What's Wrong With Real Time with Bill Maher?

Here's what drives me crazy about Bill Maher and his Real Time show:

The guy couldn't do an interesting interview if his life depended on it.

And it regularly drags down what is otherwise a consistently interesting show.

Okay, I take that back: On his special edition last Friday, Maher had Bill Moyers as his guest for a half-hour. Seemingly transformed by having a great journalist on, Maher actually asked cogent questions. It was compelling, informative TV.

To get to the Moyers' interview, however, you had to sit through Maher's half-hour with Jay-Z -- a debacle in which Maher acted like a tongue-tied fanboy, quoting lines from Jay-Z raps to his hero, without actually asking questions. Or asking questions that were meant to be straight lines for Jay-Z quips -- which is Maher's usual M.O.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a fan of Maher's. I admired (and laughed at) his audacious movie, Religulous. I think his stand-up is smart and perceptive. And I enjoy his contrarian spirit and highly attuned bullshit meter on Real Time and its predecessor, Politically Incorrect.

But if Maher's going to have high-powered guests on to discuss complicated issues, then he should have his producers write him some actual questions. Or get someone who knows how to ask questions for a living to write them. I'm available, if they're stumped.

Because when Maher has five minutes of airtime with a heavy-hitter like former FDA head David Kessler or TARP overseer Elizabeth Warren or Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, why waste it with the kind of banal chitchat that Maher usually falls into? Maher's approach is either to be the fawning admirer or the in-the-know peer -- but, in either case, he rarely asks a question that actually evokes a thought-provoking answer -- or asks a question at all.

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Comments

[gcsmit680]

Who is Marshall Fine

[lordjin]

Your confusing a purely journalistic forum interview talk show with a comedy show driven by a political focus.

[maeme]

Please get a grip. Bill Maher holds a discussion and as such questions his guests in the same manner. Look at the entire news anchorship and punditry, aside from Rachel Maddow, there is no great interviewer on tv. Maher's genre is more relaxed and informal - he at least, gets some answers. Two names - Chris Wallace and David Gregory - hello.

[MaryKathO]

Bill Maher's 'interview'with Jay-Z was pathetic. Here is one of the most interesting and prolific writers/producers /performers of our time and all he can manage are some fawning 'props' and the usual attempts to prove just how 'cool and down with the home boys' he is. And let's not forget his weekly announcement that he smokes weed (BFD)! He missed an excellent opportunity to get Jay-Z's take on the current state of the music industry and the new technologies being employed or what the political mind-set of the current hip-hop purveyor might be and how music has influenced it. His panel shows have gotten weaker and he seems completely disinterested in any of the topics discussed. If there is an opening for a slam at Obama and his utter 'failure' to take the liberal path (Obama is not/was never a liberal-he's a pragmatist­/centrist) of least resistance, then Bill will go for the cheap shot. His aims at Bush were certainly more polished and obviously funnier. Perhaps Obama is harder to hit because he leaves Maher with less ammunition. Come back to us Bill...we miss you!

[CowgirlAmy]

I adore Bill Maher. I am so glad his season is longer this time. It always seemed too short.

However, he does seem a bit different lately. He always jumps on the audience if they don't immediately respond to his jokes. This makes him seem less confident.

If he is going to devote a few shows to having one on one interviews, fine. But Jay-Z or Cameron Diaz? I loved when he had Larry Flint on his show back when it was on ABC. Very interesting interview.

I do think Maher is a good interviewer actually. He asks tough questions and doesn't let the person wiggle out of giving an answer by giving non-answers. He asks smart questions.

But also, he does seem like he has lost a little fire. 8 years of Bush will do that to anyone. But we need you Bill! Stay strong and stay on-air with longer seasons. We need you!

[LiberalBuzz]

I like the show and watch it, but lately it seems as if Bill isn't interested anymore. He's got the Playboy mansion to go let high and laid, his live shows make him money and generally has lost interest.

His rightwing guests are treated with kid gloves instead of being Bslapped for their outrageous lies and character assassination and some of his guest have no business being on the show at all.

