POLITICALLY INCORRECT'S GREATEST HITS (TV)
Summary
This special looks at the best moments of this comedy talk show series hosted by Bill Maher, who presides over a no-holds-barred forum whose members come from the worlds of politics, journalism, and entertainment in order to discuss current events -- no matter how controversial. The special honors the show's completion of its four-year run with Comedy Central in order to move to ABC's post-Nightline spot. Maher is joined first by actress Yasmine Bleeth (who takes a ribbing from the host for her role on TV's "Baywatch"), then later by news correspondent Jeff Greenfield, who is a regular on ABC's "Nightline." All three introduce dozens of clips featuring countless celebrities.
Highlights include Al Franken and Kelsey Grammar's take on fame, Maher's opinions on the O.J. Simpson murder trial, Charlton Heston's comments on rap music, Chris Rock's take on racism within the Republican Party, Hugh Downs' views on alcohol, and a lively discussion on the legalization of prostitution with Al Sharpton and Pat Schroeder. The show also features several clips from the many recurring sketches of the program's Comedy Central days. In "Strange Bedfellows," Al Franken and Ariana Huffington discuss controversial issues while wearing pajamas and sitting in a large bed. With the "Get Over Yourself Award," Maher discusses celebrities with whom he is particularly annoyed. "Modest Proposals" are Maher's unorthodox political ideas. (One involves getting kids to stop smoking: "Just make sure Clinton is seen everywhere with a cigarette in his mouth. Then no kid will ever think it's cool.") The clips are interspersed with testimonials from past guests and celebrity friends wishing Maher luck with the new incarnation of the program. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: January 1, 1997 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:54:01
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:47231
- GENRE: Comedy; Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Talk shows
- SERIES RUN: Comedy Central - TV series, 1993-1997; ABC - 1997-2002
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Nancy Geller … Executive Producer
- Brad Grey … Executive Producer
- Bernie Brillstein … Executive Producer
- Marc Gurvitz … Executive Producer
- Bill Maher … Executive Producer, Created by
- Scott Carter … Executive Producer, Writer
- Scott Preston … Coordinating Producer, Director
- Douglas M. Wilson … Supervising Producer
- Kevin E. Hamburger … Producer
- Chris Kelly … Co-Producer
- Bill Kelley … Co-Producer
- Tracy Abbott … Associate Producer
- Susette Hsiung … Associate Producer
- Christopher Case Erbland … Writer
- Hayes Jackson … Writer
- Brian Jacobsmeyer … Writer
- Billy Martin … Writer
- Bill Maher … Host
- Yasmine Bleeth … Guest
- Jeff Greenfield … Guest
- F. Murray Abraham
- Jason Alexander
- Tim Allen
- Maria Conchita Alonso
- Tom Arnold
- Alec Baldwin
- Sandra Bernhard
- Pat Boone
- Ray Bradbury
- Willie L. Brown, Jr.
- Tammy Bruce
- Rachel Campos
- Drew Carey
- James Carville
- Bill Clinton
- George Clooney
- Coolio
- Bob Costas
- Tony Curtis
- Tim Daly
- Hugh Downs
- Fran Drescher
- Patrick Duffy
- Tony Fabrizio
- Jerry Falwell
- Geraldine A. Ferraro
- Jeff Foxworthy
- Al Franken
- Daryl Gates
- Bob Goldthwait
- Kelsey Grammer
- Hearst, Patricia (See also: Hearst, Patty)
- Florence Henderson
- Charlton Heston
- Arianna Huffington
- Laura Ingraham
- Kato Kaelin
- Paul Kanter
- Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
- Robert Klein
- Lisa Kudrow
- Steve Lawrence
- Vicki Lawrence
- Jay Leno
- G. Gordon Liddy
- John Lofton
- Bette Bao Lord
- Jon Lovitz
- Howie Mandel
- Julianna Margulies
- Malcolm McDowell
- Kevin Meaney
- Anne Meara
- Michael Moore
- Martin Mull
- Ted Nugent
- Joe Queenan
- Robert Reich
- Ann Richards
- Joan Rivers
- Chris Rock
- Paul Rodriguez
- Roseanne (See also: Barr, Roseanne; Arnold, Roseanne)
- Marion Ross
- Rita Rudner
- Bob Saget
- Pierre Salinger
- John Salley
- Rob Schneider
- Pat Schroeder
- Jerry Seinfeld
- Garry Shandling
- Al Sharpton
- William Shatner
- Harry Shearer
- Martin Short
- Sara Silverman
- Gene Simmons
- Simpson, O.J. (Orenthal James Simpson)
- Slash
- Harry Smith
- Arlen Specter
- George Stephanopoulos
- Roger Stone
- John Tesh
- Jay Thomas
- Lea Thompson
- Robert Townshend
- Joe Walsh
- Steve Weber
- Lowell Weicker
- George Wendt
- Adam West
- Barry White