Real Time with Bill Maher Season 1 Episode 17 Synopsis

Rated: TV-MA for Adult Content (AC) and Adult Language (AL)
Tonight's episode is Live from L.A.
Special guest, Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.) discussed Iraq and the need for the Bush administration to clearly communicate to the American people who the enemy is and what their strategy is for resolving Middle Eastern conflicts. He also identified that part of the problem the current administration is having is that there was not a sufficient amount of post war planning. The General also identified himself as a liberal, but in the c sense of the word, where issues are resolved through reason and dialog, not towing party lines and stricture.
Bill then introduced his roundtable guests for the week, Wolf Blitzer, D.L. Hughley, and William Kristol. Bill started things off by noting this week was the first all male panel in the show's history, and seeking the panel's impression on John Kerry's crying at the difficulties described by an unemployed mother. Bill then took the opportunity to ask hard-line conservative Bill Kristol if he felt the war in Iraq was going to plan. Kristol said his magazine, The Weekly Standard, was publishing an editorial urging the President to do what was necessary to not only win the war, but also win the post-war in Iraq as well. Bill then questioned why two Newsweek reporters could locate the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden, while the US military cannot.
Bill then introduced another special guest, Al Franken, who spoke about his tangling with Fox News and the use of the words "fair and balanced" in the title of his book. They also talked briefly about Franken's comparison of conservative love of country to how a child loves his mother, as opposed to an adults' love for a spouse and that person's imperfections. After more talk about Iraq, Bill asked the panel if they felt the seriousness and importance of the news was being diminished by reporting on things like Madonna's kissing Britney Spears and the VMA awards. And, what the effect is on the youth when Britney Spears says things like we should trust our President in every decision he makes. There was also some discussion on why the press has been so forgiving towards the President on his, some would argue, frequent gaffs. Blitzer in particular argued that 9/11 redefined the public's relationship with the President. Finally, Bill questioned the reasoning behind granting condemned abortion doctor cuddleer Paul Hill a press conference, suggesting it was a gesture to the pro-life movement by Gov. Jeb Bush. Bill then gave this week's New Rules.

Episode Viewers and Ratings

Season 1 Episode 17 of Real Time with Bill Maher resulted in a 0.00 rating in the 18-49 demographic.

Real Time with Bill Maher Season 1 Episodes...

• s01e01 - Premier Episode
• s01e02 - February 28, 2003
• s01e03 - March 7, 2003
• s01e04 - March 14, 2003
• s01e05 - March 21, 2003
• s01e06 - March 28, 2003
• s01e07 - April 4, 2003
• s01e08 - April 11, 2003
• s01e09 - April 18, 2003
• s01e10 - April 25, 2003
• s01e11 - July 25, 2003
• s01e12 - August 1, 2003
• s01e13 - August 8, 2003
• s01e14 - August 15, 2003
• s01e15 - August 22, 2003
• s01e16 - August 29, 2003
• s01e17 - September 5, 2003
• s01e18 - September 12, 2003
• s01e19 - September 19, 2003
• s01e20 - September 26, 2003

Real Time with Bill Maher Show Summary

Real Time with Bill Maher is a talk show that airs every friday night on HBO, hosted by comedian and political satirist Bill Maher. Much like Politically Incorrect on ABC, Real Time features a panel of guests that discuss current events in politics and the media. It is an hour-long program that is filmed in front of a studio audience in Fairfax, Los Angeles.