It was only a matter of time before The Snuggie and the Sham Wow mated to become the vestment/absorbent towel of choice for couch potatoes everywhere! Why get up to grab a paper towel because you just spilled beer or nacho cheese sauce all over your Snuggie when you can just wipe up your mess with your blanket/towel/cult member's robe? I would draw the line at taking bathroom breaks from the comfort of your couch, though. There's always the Uroclub, after all.
A wordplay on ridiculous, Bill Maher's new docu-comedy Religulous found its calling this weekend when it opened across the country. It grossed a modest $3.5 million and ranked number 10 at the box office, but I suspect many people will have an opinion regardless of whether they see it.
Directed by Larry Charles of Borat and Curb Your Enthusiasm, Religulous will remind you of everyone's favorite Kazakhstani roaming around America, exposing isms and making enemies. It adopts the same wanderlust quality and lets Maher loose in the US, Europe, and Middle East to humiliate unsuspecting people.
I decided to check out the movie this weekend so I could report back to you today. To find out what I thought, read more
Bill Maher isn't what you'd call a God-fearing man — far from it. He makes no secret that he's a rationalist and an atheist, and thinks all organized religions are a bunch of bunk. The comedian is trying his hand at preaching without the choir in his new documentary, Religulous, directed by Borat director Larry Charles.
He says the movie aims to answer these questions:
What do you believe, why do you believe it, and why do you need to believe it? Can we be good without God? Is religion a calling or a mental illness? Were Jesus, Moses and Mohammed prophets and visionaries, or crackpot nut cases who today would be put away? Is religion an obsessive-compulsive disorder?
The doc features visits to Jerusalem and the Vatican with interviews including Jews for Jesus, Muslims, polygamists, Satanists, Hasidic Scholars and even Rael of the Raelian Movement (the UFO folks). Check out the trailer. The movie comes out October 3 — do you think this movie is sent from heaven, or hasn't got a prayer?
To see Bill talk to Larry King about the movie and his views on religion — including his assertion that we don't need a person of faith in the White House, but rather a "person of doubt," read more
In case you were sleeping, out, or sans fancy cable this weekend, I've got you covered. Bill Maher and SNL were both new with send ups of the Olympic Torch firestorm and the Petraeus hearings.
Did you catch cops on the Segways? How's that for a segue. . .? To see the SNL clip from last night, read more
Longtime Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank announced on Real Time this weekend that he plans to "file a bill as soon as we go back to remove all penalties for small amounts of marijuana." Frank said,
"I wanted to do it for a long time. I filed it in the state legislature in the '70s. When I got to Congress, frankly, I was feeling more cautious. I now think it's time for the politicians to catch up to the public. The notion that you lock people up for smoking marijuana is pretty silly. I'm going to call it the Make Room for Serious Criminals bill."
After wind of the announcement reached those not up watching HBO late at night, Rep. Frank had to clarify. He said the current federal law unfairly targets those using medical marijuana in California and that the decision of whether to make possession of the drug illegal should be left up to the states. "I don’t think smoking marijuana should be a federal case. There’s no federal law against mugging," he said.
Supporters say the measure would save states millions of dollars in law enforcement costs while critics say decriminalizing any amount of marijuana could send a signal to children that smoking pot is no big deal.
Are you surprised to hear legislation proposed on premium cable? Is Frank right?
OK, yes he's on a premium channel so he gets a backseat to the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert-basic-cable powerhouse, but he's funny! Check out this recent New Rules, from Real Time.
My laugh-out-loud moment? When he said, "You know it's true because when I wrote it on the internet, I didn't add LOL."
I confess, once in college I skipped classes to take my friend to audition for Politically Incorrect, Bill Maher's old show. He didn't make it on, but Bill still makes me laugh. Now that he's on HBO he's a little more controversial. Bill Maher-concentrate is his segment, New Rules. Here's last weeks installment. . . . enjoy!
I know the Emmy Awards were, like, so last week-- but I came across this recap of all the nomination clips for the category of "Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program." It's a rare treat to see our favorite funny guys side-by-side, so I thought we'd put these nomination clips to a vote. Who amused you most?
Penelope was on hand last night at the ACLU Bill of Rights Awards in Beverly Hills to honor those that take risks to defend our liberty. There she accepted an award on behalf of director Paul Haggis who got us thinking in his movie, Crash. Jewel performed for the guests. Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks and Bill Maher also took home awards, no doubt for their very outspoken political views. The annual event marks the anniversary of the signing of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, which includes our rights to free speech.
For more pics including Penelope, Bill Maher, Natalie Maines and Jewel just read more