And Bill lately also seems pretty ill informed as though......he's just not interested.

I want the old Bill back. The one that gave no quarter, ripped conservatives a new one, and didn't make fun of his fans.

[CowgirlAmy]

Everything you said is so true. I want the old Bill back too!

[mapmaker515]

The Jay Z interview was kinda odd. However Real Time usually hits it out of the park every week. We can allow Bill a few missteps.

[mombabytiger]

He loses me during the opening monologue which is just plain not funny. Hire a writer! The interview with Jay-Z was brutally bad. Especially the part where he asked Jaz-Z his opinion of some other rappers I never heard of either. Tupac was a genius? Really? I didn't get that memo. Also - get off the religion thing. I would rather spend an hour talking religion with Pat Robertson than Bill Maher. Both would be equally annoying. Rachel Maddow was a great guest, but let's face it - she's just a great person and I would watch her do anything. My favorite Bill Maher segment: Gore Vidal. That was great television, but primarily because of Vidal.

[Secularist]

This type of comment is typical of people who just plain don't like Bill Maher. Don't watch then. To me, his anti-religious position is consistent with his rationalism and is badly needed in today's society. Like millions of smart people around the world, he finds religion stupid and is honest enough to say so. Obviously, you don't, so you find his stance personally insulting. Tough cookies. Maher does not suffer fools gladly. And his monologue is funny. My guess is that your sense of humor is lacking. At any rate, you're not really a fan of his comedy, so don't watch then. It's one thing when fans express their opinion, it's another when someone is just not into the show. And why you would want to talk to Pat Robertson even for five minutes is beyond me.

[mombabytiger]

Excuse me, but I am totally hilarious. I didn't say that I disagree with Bill re: religion; I said that it's boring to hear his vitriol all the time. His hatred of religion is irrational and therefore cannot possibly be consistent with rationalism. I hate tomato juice, but if I work my hatred into every conversation it won't be long before no one is listening anymore. Also - Pat Robertson is very, very funny. And I'm not afraid to talk with people with whom I disagree. And - since I, too, do not suffer fools gladly, I'll end here.

[jade7243]

I don't tune in to Maher because of Maher... usually it's the panel that catches my attention. And I'm surprised often by folks you'd think might be tripped up by political detail, being well prepared and very astute. Maher on the other frequently disappoints. He can be way too crude -- cringe-worthy at times -- and harps on his personal political sacred cows -- er, cuds as he is a vegan or something.

I'd like Maher to come to the table better prepared, ask tough questions to get a good discussion going, and as host, get out of the way. And asking tough questions doesn't mean you frame them to wrench agreement out of your guests. And leave the crude jokes for the online home game.

Better, I'd love to see HBO give Jon Stewart an hour. Take the Daily Show, lengthen it to an hour, move it to HBO. I'd watch every night.

[Secularist]

Nothing against John Stewart, but he is not on the same Swiftian level as Maher. Seriously, when was the last time you watched "The Dialy Show" and then quoted a Stewart line?

[hapkidokid]

Uh, all the time, at least a couple times a week when shows are new...

[raker]

In an interview over on Fox, Chris Wallace is offering to warm Dick Cheney's nuts, and you're going after Maher? There's very little interviewing on Maher's show, usually two minutes at the beginning with a guest like Jeff Sharlett or MIchael Pollan who has lots of interesting things to say with little prompting needed.

About half of Maher's long-form interviews have been with fascinating people like Gore Vidal and Bill Moyers who also have interesting things to say. I've been satisfied with them. Maher's mistake may be choosing guests like Jay-Z, where Maher has to work harder to make it interesting, not always succeeding. But I don't watch Real Time to learn the secrets of the universe. It's political opinion and comedy; no heavy lifting required.

Besides, where else can you see smart, funny, insightful people like Dan Savage, Jeremy Scahill and Dana Gould on the TeeVee.

