When alumni descended on Cornell from around the world for Homecoming, Bill Maher ’78 was among them, as the weekend’s headline act. While the host of HBO’s “Real Time” didn’t pack Barton Hall, a few thousand people did show up to see him.
As the show began—thirty minutes late—the lights went out and the screens darkened. The audience, now glowing red from the stage lights, began to cheer. But they soon stopped as a trailer played for Maher’s upcoming movie, Religulous. A few boos erupted from the crowd, who presumably were more in the mood for stand-up comedy (at $15 to $25 per ticket) than for a promotion and another delay. When Maher finally took the stage, he was met with loud applause, but there were still moments when the crowd seemed put off.
The predominantly young and left-wing crowd appreciated Maher’s hilarious, often vulgar, always liberal commentary on the state of America. (Check out his interview with the Daily Sun.) His main topics, sex and politics, melded together in a critique of Republican and Democratic infidelity. Inevitably he attacked John McCain and Sarah Palin, with jokes on topics ranging from adult diapers to moose hunting.
Until he asked if there were any McCain supporters at the show. There were a few subdued cheers, which Maher met with ridicule. After lukewarm response to a series of jokes about (of all things) corn lobbyists, he attacked the crowd as a whole, saying, “You are easily the most lethargic audience I’ve ever played.” Finally, referring to the trailer at the show’s opening, Maher went on an extended rant against organized religion. It was often funny and filled with clever comments, but at times took on a harsh and unwarranted pedagogical tone.
Except for these few moments, the show was an undeniable success. Maher mixed humor with political concern, the key to getting the younger generation aware of and involved in national issues. His opinions may have been controversial, but they were well-informed, well-thought-out, and aimed toward the goal of improving the country. Unfortunately, a few alienating comments stripped away some of the impact his insights could have had.