Bill Maher: Meet Roy Zimmerman

CLICK HERE

by Catherine Giordano

Roy Zimmerman is a humorist and satirist, just as Bill Maher is, except Zimmerman does his stand-up in song as he accompanies himself on the guitar.

Zimmerman is brilliant. His satire is spot on. His comedic timing is superb. His expressive face adds as much to his presentation as his hilarious words. His targets are politics, religion, and the unholy mix of politics and religion.  If Bill Maher ever wants an opening act for his performances, he should get Roy Zimmerman.

Right now, Zimmerman is doing his “Blue Dot” tour. If you have a chance to see him, grab it. You absolutely must see him perform in person. You can find Roy Zimmerman’s schedule here: Blue Dot Tour.  

If Zimmerman is appearing anywhere near your area and you can offer him a venue, contact him. He may be able to squeeze in a performance for you. He did that for the Orlando Humanist Association on Sunday, October 26, 2014. He left my throat raw from laughing, and my hands red from clapping.  

Here is a video clip to give you a taste.

 

If you can’t see Roy Zimmerman in person, the next best thing is to get one of his CD’s—there are quite a few. The song in the above video is in this CD: You are Getting Sleepy.

P.S.: Is there a documentarian out there who would like to film Zimmerman’s next tour? I would buy that video and a few more to give as gifts.

Compare Roy Zimmerman to Bill Maher in this video clip. This clip is of the New Rules segment titled “Sam’s Flubs.” Maher also aims his barbs at people who vote Republican. In this segment from the October 24, 2014 episode of Real Time with Bill Maher (episode 333) Maher focuses on the race for Governor in Kansas between Sam Brownback ® and Paul Davis (D). Maher shows how Brownback’s governorship has been a train wreck for Kansas, and wonders how this could possibly be a close race. (If you live in Kansas, please, please, go out and vote for Davis.)

 

 

You can read my complete review and recap of the 10/24/14 “Real Time with Bill Maher here: “Prophets and Wingnuts.”

 

Bill Maher’s Guests #333 October 24, 2014

 

Dr. Cornel West: Professor at Union Theological Seminary, philosopher, activist, socialist and author. His most recent book is Black Prophetic Fire.

 

Chloe Maxmin: Activist, environmentalist 

 

James Risen: Pulitzer prize winning journalist at the New York Times, author of a new book, Pay Any Price: Greed Power and Endless War

 

John Avlon: Journalist, political commentator, editor in chief of The Daily Beast, and author of several books. His newest book is Wingnuts: Extremism in the Age of Obama

 

Mary Matalin: Republican political consultant and author of several books. Her newest book is co-authored with James Carville Love & War: Twenty Years, Three Presidents, Two Daughters and One Louisiana Home

Bill Maher Exonerated

The Exonerated becomes a
 subject for Maher's comedy.

by Catherine Giordano

Susan Mellon was convicted of murder in the death of a homeless man and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. She was innocent. After serving 17 years in prison, she was exonerated and released.

 

The group Innocence Matters, which works to get innocent people exonerated, investigated Mellen's case and was able to prove that she was innocent. 

CLICK HERE

False convictions happen all too often. If you have the opportunity, see the play or the movie The Exonerated. It is about six innocent people who were on death row and who fortunately were exonerated before they were executed. It is a powerful play. It is based on true stories of people saved due to the investigations of The Innocence Project. 

Bill Maher is in the comedy business so he used Susan Mellon’s case for a comedy skit on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, episode 332, aired on October 17, 2014. 

When Mellon was released she remarked about how everything had changed so much.

So Maher’s mid-show comedy segment was about helping the exonerated catch-up with the changes in society that occurred while they were away. He suggested a pamphlet, “So You Have Been Exonerated.” 

Here are some of the items he included.

Your old video store now sells pot.

Before you eat something, it is considered socially unacceptable not to take a picture of it first.

If someone says you have a gigantic ass, it is now a compliment.

TV sets are bigger, and so are Americans. (He shows a picture of a fat person.

But, Donald Trump is still a jackass.

Here is a video clip of  the segment.

 

 
Read my recap and review of the entire show: "Going Viral"
 

Bill’s Maher’s Guests October 17, 2014

 

Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D, NY), author of Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World

David Frum: Senior editor at The Atlantic, political commentator, former George W. Bush speechwriter, and author of several books, the most recent being a novel, Patriots

Representative Barbara Lee: (D, CA), Renegade for Peace and Justice: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks for Me

David Millband,:Chairman and CEO, International Rescue Committee

Joel Stein: Journalist, humorist, and author of Man Made: A Stupid Quest for Masculinity

Bill Maher's New Rules for The Lemon Party

by Catherine Giordano


John Wayne quote about stupidity
that I use ironically

        


In my review and recap of the Real Time with Bill Maher, episode 332 which aired on October 17, 2014, Going Viral, I talked about the stupid-virus.  It’s far more dangerous than the ebola virus—with ebola about half of the people recover. Just about every one wh self-identifies as a member of the tea party has it and and they are out amongst us spreading the virus.

The final New Rules segment was “The Lemon Party.”  I guess he meant that the opposite of the Tea Party is the Lemon Party. 

