Real Time with Bill Maher #370 11/06/15 Wild

Quentin Tarantino

by Catherine Giordano

Remember Keith Olbermann from the old days of MSNBC. He was the first successful host of a TV news show—Countdown with Keith Olbermann-- with a liberal slant. He wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, and his commentary was as brilliant as it was scathing to Republicans, conservatives, and Fox News. His pugnacious temperament led to some wild and searing commentary, but sometimes got out of hand. He got into some disputes with MSNBC and his show was cancelled. However, it was Olbermann who transformed MSNBC from a wanna-be Fox News into the liberal news channel it is today.

I hope his appearance on Bill Maher is part of a comeback tour. Maybe he could start as a guest commentator on MSNBC. If things work out, perhaps a hosting spot again. I used to love Up with Steve Kornacki from 8am to 10pm on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Now Steve Kornacki has moved to prime time. On Sunday mornings, MSBC now airs Politics Nation with Al Sharpton at 8am followed by an hour of Up with various hosts. Maybe Keith Olbermann would be a good fit for the second hour.

I can’t wait to see Olbermann do the interview with Maher. Olbermann was a bit of a wild man the last time I saw him—has he retained his biting edge and can he contain his impulse to go way over the top?

Quentin Tarantino is another wildman famous for his own over the top movies. He will be the guest for the mid-show interview. He has been very vocal recently about police shootings unarmed people (usually African-American people.) I expect he will be talking about that.

Anthony Weiner is on the panel and during his time as Representative to Congress (D I) he was a passionate, sometimes crossing the line into wild, defender of Democratic causes. Unfortunately, he couldn’t control his impulses to send inappropriate sexts to women. It cost him his job in Congress and the after supposedly reforming, he ruined his chances to become mayor of New York City because he couldn’t control his impulses to send these sexts. I hope this appearance on Maher’s show is part of his comeback tour. We need his voice.

The other two panelists are David Frum (former GWB speechwriter) and Jillian Melchior (reporter for The National Review). I’ve seen Frum on TV a lot—he’s usually not too wild. I’m not familiar with Melchior, but whenever there are two conservatives on the panel things often get wild.

Just a list of the guests for now. Come back later for the full review and recap. 


Bill Maher's Guests November 6, 2015 

Interview

Keith Olbermann: Broadcaster and commentator whose credits include “Olbermann” on ESPN2 and “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” on MSNBC. He is the winner of three Edward R. Murrow awards for outstanding achievements in electronic journalism. He is the author of several books including Pitchforksand Torches: The Worst of the Worst, from Beck, Bill, and Bush to Palin andOther Posturing Republicans

Mid-Show Interview

Quentin Tarantino: Academy Award winning director and screenwriter whose newest film, The Hateful Eight opens in theaters December 25. (Some of his best movies have been packaged in a box-set Quentin Tarantino - The Ultimate Collection(Box Set), Includes: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Vol.1 & 2 and Death Proof. His recent efforts to call attention to those killed in police shootings have sparked controversy among law enforcement groups.

The Panel

Anthony Weiner: (D-NY) Former congressman (D NY), unsuccessful candidate for mayor of NYC

David Frum: Senior Editor of The Atlantic and Chairman of Policy Exchange, a UK think tank. From 2001-2002, he was a speechwriter for President George W. Bush. He is the author of several books about politics and one politically-themed novel, Patriots.

Jillian Melchior: Reporter for The National Review and a Senior Fellow at the conservative Independent Women’s Forum. She was recently named the 2015-2016

Tony Blankley Fellow at the conservative group, Steamboat Institute.