact that he stopped being funny years ago) is not that he is an atheist. It is that he ridicules and openly hates people of faith. There is a difference between not holding the same beliefs as someone else, and spitting on someone else. Just as there is a difference between being funny and being an angry bitter old man.

[philoTruth]

09:21 PM on 09/16/2010

Polling and even the most casual observation confirm what Bill M. says. Atheists are discriminated against constantly, I'd call G. Bush SR. pretty mainstream, not a fanatic, he not only said there is no place for atheists in the U.S. BUT he WOULDN"T retract his comment. Until an atheist could be as serious a candidate for president as any other minority, Christians whose Bible says atheists ought to be killed and are sinners, cannot deny their role in perpetuating discrimination. Bill is a comedian and I thank him for getting the point across that atheists are still asked to sit at the back of bus. There is no reason to be polite about it! Would you criticize black people for being impolite about blatant racism?

[General Public]

05:51 PM on 09/17/2010

Fanned! I agree entirely except for calling George Bush Sr. mainstream. Anyone who says atheists don't belong in the United States is not mainstream and they are the ones who should leave the United States, not us atheists! If they believe in theocracy, they should move to Saudi Arabia or Iran and see how wonderfully it works to have religious fundamentalists run a government that is completely intolerant to those with other opinions. They certainly don't belong in a free country if they don't believe in freedom. The First Amendment gives us freedom OF religion as well as freedom FROM religion. That is why we no longer have mandatory prayer allowed in public schools, as the courts of this great land have upheld freedom from religion. That one comment by George Bush Sr. about atheists that he refused to retract shows that he was not a mainstream person, and certainly not someone who belonged anywhere near a seat of power in the United States government. We don't want this country to end up like the Taliban, after all! We have to be very careful who we allow to run things.

[Sean777]

05:40 PM on 09/16/2010

Sorry Bill but you are not holy either; if people take offence when you mock their religion believes you can not expect to be overwhelmingly popular. Keep up with Political satire instead we need you more than ever in that battle front to dismantle the Tea Party. I can not believe Tea Party candidates are wining elections. At least you can try to reason with Republicans but the Tea Party is like dealing with a Terminator: “It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever,” until we are deep into an economic depression.

[rissasnamma]

01:19 PM on 09/23/2010

Until we are into an economic depression? Look around you fool

[pricespector]

04:51 PM on 09/16/2010

I think it's because it's your a hateful, shallow, arrogant and condescending pr*ick.

[General Public]

05:54 PM on 09/17/2010

Are you talking to yourself? Because none of those are true about Bill Maher, but are all true about someone who says such nasty things about him just because he happens to be an atheist.

[pricespector]

05:59 PM on 09/17/2010

I have absolutely ZERO interest in his religious beliefs. I really couldn't care less.

[Mr Vegetarian NY]

09:00 PM on 11/09/2010

What the hell did you click on this link then?
Why are you watching him?
You Bill Maher haters are all the same:
I hate him but always watch him.

[onionboy]

04:33 PM on 09/16/2010

I like Maher. He just shouldn't complain about stuff like this. If being able to speak his mind and getting paid for it is the price for not receiving a trophy...sign me up. He has freedom on his show. He's funny. I think he's a bit paranoid (the flu vaccine bit and a few other things), but I'm glad he's around in comedy. There's some comedy that will still be funny in 20 years (Maher, Stern, South Park) and others that won't be funny tomorrow (Mencia, Leno since mid-90s, Two&Half Men).

[Texan21302]

03:13 PM on 09/16/2010

Me and Bill have opposing views on religion, but I think that he is absolutely FABULOUS!!!!

He is so smart and funny. I seriously think that he has been robbed.

It's time to give Bill and emmy, what's the holdup?

[MarsAmbassador]

02:35 PM on 09/16/2010

He makes a great point. Most Christians aware of Hitchens are hoping for a deathbed conversion, not that he actually pulls through. What would Jesus do in the same situation? Nothing but love, man. Nothing but love.

[dukeitout]

12:13 PM on 09/16/2010

Those "Emmy" people will show you Maher. They'll vote for you to demonstrate their tolerance, you'll win, and then you'll be sorry.

I like this tactic Bill. Very creative.

[ZeoGetty]

05:08 AM on 09/16/2010

No sir, you weren't given an Emmy simply because you don't deserve one. You are an extremist who has no respect for anyone else but yourself. You are chauvinistic and give atheists a bad name. You're so called documentary 'Religulous' was nothing but a one sided argument showing a fraction of radical people of faith. You mock not only people for believing in god. I thought we atheists are better than that !
I thought we are people of logic and science. You Mr. Maher a man of hate. I don't think you will ever deserve a star. Not until you learn to become humble and polite and less offensive to others- I really hate this guy's 'I know it all' attitude.

[Changeling]

11:55 AM on 09/16/2010

"You're so called documentary 'Religulous' was nothing but a one sided argument"

ROTFLMFAO. What do you think ANY documentary is?

Do you think I could watch one with a pro-religious theme and get an atheist point of view? From a cross-section of people with atheist or agnostic views with cogent arguments on the subject?

Of course not.

