In 1993, Bill Maher created the perfect forum for his quick witted, comedic talents–Politically Incorrect. On Comedy Central, he had brought together some of the most interesting politicians, entertainers, and journalists to participate in some of the most controversial, topical, and comical discussions. Winners of four CableACE Awards combined, Maher and his program grew in popularity year to year, eventually catching the attention–in 1997–of ABC, and capturing the post Nightline time slot.
Politically Incorrect celebrated its fifth anniversary on ABC in January 2002 and was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2001 for “Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series.” Politically Incorrect went off the air in 2003. Maher moved on to begin a new live show, this time on HBO entitled Real Time with Bill Maher.
Maher, inspired by the show’s success, assembled some of P.I.’s most memorable highlights in his book, Does Anybody Have a Problem With That?: Politically Incorrect’s Greatest Hits. In it, Maher offers tongue in cheek commentary on such modest proposals as putting warning labels on the Bible, why we should have drunk driving lanes, and his regular “Get Over Yourself Award,” given to such notables as Newt Gingrich, Santa Claus and the O.J. Simpson defense team. He also offers a collection of some of the funniest and most insightful thoughts of P.I.’s panelists, including Ben Affleck, Marilyn Manson, Ann Richards, Pamela Anderson Lee, Oliver Stone, Ron Howard, Arianna Huffington, and Janeane Garofalo.
Maher‘s additional credits include five HBO specials, including the critically acclaimed Bill Maher Be More Cynical. He has made many appearances on Letterman and Leno, as well as guesting as a correspondent for The Tonight Show. He has also participated in the tours of a number of comics throughout the United States and starred in numerous sitcoms and feature films.
An English major graduate from Cornell University, Bill Maher began his comedy career by honing his act on the New York club scene during the ’80s. He reflects upon this time in True Story, a novelization of his club life and perhaps the funniest and most revealing depiction of the comic’s life to date.
Categories: Entertainers and Entertainment
