Bill Maher: Be More Cynical
The wit and wisdom of Bill Maher are on display in this hour-long performance, recorded in San Francisco in 2000. Of course, just how witty and wise Maher appears will depend on one's socio-political stance. Outspoken if not outrageously controversial (this gig preceded his infamous remark on hisPolitically Incorrectshow that the 9/11 hijackers were "not cowardly"), Maher espouses views on sex, the war on drugs, religion, and other popular (and, let's face it, easy) targets that are unlikely to endear him to, say, residents of most "red states." Still, there is one opinion that this self-proclaimed Libertarian and his conservative counterparts might well share--namely, that big government is decidedly not a beautiful thing. Indeed, Maher's point is that we need to "be more cynical" not for its own sake, but so that we might avoid being duped by therealcynics out there, like those in Congress who sue Big Tobacco even as they line their own pockets with campaign contributions from those same companies. Elsewhere, although Maher doesn't specialize in one-liners, he does have some good lines: Princess Diana was "a lovely housewife who did some charity work"; when it comes to being faithful in a relationship, "men are only as loyal as their options"; those who claim to comprehend God's will really only "understand God as your dog understands you." The main problem with some of this material is that it's dated; taking shots at George W. Bush before he was elected for the first time isn't exactly fresh years after the fact.--Sam Graham