Prax150 t1_j6j2fvh wrote on January 30, 2023 at 6:12 PM

Reply to comment by WordsAreSomething in CNN To Show Bill Maher’s ‘Overtime’ Segments As Part Of Friday Night by ceaguila84

Totally. I haven't watched Maher since the pandemic completely broke him and any redeeming qualities the show had left but I'm kinda curious how it's evolved since those early pandemic episodes and how far off the deep end he's fallen.

WeDriftEternal t1_j6j6lnd wrote on January 30, 2023 at 6:38 PM

The show has actually improved after the downslide but not back to its previous quality and that seems gone now. He’s not getting great guests either. He’s pretty mad at the woke stuff but not because it’s wrong but he thinks it’s what’s causing people to not like dems. (Tbf this isn’t a particularly an unpopular opinion). More like he bitches that it’s their platform not that it’s wrong. But he just won’t shut up about jt. He makes a reasonable point than drags out too long. A lot of bitching at “young people” too (although not all misdirected). If anything he’s more open about having libertarian style ideas.

Anyways. Down from before, better than pandemic.

Prax150 t1_j6j9ark wrote on January 30, 2023 at 6:54 PM

> He’s not getting great guests either.

I think this was my biggest problem when I finally gave up on the show. I agree with everything else you're saying and the worst of his opinions were certainly exacerbated by isolation everyone went through. But the appeal of the show for me was always the quality and variety in the guests. I obviously didn't always agree but on most issues it truly felt like the show had diversity of thought and that whether it was Bill or a panel guest there was a good element of spirited debate and being able to push back on any idea. No matter what you believe I think that kind of skepticism and pushback is important.

But then the pandemic hits, for a while the show is just him and truly awful (but what else were we watching that summer of 2020 lol). Then he goes back to the studio and understandably a lot of people are unable or unwilling to travel. And everything that happens in 2020 further divides people and platforming certain kinds of people becomes actively dangerous and stops others from wanting to engage. Bill himself is even pushing back less. Like, having a Milo or Kellyanne or whomever (just examples) even in 2019 hits different than in late 2020/2021.

Combine that with Bill's opinions getting worse and it just became unwatchable. I believe it's better now but the relief I felt when I finally gave up gives me no desire to go back.