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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Bill Maher has changed his mind and isn't bringing back his HBO talk show amid the ongoing writer's strike.

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My speculation is that the networks are hurting by the writer and actor strike. They are trying to get shows to restart any way they can to show they don't need the writers and actors. Personally, I was long ago tired of scripted reality shows that are anything but reality. The only thing going for them is they are relatively cheap to produce.

Even reality shows are starting to crumble though. I recently read that word is getting out of bait and switch tactics, skulduggery to get their contestants to do what they want. Such as NDAs to prevent them from talking about how they are treated, the confiscation of all ID including passports, wallets and purses, cell phones, so that these contestants can't leave and can't quit. The contracts they sign pretty much give the producers lord rights over them, turning them into slaves to do what is commanded of them.

Be that as it may, I've pretty much had it with TV. I watch the weather mostly, some news, and other than that, I don't much care what they broadcast, the audio is turned off. Ads are spoon-fed at such a rate to make tv watching not worth the break up time from whatever the program is. Personally I can't stand ads. They are trying to convince you to spend money you normally would not do on products you don't need. If a product is really good, your neighbor will tell you about it, unpaid.

Maybe Bill has been sniffing some of that Ajax.

#1 | Posted by BBQ at 2023-09-18 04:47 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

He couldn't get enough guests who were willing to cross the picket line.

#2 | Posted by tres_flechas at 2023-09-18 04:52 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

Lazy scumbag scab Bill Maher wrote the show and realized he had exactly 88 seconds of material, so more like a Twitter Spaces hit than an actual show.

#3 | Posted by _Gunslinger_ at 2023-09-18 06:57 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

The Ajax joke is pretty good but we can do better.

#4 | Posted by Tor at 2023-09-18 10:21 PM | Reply

"Lazy scumbag scab Bill Maher wrote the show and realized he had exactly 88 seconds of material, so more like a Twitter Spaces hit than an actual show.
#3 | POSTED BY _GUNSLINGER_"

I don't know why he didn't just use AI to write his entirely predictable 'Orange Man Bad' jokes - the show would literally be the same, unfunny liberal ----------.

#5 | Posted by Claudio at 2023-09-18 10:53 PM | Reply

My speculation is that the networks are hurting by the writer and actor strike. They are trying to get shows to restart any way they can to show they don't need the writers and actors. Personally, I was long ago tired of scripted reality shows that are anything but reality. The only thing going for them is they are relatively cheap to produce.

Even reality shows are starting to crumble though. I recently read that word is getting out of bait and switch tactics, skulduggery to get their contestants to do what they want. Such as NDAs to prevent them from talking about how they are treated, the confiscation of all ID including passports, wallets and purses, cell phones, so that these contestants can't leave and can't quit. The contracts they sign pretty much give the producers lord rights over them, turning them into slaves to do what is commanded of them.

Be that as it may, I've pretty much had it with TV. I watch the weather mostly, some news, and other than that, I don't much care what they broadcast, the audio is turned off. Ads are spoon-fed at such a rate to make tv watching not worth the break up time from whatever the program is. Personally I can't stand ads. They are trying to convince you to spend money you normally would not do on products you don't need. If a product is really good, your neighbor will tell you about it, unpaid.

Maybe Bill has been sniffing some of that Ajax.

#1 | Posted by BBQ

As someone with insider info let me correct some of your fallacies.

Shows have people sign NDAs so they can't blow all the stories for the audience before it airs, which is logical and not a scandal. Competition reality shows confiscate cell phones from contestants for the same reason.

Idiots sign these contracts for low amounts of money because they are lazy narcissists who want to be on tv instead of getting a real job. If the show is a hit and they are critical to it's success, they get new contracts that can make them very wealthy.

Some of the people who are no longer on the shows are bitter that they're not making money any more, so they're suing some media corporations in order to continue to make money without getting a real job.

I can't stand commercials either, which is why I pay extra for commercial free content. Hulu cuts out commercials for you in the higher tier. HBO has no commercials. Apple+ has no commercials. Amazon has no commercials. Youtube TV is cheaper than cable, but allows you to fast forward through commercials.

#6 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-09-19 01:06 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

I appreciate his intellect and wit,
most nights, but his Ego is both tedious and
tiresome... Another rich mofo with an
outsized bullhorn and overestimated
self-importance...

#7 | Posted by earthmuse at 2023-09-19 02:10 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

His show had been circling the drain for years when the pandemic hit. And when he broadcast from home without writers his show became truly horrendous and for us, impossible to watch. When he returned to the studio we didn't return.
And after this failed attempt to return, we never will. And his explanation for why he isn't returning is probably some of the worst fiction I've read in years.

#8 | Posted by prius04 at 2023-09-19 03:57 PM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

Does anyone watch his show? Never found it too be informative or entertaining.

#9 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2023-09-19 05:49 PM | Reply

I do.....did?.....I enjoy some of his show's humor.

Those who don't are welcome to watch reruns of bland ellen.

#10 | Posted by Tor at 2023-09-19 05:51 PM | Reply

Does anyone watch his show?

I watched the mono and the New Rules segment. Not usually the interviews or panel discussions unless there was an interesting (to me) guest.

Maher comes across as a well informed, snarky -----.

#11 | Posted by REDIAL at 2023-09-19 06:07 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

There was a lot of backlash to his original statement.

His statement was made by a group of execs, both statements.

#12 | Posted by ClownShack at 2023-09-19 06:32 PM | Reply

There's nothing that can be done.

AI is the future.

Streaming services won't pay residuals without raising rates, which will cause them to lose customers.

A lot of people will need to start learning new skills.

Like starting a podcast or modeling on Onlyfans.

#13 | Posted by ClownShack at 2023-09-19 06:36 PM | Reply

Like starting a podcast or modeling on Onlyfans.

Or running for Congress.

#14 | Posted by REDIAL at 2023-09-19 06:46 PM | Reply

George Santos is living proof of that.

#15 | Posted by ClownShack at 2023-09-19 06:49 PM | Reply

Netflix isn't hurting financially they can afford to pay residuals and not charge customers a dime more.

#16 | Posted by Tor at 2023-09-19 07:44 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

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