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[[File:Bill Maher.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Bill Maher]]'''Bill Maher''' (born 1956) is arguably a [[left-wing]] talk show host. He is also a [[Socialism|socialist]], certainly an [[agnosticatheist]] and [[liberal]] comedian, actor, writer, producer, and [[Democratic Party]] activist. Maher supports the legalization of [[marijuana]], [[gay marriage]], [[gambling]] and [[prostitution]]. He is most notable as the host of ''[[Real Time|Real Time with Bill Maher]]'', which airs on the [[HBO ]] television network. Maher formerly hosted [[''Politically Incorrect'' on [[ABC]] on Comedy Central.

== Television shows & Other Biography==Maher was born in [[New York City]], the son of Julie (née Berman), a nurse, and William Maher, Sr., a network news editor and radio announcer.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.filmreference.com/film/32/Bill-Maher.html |title = Bill Maher Biography (1956–)|accessdate = January 17, 2008|publisher = Film Reference}}</ref> He was raised in his Irish American father's [[Catholic]] religion, remaining unaware that his mother was [[Jews|Jew]]ish until his early teenage years.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0205/24/lkl.00.html|title = Interview With Bill Maher|date = May 24, 2002|accessdate = January 17, 2008|publisher = CNN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date= May 24, 2002|last= King|first= Larry|authorlink= Larry King|url= http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0205/24/lkl.00.html|title= CNN LARRY KING LIVE Interview With Bill Maher|publisher= CNN|accessdate= Aug 13, 2012|quote= But I never even knew I was half-Jewish until I was a teenager.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|year= 2008|month= November/December|last= Carlin-McCall|first= Kelly|url= http://www.irishabroad.com/irishworld/irishamericamag/octnov08/features/bill-maher-octnov08.asp|title= The Real Bill|publisher= [[Irish America magazine]]|accessdate= Aug 13, 2012|quote= So the fact that I’m half Irish and half Jewish, they both contributed to a sense of humor.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|year= 2011|month= July|last= Morgan|first= Piers|url= http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/12/maher-on-religion/|title= Bill Maher explains his 'apatheism,' apathetic atheism|publisher= CNN|accessdate= Aug 13, 2012|quote= "...and I was raised Catholic. I was never Jewish"}}</ref> When Maher was 13, his father disagreed with the [[Catholic Church]]'s position on [[birth control]] and stopped taking Maher and his sister to Catholic church services.<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20081221013449/http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2008/10/03/Diversions/Getting.Blasphemous.In.The.Presence.Of.Bill.Maher-3467097.shtml |title=Getting Blasphemous in the Presence of Bill Maher |publisher=Media .www.diamondbackonline.com |date=Oct. 3, 2008|archivedate=Dec. 21, 2008 |accessdate=Aug 13, 2012|url=http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2008/10/03/Diversions/Getting.Blasphemous.In.The.Presence.Of.Bill.Maher-3467097.shtml}}</ref>

Despite bizarre claims of being a [[Libertarianism|libertarian]], his views are more line with totalitarian-[[socialism]]. In fact, most of his views are in direct opposition to libertarian ideology, such as his support of government regulation of corporations, foreign aid, public schooling, a ban on homeschooling, campaign finance restrictions, restricting carbon emissions and creating other radical "environmental protection" laws, affirmative action, minimum wage laws, absolute gun control, support for the [[United Nations]], income redistribution through higher taxation, and socialized medicine. He endorsed Bob Dole in 1996.<ref name=salon>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2001/08/01/maher_4/|title=Is Bill Maher a libertarian?|first=Dan|last=Halem|date=Aug 1, 2001|accessdate=Aug 13, 2012|work=Salon.com}}</ref> He supported [[Ralph Nader]] in the 2000 U.S. presidential election, but not in 2004. He has even praised [[Janet Reno ]] and the ATF for its action in the massacre in Waco, Texas. He supports personal choice on moral issues, including abortion, the use of drugs, gambling, and prostitution. Salon.com characterizes him as a "A flaming liberal"<ref name=salon/> In addition, he also infamously encouraged people to "bring on the recession" by crashing the economy in order to force Donald Trump out of the presidency.<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/video/2018/06/08/bill-maher-hopes-for-crashing-economy-to-get-rid-of-trump-bring-on-the-recession/</ref>

Maher was formerly involved in a relationship with model Nancy Johnson a.k.a. "Coco Johnsen". However, Ms. Johnson ended it and in November of 2004 sued Maher for palimony amid allegations of verbal and physical abuse.<ref>[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1111041coco1.html]</ref> Maher said that he never promised to marry her and that the claims of abuse were a money making scam.<ref>[http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/12-1-2004-62384.asp]</ref>

Somewhat anachronistically, he voted for [[Bob Dole]] in the 1996 Presidential election, calling him an "old-fashioned" Republican. He is also a personal friend of fellow Cornell student [[Ann Coulter]], despite (or perhaps because of) their widely divergent views. She was a frequent guest on ''Politically Incorrect.''

Not surprisingly, the [[New York Times]] raved about his 2003 overtly anti-Catholic, one-man broadway show "Victory: Begins at Home".<ref> [http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/295903/Bill-Maher-Victory-Begins-at-Home/overview NYTIMES review]</ref><ref> http://www.catholicleague.org/annualreport.php?year=2003&id=80</ref>

In 2008, Maher starred in a spoof [[documentary]] movie called ''[[Religulous]]''. It was directed by [[Larry Charles]] (who also directed ''[[Borat]]''). The film derives its name from a combination of the words "religion" and "ridiculous".<ref>[http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0708/14/lkl.01.html CNN LARRY KING LIVE, Interview With Bill Maher, aired August 14, 2007 - 21:00ET]</ref>. Originally destined for an [[Easter]] 2008 release, the film had a limited theater-release in [[October]] 2008 after being first shown at the [[Toronto]] International Film Festival in early [[September]] 2008.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0815241/releaseinfo IMDb: Release dates for ''Religulous'']</ref>.

*[[Messianic_JudaismMessianic Judaism|Messianic Jews]]

*[[Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_LatterChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day_Saintsday Saints#Polygamy|Polygamists]]

The film made $3.5 million in its opening weekend<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=religulous.htm</ref> in a limited release, surpassing expectations. It never did break out though after that and appears to be heading for a In total gross of about , it made just over $13 millionduring its theatrical release, and over $7 million in US DVD sales <ref>http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/RELIG.php</ref>

The already controversial film gained increased notoriety on the morning of 30th 30 September 2008 when Bill Maher made an appearance on the View to promote ''Religulous''. Maher frivolously suggested during the interview that anyone who hears the "voice" of God should check themselves in to a psychiatric hospital.<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/30/sherri-shepherd-bill-mahe_n_130581.html</ref>

[[Category:AuthorsAtheists]][[Category:AgnosticsTalk Show Hosts]][[Category:Directors]][[Category:Liberals]][[Category:American Jews]][[Category:Anti Second Amendment]][[Category:Communists]]