Bill Maher is a busy man.
In his fourth decade as a comedian, actor, author and political commentator, Maher is planning a year-long break from stand-up to decide what else to add to his repertoire.
So when The Enquirer asked for 20 minutes of his time before his Sept. 29 show in Cincinnati, his publicist said he could only spare 15 between tapings of “Club Random,” the podcast he launched in 2022, and “Real Time with Bill Maher,” now in its 22 nd season.
Here’s what he had to say (lightly edited) to a handful of our 15 questions in 15 minutes – plus the extra 2:50 he threw in. Spoiler alert: He doesn’t think Ohio’s JD Vance is a keeper.
Do you have a favorite bit in the current show that usually lands pretty well?
They all land. I’ve been doing this for 42 years. If they don’t land, I shouldn’t be doing it at all. I don’t think I come unadvertised. I’m interested in what’s going on in the country, what’s going on in the world. I’m not the kind of comedian who does trivia.
But heavy on politics, given the season?
Certainly, there’s plenty of politics. I mean, it’s just an amazing time. Just in the last month we’ve had so many plot twists. First, the Democrats were going to lose because they were running a man so old that his bad kid with a drug problem was 55. To make matters worse, the guy he was running against got shot by an incel (short for "involuntary celibate"), who picked as vice president the only guy in the country more offensive than he was.
Since you’ve already mentioned Vance, let’s go there. What do you think of JD Vance as Donald Trump’s running mate?
I think he’s going to dump him … because he knows he’s losing now. So he needs an October surprise to change the parameters of the election. Trump will just go ‘I don’t like him. He was very disloyal.’ All he has to say is ‘I’m Trump. I’m doing it. It’s done.’ (His corollary prediction: Trump will run with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. instead.)
Let’s give equal time to Tim Walz. What do you think of Kamala Harris’ decision to pick him?
The pundits thought she was leaning toward (Pennsylvania Gov.) Josh Shapiro. She needs Pennsylvania more than any other state. The fact that she couldn’t pick him because he’s Jewish and the Democrats have this issue with the Israeli war I find very troubling. I think they’re very morally confused about things. (On Walz, Maher noted that the veep pick likes to say he talks like regular people. To that Maher says, “No, you don’t. You talk like a politician and that’s OK. Just don’t lie about it.”)
So I’ve read that you might end the stand-up portion of your career. What’s your thinking on that?
What I want to do is not do it for a year. I’ve done it for 42 years. I’m 68 years old. Is this something I’ve been doing for a long time because I’m addicted to it? Would I be happier if I wasn’t doing it and fill that time with something else? There’s no way to know that until I actually do it.
Who are your favorite kinds of guests?
They’re not careful and they’re not doctrinaire. My least favorite kind are sitting politicians. We book them because we are a show that talks about what’s going on in the news. But politicians are careful and they speak in talking points and that’s not basically what I want my show to be.
Do you want Trump or Harris on either your podcast or show?
Of course!
Have you invited them?
Of course! I understand why Trump doesn’t want to be on the show. There’s been no one who has been meaner to him. The Democrats? They should do it. I’m generally supportive of their side.
Given the wide range of topics you engage in are there any you just don’t care about?
I might do that with one where everyone agrees. Or it’s just sad. Am I going to have on a Klansman? No, I think we all are pretty decided on what the Klan is and there’s no reason to give them any sort of airing. But pretty much anything else.
Bill Maher brings his “WTF? Tour” to the Taft Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 29.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ahead of Cincinnati show, Bill Maher predicts Trump will dump Vance
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