Comedian Bill Maher had a warning for all those entering the Smith Center Saturday night: “It’s going to get worse.”
“Folks, get that stick right out of your ass,” he advised the sold-out audience at the start of his sole Colonials Weekend show. The political commentator famed for walking the line between sarcastic and sardonic spared few from his razor-sharp tongue.
From members of Congress “who just vote on bullshit that gets their dick hard” to average Americans he dubbed “ill-educated fuck-ups,” no subject or personality was off-limits during Maher’s 90-minute set.
“This primary season has shown the Republican party has no bottom,” Maher jabbed.
The host of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” bashed Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., as the candidate “for people who find [former Alaska Gov.] Sarah Palin too intellectual,” and said if Mitt Romney “was any slimier, you could kill him with a box of salt.”
Maher said, if a poll found Romney could garner more votes as a black woman, the former Massachusetts governor would change his name to Latisha. Acknowledging his liberal leanings, Maher still took digs at the Democrats, but saved his choicest jabs for the GOP.
“I hope I look like I’ve been bipartisan tonight,” Maher said.
Following through on his reputation as a sharp critic of religion, Maher also took swipes at the controversial decision to construct a mosque at Ground Zero.
“I don’t think a mosque should be built anywhere. Or a church, or a temple,” he said.
Leslie Jaffe, a mother at the event, said Maher was “a fiesta of ideas and thinking.”
“I think he is an outstanding choice for a liberal arts institution,” Jaffe said.
Earlier this week, four campus groups, led by the Young America’s Foundation, sent University President Steven Knapp a letter blasting GW for signing Maher on for Colonials Weekend.
The letter urged Knapp to apologize for hosting the controversial comedian, alleging that Maher’s off-color remarks on religion discredit the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion on campus.
Some members of the audience left the Smith Center before Maher finished his set, but it is unclear if they were protesting the show.
Dean of Students Peter Konwerski, who had not personally seen the YAF letter, said the University was not concerned about bringing Maher to campus, but could “appreciate the question from some of the student groups.”
“We know that many comedians address issues during their performances which may be deemed ‘edgy’ or controversial to some, particularly around a broad range of social or political subjects,” Konwerski said. “But we have a mature audience and, as a University, we are open to the free exchange of ideas and lively debate.”
I was very offended by the language used in the quotes from Mr. Maher. I believed this email to be a “family friendly” format and was extremely upset to read this type of nasty language. Please edit your material before you put it out to my family. I was totally unprepared to read this type of trash. Mr. Haher may have had a “mature” audience for his show, but if this type of language is considered “mature”, then I must be a middle aged baby because I believe this type of language is infantile and does not belong in a student/family email. Please consider a “G” rated email in the future.
I agree completely with Terry.
And why should we care whether or not you agree with Terry?
This is a news article on the internet.
As Maher said, “Take the stick right out of your ass.”
So glad I did not waste my money on this TRASH. What a loser!! So sad that a great institution such as GW would think that this person would be a good choice for a family weekend.
I think the university should definitely offer more family friendly activities like finger painting during family weekend. It would give students a great opportunity to show parents what they’ve learned at college and also offend no one. If only we could go back to the family friendly Jimmy Fallon singing about balls in Wolf Blitzer’s mouth.
Maybe we should use play-doh. Paint may get on people’s clothes, and that wouldn’t be fair to the people who don’t want to get paint on their clothes.
Hey Terry…are you a parent or a student? If you are a parent, your kids are adults now and no longer in the 5th grade,so get over it! And if you are a student-spare us the indignation at the language. There are a lot more uglier things out in the world than hearing Bill Maher say the word “ass”. Who says that a newspaper can’t quote curse words? If you don’t like it and it offends your eyes, then put it down.
Emory,
Where do you draw the line….I won’t go on. In this venue decorum would be appreciated.
And why won’t you go on?
And further Teresa, there were no curse words in the email-you had to click through to the actual paper to read it. So there goes your lawsuit.
HEADSHOT
Maher’s unapologetic take on religion was refreshing. Good on Ms Barnao for including direct quotes.
He could only sell out one show. Past performers were able to sell out two. How many tickets were purchased by GW directly and distributed? We didn’t attend this year’s weekend. He is an embarrassment to the University!
