Real Time with Bill Maher jumps the shark

After watching last week’s episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher,” one thing is perfectly clear – the show and its host have jumped the shark.

Maher’s two guests on the show were Matt Drudge-creation Andrew Breitbart and Michael Eric Dyson. And it was Breitbart who truly dragged the show into mediocrity on that night. Endlessly repeating how the worst thing in the world was to be called a racist, Breitbart defended Rush Limbaugh’s racism and played the new GOP calling card – he’s not a Republican, he’s a Libertarian.

And while Breitbart’s fans may be all-consumed with their hero’s victimization – a schtick he continued after the show – the entire discussion was typical of any other panel show you’d see on any other network, aside from the fact they were allowed to say “fuck.” And Maher was no help either, as he seemed fixated on Social Security and who should get less of it.

After Dyson and Breitbart, Maher then tried to talk to Sarah Silverman about current events, obviously forgetting she’s Sarah Silverman and that she never stops her schtick. This is nothing against Silverman, but after Breitbart and Maher had ruined the first segment, her addition to the show made the whole venture seem like Maher doesn’t really give a crap.

As for Maher, it seems as though all he has in his arsenal is political incorrectness.But not even his crowd seemed to appreciate this, as groans outnumbered real laughs. It was uncomfortable.

With “Religulous,” Maher proved he can take on big topics in depth and with humor. With “Real Time,” however, Maher is obviously struggling for inspiration. Because should one turn the dial from HBO to Comedy Central, you’d see comedy and issues attacked in deep and meaningful ways. With big issues confronting the nation, Stewart is rising to the challenge. Maher, on the other hand, seems content to snarkily rest on his laurels.

This is a very complex time in U.S. history, and there are many issues that can be taken apart with both style and substance. By having Breitbart play victim, followed by Silverman making Jew jokes, it’s apparent that Maher has lost his way and has neither style nor substance at a time when both are needed.

>–WKW