Bill Maher received a nomination for his very first Golden Globe Award, but he didn’t seem overly thrilled about it.
Just days ahead of losing to Ricky Gervais, who was also in the running for best stand-up comedy performance on TV, the sharp-witted comedian appeared to accept his defeat before it even happened.
“I speak freely, but this woke town hates it,” Maher expressed during a chat with Joel Edgerton on the “Club Random” podcast, where he reflected on why he often overlooks Hollywood awards.
“That’s all I said,” he added, hinting at an awareness of how the industry tends to ignore him.
Maher mentioned that he has never won an Emmy, despite being nominated a remarkable 33 times across his shows “Politically Incorrect” and “Club Random,” a fact later cited by Variety.
This year’s awards also introduced a new category for best podcast, where “The Good Hang with Amy Poehler” took home the prize, while “Club Random” was left without a nomination.
Critique of Woke Culture
As Maher’s commentary intensified, he dismissed Edgerton’s milder suggestion to tread lightly as “two white men” critiquing society.
“This town is really the hub of woke ignorance,” Maher remarked, referencing accusations of “cultural appropriation” that have been directed at figures as varied as Elvis Presley and Bradley Cooper.
He elaborated on Elvis’s influence, noting, “I sang it the way he sang it. He grew up in the South. It’s a blending of cultures. I think it’s pointless to criticize him for that.”
Mocking Criticism
Switching gears to Cooper, Maher poked fun at those who took issue with the actor’s portrayal of Leonard Bernstein, which included a critique about the so-called “Jewish nose.”
“They call it ‘Jewish nose.’ … You mean ‘Jewish nose?’” he questioned incredulously. “Do they even hear how absurd that sounds?”
Maher continued, “They’ve crafted this nasty term and then say, ‘Oh, but we’re virtuous. We’re implying that Jewish noses are undesirable.’ It’s just ridiculous.”