MOM!!! I thought I told you to stop posting on the articles! You promised if I let you come to Colonials Weekend this year you wouldn’t embarrass me…
Oh and thank you for coming to tuck me in before you left, even though I’m a senior in college I’m glad you still treat me like a child!
Honey, thats the last time I believe you when you tell me you’re looking up new sandwich recipes on the computer. You’re ruining our child’s social life.
See mom, this is why you can’t have a Facebook!
Check out the thoughtful editorial in Sunday’s Washington Post on the pros and cons of printing profanity in a family newspaper http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/profanity-in-the-post/2011/10/14/gIQAMSkykL_story.html. As a reader, I would be shocked to see the f-bomb dropped in the Post, but I don’t see The GW Hatchet as a family publication. It’s a college newspaper, and profanity is deeply embedded in the vernacular so I expect to encounter it there. As for Bill Maher, I find him to be a bitter, mean-spirited twit who seems to hate everybody, so I saved my money, skipped the show, and had a nice dinner out with my family instead.
I swear and shit!
“He could only sell out one show. Past performers were able to sell out two. How many tickets were purchased by GW directly and distributed? We didn’t attend this year’s weekend. He is an embarrassment to the University!”
I do hope that you realize it sold out quite quickly, with no option for a second show being given. Clearly there was no issue with demand.
Only one show was offered, dumbass. A little research goes a long way.
Mom! I told you to stop commenting on hatchet articles! Let me live my life….
As of last week the school was still trying to advertise this event. I also know for a fact that university officials were giving tickets to students close to them.
Yeah, that happens for every event. How do you think I got to see Clinton, Gates, Michelle Obama, Barrack Obama, Jimmy Fallon, Bill Maher for free? Because I’m close with faculty, bitches!
This is just another example of the University saying one thng and doing another. The university talks big of exchanging ideas, having free flowing debate and respecting everyone’s views but then they invite people like Bill Maher and countless other liberals to campus to speak while offering little in the way of balance to conservatives. Personally, I think Bill Maher is a piece of human debris who can’t even respect the most basic and core beliefs that people have. Maher isn’t a political commentator, he is just a name calling bully who tries to make everyone he disagrees with look stupid. He doesn’t use facts or arguments when speaking,, just harassment and degradation. But the university’s blatant double standard when it comes to featured speakers is embarrassing. GW is doing a poor job at trying to cover up its goal of manufacturing democrat voters and liberal thinkers and they won’t get one thin dime from me as long as I live.
I’m almost certain this response is trolling, but just in case it isn’t…are you serious??
Bill Maher and liberals are the only ones who “don’t respect the most basic and core beliefs that people have” and “don’t use facts or arguments when speaking”?
Have you ever heard of the opposition to gay marraige (a core belief of some!), Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh or Fox News? I mean let’s just be intellectually honest here! Conservatives may not agree with liberals and vice versa but this fake outrage that this doesn’t happen on both sides is just silly. If you’re a student you’re probably a freshman and still have a LOT to learn about life (and politics) and if you’re not, well good luck!
He doesn’t try, he does make people who disagree with him look stupid, because they usually are.
GWU is leftist institution that only cares about promoting a liberal agenda. They are bigoted and closed-minded and let’s be honest – if you’re a conservative or religious student – they don’t care about ounce about your or your beliefs.
It’s a private liberal arts university in the united states…of course it’s a liberal institution! I’m not exactly sure how things work in the country you decided to leave to come here to study (in which I’m sure you wouldn’t be able to speak as freely as you do here at this bigoted and closed-minded university) but colleges and universities are notoriously liberal places where a free flow of ideas is welcomed. And honestly…if you’re a conservative or religious student and you chose to come to GWU I hope they gave you a giant scholarship because obviosuly you didn’t do much research before coming.
Oh, and does anyone else not find it funny that all of these “conservative” posters are using terms like closed-minded and bigoted to describe liberals? Pot…meet kettle!
I am a member of PAAC, the Parents’ Assocation Advisory Council, and attended the program with my son. I was offended and surprised that GWU endorsed this comedian. I think it was a big mistake and hopefully we will see an apology from Mr. Lerman or Mr. Knapp.