Look up the phrase "double standard." You want to hold his work to a different one than the work of those you agree with.

[ZeoGetty]

01:45 PM on 09/16/2010

Hmm.. Perhaps you misunderstood what I said. Not all documentaries are one sided. He was very impolite to those he interviewed. A great monk was heard saying, approach everything as if you have no prior knowledge. Listen, question then make a judgment. He was very judgmental from the get-go. Just like the way he is sometimes with some of his guest on his show that he invites solely to mock.
I don't expect us atheists not to have our own radicals. In my view, he is one of the millitant and radical atheist out there. He should allow people to live by his example not make them cringe and uncomfortable by how negative and condescending he is to some.
I believe the phrase double-standard has another, and more official, meaning that that of which you mentioned.

[General Public]

06:07 PM on 09/17/2010

What on Earth are you talking about? I saw Religulous myself and found it a very entertaining movie, and he is not a man of hate towards people, he just doesn't like dangerous ideologies that young people are brainwashed into. He was not the least bit hateful towards any of the people, and was very friendly and got along well with them. If you listen to the DVD commentary he even talks about how much he likes some of the religious people as human beings and how he would get along great with them if they weren't talking about religion, but still got along pretty well. There were religious people who behaved hatefully towards Bill Maher in the movie, but that is their hatred, not his. I understand your point about calling the movie a "documentary", and obviously it is one-sided, but isn't everything one-sided these days anyway? Besides, he is on the side of truth and religion is on the side of falsehood. "Passion of the Christ" was a one-sided movie, and plenty of other pro-religion movies have been released, so in that context, one anti-religious movie does almost nothing to counter the vast numbers of movies with the exact opposite perspective. I don't even know what you would consider to be a balanced perspective on religion, since you are an atheist, but you seem to think religion is still worthy of respect. So why are you an atheist if you like religion?

[Danny Bloom]

12:33 AM on 09/16/2010

political satirist Bill Maher became the latest to PAY FOR A STAR for the FAKE Hollywood honor. The Paid PR Star gimmick was timed to coincideiwith the fact that "Real Time with Bill Maher" is back on the air beginning Friday. the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which, er, charges $25,000 for star, and maintains the stars, uses the money for maintenance and tourism. It is not an award, it is paid PR. print the facts, sir.

[Danny Bloom]

07:07 AM on 09/16/2010

wikipedia confirms PR gimmick of paid STAR in Hwood


****A fee (currently USD $25,000), payable at time of selection, is collected to pay for the creation and installation of the star, as well as general maintenance of the Walk of Fame. The fee is usually paid by the nominating organization, which may be a fan club, or a film studio, record company, broadcaster, or other sponsor involved with the honoree's current or ongoing project.[18][74]

[Danny Bloom]

07:08 AM on 09/16/2010

\
Nomination process



Each year, an average of 200 nominations are submitted to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Walk of Fame Selection Committee. Anyone, including fans, can nominate anyone active in the field of entertainment, as long as the nominee or his or her management is in agreement with the nomination. (A letter of agreement from the nominated celebrity or representative must accompany the application.) Nominees must have a minimum of five years' experience in the category for which they are nominated. Posthumous nominees must be deceased at least five years.

****At a meeting each June, the committee selects approximately 20 celebrities to receive stars on the Walk of Fame during the following year. \

[Danny Bloom]

12:31 AM on 09/16/2010

Bill Maher is Bull Maher and a liar to boot. He paid for his star on Walk of Fame. PR it is. paid PR

Bill Maher got,er, paid for, his STAR in the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday and announced it on Larry King show on CNN, where Larry also bragged about his own , er, paid star....BUT THESE ''STARS'' ARE PAID PR, they cost US$25,000 each, the "stars" or their studios PAY for the right to have a star, it's all timed for release of new movies or books or show.....google it


BILL MAHER..... and he bragged that he was honored tobe honored with a star there,,,HE PAID FOR IT for crying out loud, why does the media lie to us????? even truth teller BULL MAHER. i give up


Bill Maher paid for that star, to the tune of US$25,000. the entire walk of fame thing is a paid PR thing, and the stars are not awarded, they are paid PR paid for by the star himself or herself or their s...tudio as a PR gimmick usually in timing with a new movie or show being released. Bull Maher is a liar. He told King he was awarded the star, not true. Maher paid for that "honor"....wake up america,,,,when even a truth teller like Bill Bull Maher lies to the public about his star on the walk of fame, all is lost.

[Texan21302]

03:18 PM on 09/16/2010

Does everyone pay for them nowdays? Has it always been that way?

[General Public]

06:15 PM on 09/17/2010

You seem upset about celebrities paying money for stars on the "Walk of Fame", but why single out Bill Maher if every other celebrity has done the exact same thing? Do you have an axe to grind with Bill Maher for him being an atheist but you are looking for some other excuse to go after him? I'm sure every celebrity with a star there would likewise say they were "honored" by it, or otherwise they wouldn't have paid to have a star there in the first place. I'm not exactly sure why you want to go after Bill Maher, but atheism seems like the most likely explanation.

[arlandbaee]

12:13 AM on 09/16/2010

I take it this was a response to a question by the interviewer. Yes?