[JustifiablyParanoid]

I see nothing wrong with Maher choosing guests like Jay-Z, why call that a mistake? It's the diversity in his choice of guests that I like about the show. He takes personalities from every spectrum of the human pool, and lumps them together to dish politics and current affairs.

I've been a fan for a long time, and I don't think Maher is slipping what-so-ever. I do, however, wish he'd stop insulting his fans and supporters, as that's just obnoxious, and no one will respect a guy who's constantly making an a#@ of himself.

[Dosadi]

In Maher's defense it is getting hard to get people to open up because of the way the right perpetrates its craziness. If Maher asked tough questions no one would show up. It is the same problem we have with Sunday morning shows. The people on them are made to feel comfortable at all costs. Every republican who can read is on every Sunday saying the exact same thing. We need a show that does nothing but read today's talking points the republicans are putting out. Once they lose their legitimacy the public will fall back into a serious mode and only then can we actually have a debate about anything. I would like for one host to force the interviewee to speak words different than what was put out in the morning email. Or better yet how about one democrat to loudly proclaim that what the republicans are saying amounts to lies. Why do we not hear that from the left? Are they afraid to say the word? Politics suck, we need truth in these trying times not spin.

[Secularist]

First of all, I just want to say that I am a huge Bill Maher fan and consider him to be the bravest and smartest comedian working today. His niche is that he's not just a comedian, but also an astute political and social commentator. However, while I love "Real Time", I do have a couple of issues with the show. First, I totally agree that Bill is no Charlie Rose. Those interview shows, which he does as filler for when he can't do the regular broadcasts, have been dull and painful to watch. I'd rather see a re-run. Secondly, a lot depends on the guests. Some people just have more interesting things to say than others. Really? A 30 minute interview with Jay-Z? I'd rather see 30 minutes with Sam Harris, or Paul Krugman, or one of those terrific journalists & pundits that often appear on the show, etc. And the guests should really know what they're talking about. Showbiz types are rarely experts in any given field except showbiz, and they frequently drag the show down with their inane comments. Sometimes you just wonna go, "Shush now, adults are talking." Fans tune in to hear discussions of important issues and Bill's sharp comments, and NOT some bad version of the Tonight Show. Still, when the show works, it is one of the best things on TV, and Maher represents an important voice of reason often absent in our culture.

[Jessie]

Charlie Rose is not the greatest interviewer either!

I think Bill gets a jab in here or there. Sometimes I'm shocked at the treatment he gives his guests. Usually they do deserve it.

I hope Bill never has Andrew Sullivan on again. He is boring and no one can get a word in edgewise.

[NoSandwiches]

I just find the show to be too shallow
Love Jon Steward, Stephan Colbert, Rachell Maddow, Keith Olbermann, but Bill? Maybe for old people, like my mom. She buys HBO just for Bill. It really irritates me when he says (but I kid!) all the time. I too find it hard to sit through the show to get to the "good" parts

[Jessie]

Didn't Jay Leno always say some version of "I kid the president.." too? I guess it's a disclaimer just in case and usually reserved for presidents only?

[MC71]

I'm a big fan of Maher's show, but tuned out of the recent show. He should stick with the three-member panel, short interview format and, yest, get some real questions for those. As for the shot at Stewart by roksob, I think you can easily forgive a comedian for asking fellow entertainers softball questions when they come on to hawk their books or performances. But he certainly does his homework for the serious guests.

[genmanager]

Exactly. Do away with the beginning 13 minute interview, what a waste of time in a 56 minute show. Then, do away with the fourth guest at the end, another waste because by that time you are just getting used to the three panelists and ready to hear more from them.
I've also noticed Bill doesn't know when to shut up and let the guests talk rather than interupt them and ask another question. Condense the format and hone up on the interview skills and then you've got a bangin' show.

[Konnie]

i love bill. but he is just a great comedian. he wants to be an interviewer. sometimes he lucks out. moyers was great, well, because moyers is one the greatest human beings walking around on the planet today, and could make
talking to tree trunk interesting. so God bless moyers for showing up. and well, may the baggie
of pot maher worships bring him good something or other too.