GW didn’t endorse anybody.
Also, were you expecting something other than Bill Maher when you decided to attend the Bill Maher event?
Surprise! Bill Maher performed at the “Bill Maher at Colonials Weekend” event!
Dad, that shit was funny as fuck.
I understand that comedians often use vulgar language to make their jokes. However, there is only so much political jabbing one can take in 90 minutes. I am a fairly liberal guy. I even watch Maher on HBO, and I found his set unbearable. I like some political humor, but if its going to be 90 minutes worth it better be funny for both sides. It is understandable that a university so politically active would get a political humorist, however, parents such as my self are not as interested in politics as our children are.
Don’t do something like this again GW. Poor taste.
Don’t steal the name “Open-Minded” if you’re going to post a close-minded comment! Come on, man! Here at GW, we call that shit hypocrisy!
^^^
Read every single one of these comments and tell me you still don’t hate white people.
#sorrywe’renotsorry
^ This
WOO FUCKING HOO ANOTHER GODDAMN CARROT!
Second This Guy
Second Ugh on the white people
What’s wrong with white people?
I think Mr. Mahers’ humor is a bit too edgy and agressive for my liking and a particularly poor choice for the entertainment during a weekend visit with my child. While the school is in DC, I think it would be a nice break for the students to enjoy some entertainment that’s not focused on politics. I simply chose not to attend and subject family to 90 minutes of negativity. From the reviews it seems the it was the right choice. Hopefully in the future the school will engage entertainers with a more positive act.
To be quite fair, GW did offer us the act before Bill Maher, but we were already booked performing for a preschool gathering in the LA region.
We were also asked to perform, but were busy with an under 12 crowd in Western Massachusetts.
We would have done it! Jeez, GW, call us next time!
I would have done it but people said I would be too controversial after rehab
I agree with the many negative comments others have made related to this choice of “entertainment”. I believe it was junior high school where this type of “entertainment” was common. Little boys using their first four letter word, talking down others (aka bullying). In essence the approach was the more raunchier you got the more laughs??? Not that anything was creatively funny but rather just shocking.
We attended the free Air Force jazz concert in Lisner Auditorium in lieu of this venue. That program was amazing! Great musicians and a super guest singer. That was ENTERTAINMENT. Several standing ovations throughout the night. On other occassions I have attended events featuring politicians, “true” comedians, ex-POW’s (motivational speakers) as well as music events. There are many worthy alternatives to truly make this type of weekend event a memoriable and enjoyable one instead of an embarrassing and childish one.
I really can’t understand all this uproar over Bill Maher’s show over Colonials Weekend. Firstly, it’s Bill Maher, you know what your getting when you buy your tickets. Secondly, as an openly (and yes, widely liberal) institution who preaches acceptance and inclusion for all, isn’t there ingrained in that the idea that you must be inclusive of ideas which are against yours? Complaining that Bill is anti-religion and liberal and this is insulting to all of the super-religious conservatives is just plain stupid. I didn’t get to see the show, but if the complaints are anything to go by, it sounds like it was pretty funny.
Heyloww dis is Peggy, Oh u vant Transfur?? Hold on we Transfur … Would have been nice to see Bill O’Reilly up there with Maher…oh forgot Maher’s ACT would have been lost for words as usual ~ Call back later
I am a senior at GW. I have attended every Colonials Weekend performance with my parents for the past four years. My parents and I liked Bill Maher’s performance the most. He was hilarious and honest. Sure, he may say some controversial things. If you can’t handle that, 1) you shouldn’t have purchased tickets, 2) you shouldn’t live in a free country, and 3) you shouldn’t attend or come anywhere near a university. If you are one of those people saying “I know Bill Maher is scum and that is why I chose not to attend and I’m so glad I did blah blah blah”…why are you even commenting? You weren’t there. You do not matter. Bill Maher was hilarious, not to mention insightful. Its a shame that some students and their uptight, close-minded, unintelligent parents can’t handle the truth.