Currently, Democrats win every demographic group except white males.  Maher wanted to give Democratic candidates a few pointers on talking to white men.  As he said, “I am a strong powerful beautiful white male” so I know how to talk to “whitely.”

Maher said Democrats don’t understand “what white people want.”  Basically, he advised Democrats to reinforce whitey’s prejudices –talk about hard work, tell blacks to pull up their pants, and tell them how much you love dads and small business. Talk like John Wayne and talk about “kicking ass.” Never be like Neville Chamberlain; be like Wilt Chamberlain who will duke in your face.

Here’s a video clip of the segment.

 

 

 

 

Bill’s Maher’s Guests October 17, 2014

Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D, NY), author of Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World

David Frum: Senior editor at The Atlantic, political commentator, former George W. Bush speechwriter, and author of several books, the most recent being a novel, Patriots

Representative Barbara Lee: (D, CA), Renegade for Peace and Justice: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Speaks for Me

David Millband,:Chairman and CEO, International Rescue Committee

Joel Stein: Journalist, humorist, and author of Man Made: A Stupid Quest for Masculinity

Read the full review and recap of Real Time with Bill Maher, episode 332, Going Viral.

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Bill Maher Says Democrats are A-Holes Too

Bill Maher's Mid-Show Comedy Segment parody

by Catherine Giordano

The mid show comedy bit on Real Time with Bill Maher on October 3, 2014 was a parody of a real video put out by a Republican operative.

"Real Time" made a parody video titled Democrats can be Assholes, Too. The video was best when  pictures sometimes belied the words. For instance, when the words were "Democrats are farmers", the picture showed a farmer holding a marijuana leaf or when it said "Democrats love guns too," it showed a picture of Obama shooting a rifle.

However, the writers were a bit lazy this week because most of the pictures and captions were not a clever juxtaposition. Some of the pictures played off some Republican memes like Republicans riding a rascal scooter (like Republican billionaire Sheldon Adelson), having gay sex, or being sexist, so I'll give them a half point for those. Others just showed people doing dumb things and claimed those people were Democrats----I'd send the writers back to the drawing board on those.

Here's the video.  Judge for your self.

To the full recap and review of the 10/3/14 Real Time with Bill Maher, go to Wake Up America


Here is another YouTube video which takes the original video and alters the captions. so now instead of saying "Republicans drive Priuses too" it reads "Republicans DON"T drive Priuses."

Maher’s Guests for October 3, 2014

 

Elizabeth Warren: Senator (D, MA), author of A Fighting Chance. Maher did the interview with her. 

Sam Harris: author, philosopher neuroscientist. His newest book is Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion. His other books are: Free Will, Lying, The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values, Letter to a Christian Nation, The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason. Harris was the mid-show guest. 

Ben Affleck: actor, director, writer, producer, activist. His newest movies are Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Gone Girl (based on a novel by Gillian Flynn) 

Nicholas Kristof: journalist, author, op-ed columnist, a winner of two Pulitzer Prizes. His latest book is A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity  

Michael Steele: former chairman of Republican National Committee, political commentator, author. His book, published in 2010,  Right Now: A 12-Step Program For Defeating The Obama Agenda, sounds out of date.

Charles M. Blow Talks with Lawrence O’Donnell on "Fire Shut Up My Bones"

CLICK HERE
Fire Shut Up in My Bones

by Catherine Giordano 

One of Bill Maher’s guests on Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday September 26, 2014 (episode 330) was Charles M. Blow, journalist, op-ed columnist for The New York Times, and author of Fire Shut Up in My Bones. 

Charles did not talk about his book on Bill Maher’s show. Consequently, it wasn’t until I saw Charles on MSNBC on The Lawrence O’Donnell show that I learned that he is a terrific writer who has written a terrific book. O'Donnell calls it a "literary masterpiece." Publisher's Weekly calls it a "brave powerful memoir."  

The book is beautifully written and it will be a revelation for many Americans about life in rural America and growing up African-American in America.
 

Watch the YouTube video of Lawrence O'Donnell's interview with Charles Blow. Charles and Lawrence read passages from the book and discuss them. Then read this book!

Click Here to watch the video.

 

 

Read the full recap and review of episode #330. the review is titled Safe.

 

Maher's Guests for September 26, 2014

 

General Anthony Zinni: Retired United States Marine Corps General, author of several books, including his latest book, Before the First Shots Are Fired: How America Can Win Or Lose Off The Battlefield (with Tony Koltz)

 

Naomi Klein: Critic of corporate globalization and author of several books, including The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. Her newest book is This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate 

 

John Feehery: Republican political commentator, former aide to Dennis Hastert, President of Quinn Gillespie Communications and Director of QGA Government Affairs.
 

Charles M. Blow: Journalist, op-ed columnist for The New York Times, and author of Fire Shut Up in My Bones 

 

Alexandra Pelosi: Journalist, documentary filmmaker, and author of several books including Sneaking Into the Flying Circus: How the Media Turn Our Presidential Campaigns into Freak Shows and Citizen U.S.A.: A 50 State Road Trip (Citizen USA is also available on dvd)