TresSugar

Introducing: The SnugWow!

GiggleSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:02:51 -0700

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.

Are You There God? Bill Maher Sells Doubt in Religulous

CitizenSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:00:06 -0700

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.

I keep hearing that Maher can't expect to appeal to religious people by belittling them, but I don't think that's his goal. He's not talking to them. He's talking to the 16 percent of Americans that consider themselves nonreligious - challenging them to talk openly about doubt.

In the doc, Maher interviews Christians, Jews, and Muslims, most of whom are easy targets for comedy. Here are a few that stood out.

Senator Mark Pryor (AK-D): This senator may never live down saying, "You don't need to pass an IQ test to be in the Senate." Guess not!
José Luis de Jesús Miranda (Messiah in Miami): José believes Jesus's lineage moved through Europe until it reached Spain and then made the voyage to Puerto Rico, where he was born. People should follow him over Jesus, he says, because Jesus was Jewish and he is Christian.
Roman Catholic Priest (Vatican): I could have watched this man for the whole movie. He laughs. And laughs. And genuinely seems amused by illogical teachings and contradictions in the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, Maher does not dig enough to learn how he rationalizes the two. The priest does leave us these words: People are going to believe what they want, and then they'll die. Amen.

I wish we heard more from the skeptical devout like the Vatican priest. In fact, I had hoped Maher would interview Stephen Colbert (real-life Stephen, though fake would do). Colbert's a practicing Catholic (he even teaches Sunday School) who would appreciate the irreverent humor and, unlike most of Maher's victims, be savvy enough to keep up. But when it was over, I was really only fixated on one fact. Did you know there's a theme park in Orlando called The Holy Land? There you can experience the "wonder of ancient Israel."

Did anyone else see it? Who's going? Who would you like to see Bill Maher interview?

Photos courtesy of Lionsgate

Bill Maher Puts New Movie "Religulous" in the Offering Plate

CitizenSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:00:14 -0700

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.

Lighten Up: New Rules and New SNL!

CitizenSugar — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:00:26 -0700

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.

Are you a Bill or an SNL? Both?

Rep. Barney Frank Sparks Up Pro-Pot Bill on Real Time

CitizenSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:00:33 -0700

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?

Lighten Up: Bill Maher's New Rules

CitizenSugar — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 07:00:25 -0700

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."

Lighten Up: Bill Maher's New Rules

CitizenSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:30:51 -0800

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!

Which Comedy Show Had The Best Emmy Nomination Clip?

GiggleSugar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 13:00:00 -0700

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?

Briefing Book: Bill Maher's at the Box Office With Religulous

CitizenSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:30:02 -0700

Movies: Bill Maher's new movie Religulous opens today. Are you lining up to see him travel the globe questioning faith? - Radar
Debate Sweet Talk: "Can I call you Joe?" and "I love him. As my mother would say, God love him." All of the bon mots from last night's debate - WSJ Wire
Army Crack Down: The Army is vowing to prevent crimes of sexual assault within the ranks after a recent report that 2.6 out of 1,000 are assaulted every year. - Jezebel
Rick Rolling: Did you catch this one? - Just Too Good to Pass Up
Jobs: Job losses soar again in September, the biggest seen in almost six years. - Wonkette
Conspiracy Theories: The discovery of Steve Fosset's plane ramps up conspiracy theories surrounding his disappearance. - newsblog

The Real Stephen Colbert Speaks at New Yorker Festival

CitizenSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:00:46 -0700

Just yesterday while I was lamenting that Bill Maher forgot to interview Stephen Colbert (seen here with his wife and daughter at last month's Emmys), he was speaking (with his wife!) at the New Yorker Festival in Manhattan. He's known for giving few interviews and even fewer out of character and probably none with his wife, who puts up with it all, so this was a rare treat.

It appears it wasn't taped, but there are some great recaps. Here are some highlights of the highlights:

On playing Stephen Colbert, the character: "It's not in my nature to be a jerk - but I do enjoy it."
On why he ran for president: He refers to Bill O'Reilly and the egotism of his character: "I couldn't have the presidential election not be about me."
He hesitated before giving Bill O'Reilly the standard warning he tells all his guests - my character is idiot, disabuse me of my ignorance - but then went ahead. O'Reilly seemed unaware of the insult.

There's more! To find out how he perceives the political leanings (and relative intelligence?) of his audience, read more.

He thinks his audience is a bit more centrist than The Daily Show and acknowledges that some viewers don't realize he doesn't believe what he's saying.
On teaching Sunday School: The kids are funny because they ask questions that "you thought were so deep in college."
Advice for a young satirist: "Go to Chicago. If you can't make it there, you can't make it anywhere."

For an even better recap, check out the Huffington Post's. They had an in-person view of the full Colbert, as it were.

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