“Folks, get that stick right out of your ass.” – Bill Maher
As a parent, it is my hope GW presents a wide variety of entertainers, political figures, and lectures with divergent points of view. I would expect my student to exercise the same judgment as I would when electing to attend or not attend a function. There are functions where the content is objectionable to me and I make the simple decision to not attend. I don’t presume other people should or should not attend because of my personal beliefs. I don’t need the guidance of associations, political parties, or groups to help me navigate my personal beliefs when choosing my entertainment.
I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I thought he was hilarious, and I identify myself as a conservative. A lot of his points were spot on, and some I didn’t agree with but I realized that it was a COMEDY event. He’s not seeking my vote, it was something designed to poke fun at those around us.
The republican field is terrible this year – and he made a lot of valid points that night – but what I loved the most was his willingness to critically analyze things that don’t receive that treatment much – especially religion. And as other commenters have said – you knew what you were getting when you booked your tickets. You knew that he was a liberal athiest – so what did you expect? A Rick Perry prayer rally?
I think it actually showed that GW is more in touch with the students than I actually thought. I’d have put money on the fact that we’d have got some family friendly act who wouldn’t have appealed to the students much. But they pulled through, he was hilarious – and honestly, if you can’t laugh at yourselves, then that stick is too firmly up your ass.
^You are my favorite person ever in the world. You are awesome, and I seriously love you.
I’m so glad that I’ve found someone who shares my opinion of myself.
I literally couldn’t have said it any better.
I bill maher is a comedian focused on a subject most students at GW study, and I laughed my ass off. The way conservatives cry about stuff like this is just sad, it’s fucking entertainment. Get over yourselves
I would just like to clairify: it’s not family weekend, it’s PARENTS weekend. So, this weekend isn’t about making younger children less bored, but seeing the college kid you left 3 months ago. The events aren’t tailored to a young demographic they are tailored to college students and their parents.
NB. Freedom of press and speech is in our constitution.
If you wanted you kid to learn about religious studies he/she could have gone to catholic.
Now, there’s an obvious solution here. Bill Maher, love him or hate him, is Bill Maher. And if you thought he was going to make fart jokes all night, never mind the stick, you have your head up your ass. He was always going to make fun of Republicans and religion and use “bad words” and be “controversial”, that’s his thing. So the, apparently unattainable, solution was to just not go. That’s what I did. I don’t hate Bill Maher or find him appalling, I just don’t personally find him to be that funny. It’s just personal taste, so I didn’t feel the need to spend my money to go see him. There are shows all over the world all of the time I choose not to spend my money to see out of lack of interest.
And if you were on the fence, watch a few clips from Real Time, see if it’s for you. No? Go out for a late dinner, see a movie, we’re in DC for fuck-sake, just go do something else.
Well said!
The College Republicans and YAF are embarrassing this university
these comments are too fucking funny. Maher thrives on all the attention and comments of his haters who are more often than not the irritating population of undeserving brats that go to GW AND when their parents come to visit it gets even worse. Telling them to “take the sticks out their asses” is apt enough for me.
Great Stuff!! Really well written!!
I am old enough to remember that Maher during his former tv show stated a day or two after 9/11, that, “the ‘pilots’ who flew the airplanes into the towers were HEROES.” (he wasn’t laughing when he said it). What a fair, balanced and decent guy, eh? Not many people seem to remember that. Now he is rehabilitated where he is even invited on as a guest on Leno and Letterman. I don’t care what he says about religion or politics. His act is insignificant and not worth watching. However, I am interested in getting the word out (again) that this man is a cruel, mean, bigoted, bitter, vicious piece of protoplasm. That is all.
^this
Have you all heard about my 9-9-9 plan? Also, Second R.Kelly
Do your homework. If you attend any type of entertainment that requires hard earned cash, understand what’s on the slate. Bill Maher has been around for years and his beliefs are not hidden. I was negatively distracted at times by the people who chose to leave, and frankly annoyed that my well thought out choice for the evening was marred by these troglodytes. Nevertheless, Maher did not disappoint.
Konwerski said. “But we have a mature audience and, as a University, we are open to the free exchange of ideas and lively debate.”
So….if the university books, Ann Coulter GW students would put down the kool aid and let her have her time to talk. lol right, whatever.