Bill Maher, I love you.Bill Maher, I loathe you.
I think Bill likes it this way. Seriously – my guess is Bill would be the first to tell you he could give a s*** about your opinion of him. This is the guy, after all, who dressed up as Steve Irwin with a manta ray sticking out of his chest for Halloween, after Irwin died so unceremoniously.
This makes for good, old-fashioned, no-holds-barred panel discussion. I like the fact I can tune in and listen to a pundit who doesn't have to play by FCC rules and, well, cuss. Because frankly, given the state of the economy, don't we all feel like dropping the F-bomb?
Bill's show often features a comedic monologue upfront, followed by a satellite interview and then panel discussion with three established talking heads, actors, artists, authors or musicians. (Me? I love when Cornell West is on the panel, Salman Rushdie was fabulous, too.) Often times, he mix it up with members of the conservative and liberal movements on the panel at the same time – and while I often want to tear my hair out when David Frum or Joe Scarborough makes an appearance, it's crucial to the lively debate that ensues.
Do I agree with Bill on everything? Oh, hell no – I think his misogynistic qualities will ever keep me from just outright loving him. He also loves to rail against modern medicine, which I happen to be very appreciative of – but most of the time, he preaches at the church of common sense, of which I am a member. And he books fabulous, thought-provoking guests.
