Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Joke Is on Liberals, Says Dennis Miller, Host of His Own Show Again
NY Times ^ | 1/15/04 | BERNARD WEINRAUB

Posted on 01/14/2004 7:24:29 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection

Dennis Miller, the liberal-turned-conservative comedian and defender of President Bush and the war in Iraq, is less than two weeks away from being the host of a new talk show on CNBC. For him it can't come soon enough.

"People say I've slid to the right," Mr. Miller said in his office at the NBC Studios in Burbank, speaking in his rat-a-tat-tat style. "Well, can you blame me? One of the biggest malfeasances of the left right now is the mislabeling of Hitler. Quit saying this guy is Hitler," he said, referring to Mr. Bush. "Hitler is Hitler. That's the quintessential evil in the history of the universe, and we're throwing it around on MoveOn.org to win a contest. That's grotesque to me."

Mr. Miller, who was speaking about television advertisements submitted to a competition held by MoveOn.org Voter Fund, a liberal political group, was just getting started.

"Did you see the Democratic debate the other night?" he asked. "To me Dennis Kucinich's politics are more scrambled than Rod Steiger's dream journal. And Clark? He's a wizard in many ways, but when I hear him speak, it's almost like he's slumming. There's a mensch discrepancy there. At least John Edwards, who to me is a reasonably shallow guy, at least he can dog-paddle around in that park and not look out of place."

Mr. Miller's rapid-fire monologues and obscure, even weird cultural references — Rod Steiger's dream journal? — have made him one of television's most visible comedians over the last two decades. He was a regular on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" from 1985 to 1991; had an Emmy Award-winning weekly series on HBO, "Dennis Miller Live," in the 1990's; worked as a film and television actor; was a commentator for two seasons on ABC's "Monday Night Football"; and most recently was an essayist for Fox News.

Mr. Miller's metamorphosis from iconoclastic liberal to free-wheeling conservative — which he partly attributes to the Sept. 11 attacks — has not only made this 50-year-old comedian an esteemed figure on the Fox network. It has also made California Republicans, who have triumphed with a movie star in the governor's mansion, look to Mr. Miller as a possible opponent to Senator Barbara Boxer, the liberal Democrat who is up for re-election this year. (Mr. Miller supported Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign for governor and performed last summer at California fund-raisers for President Bush.)

Mr. Miller said he told the Republicans he had no interest in running against Ms. Boxer, largely because winning would mean moving to Washington from Santa Barbara, where he lives with his wife and two children. "They inquired about my availability to run against Barbara Boxer, but I'm not at the point where I would consider it," he said.

His new hourlong show, "Dennis Miller," at 9 p.m. weeknights (with a repeat of one show on Sunday), will have its premiere on Jan. 26. It will include his usual venting on current issues, as well as interviews with political figures, journalists and others, and a nightly "right-left" debate among figures at different points on the political spectrum.

Pamela Thomas-Graham, president and chief executive of CNBC, said Mr. Miller's "kinetic energy" appealed to the network, now mostly an outlet for financial news. By hiring him, she said, CNBC hoped to retain and expand its daytime audience with a politically savvy show. She added that the CNBC daytime viewers were probably "interested in relaxing at night" with material that reached beyond Wall Street.

Ms. Thomas-Graham said Mr. Miller's political positions had played no role in the decision to hire him. "We are completely agnostic in that direction," she said. "We were looking for someone who has a point of view and is willing to defend that point of view."

Mr. Miller is also not a traditional conservative. "I've always been a pragmatist," he said. "If two gay guys want to get married, it's none of my business. I could care less. More power to them. I'm happy when people fall in love. But if some idiot foreign terrorist wants to blow up their wedding to make a political statement, I would rather kill him before he can do it, or have my country kill him before he can do it, instead of having him do it and punishing him after the fact. If that makes me a right-wing fanatic, I will bask in that assignation."

Mr. Miller said he remained socially liberal. "I think abortion's wrong, but it's none of my business to tell somebody what's wrong," he said. "So I'm pro-choice. I want to keep my nose out of other people's personal business. I guess I fall into conservative when it comes to protecting the United States in a world where a lot of people hate the United States."



TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cnbc; dennis8miller; dennismiller; liberals; milleroncnbc; zingers
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-113 next last
To: cwboelter
His political views most closely resemble libertarians, except that he's not a pansy on national defense.

I'm amazed to see the transformation he's making.

21 posted on 01/14/2004 7:59:28 PM PST by Dog Gone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Dennis is the man!!!

22 posted on 01/14/2004 7:59:53 PM PST by Tempest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: McGavin999
Miller was ON Fox. He was a featured commentator on Hannity & Colmes Fridays only. He wanted more. They wouldn't offer it. Hence the show on the off-brand, low-rated network. But it IS an entire show.

Congressman Billybob

Click here, then click the blue CFR button, to join the anti-CFR effort (or visit the "Hugh & Series, Critical & Pulled by JimRob" thread).

23 posted on 01/14/2004 8:04:54 PM PST by Congressman Billybob (www.ArmorforCongress.com Visit. Join. Help. Please.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Mr. Miller said he told the Republicans he had no interest in running against Ms. Boxer

I like Dennis Miller, but a more serious person is needed to run against Boxer. I hope they aren't beginning to think every Hollywood star can be a great politician!

24 posted on 01/14/2004 8:06:12 PM PST by potlatch (Whenever I feel 'blue', I start breathing again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
This is good news, and it will no doubt help CNBC.
I will watch Dennis Miller's show.
25 posted on 01/14/2004 8:16:41 PM PST by Lancey Howard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Salamander
"Rod Steiger's dream journal?" Referencing Rod's title-role performance in "The Illustrated Man", mayhap? If so, brilliantly arcane.....:)

That's what I figured it referred to. And yes, "brilliantly arcane" is a very good description.

26 posted on 01/14/2004 8:20:35 PM PST by Aarchaeus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: rintense; mombonn; ejo; Fiddlstix; lawgirl; Teacup; Miss Marple; Wait4Truth; TruthNtegrity; ...
You might enjoy this.
27 posted on 01/14/2004 8:23:50 PM PST by GretchenEE (Osama, your cave-dwelling days are about to end.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sarasmom
"And Dennis Miller rocks!"

I love Dennis, he has mounds and mounds of 'tude!

Further, his monologues are filled waist deep with sarcasm… dripping, pulsating sarcasm.

I like that a lot!

However, I did not like Mr. Miller on MNF. It just did not work.

Dennis on MNF is like Sex with Peanut butter.

Both sound good on the surface but when mixed, results in an unsatisfying jumble that no one wishes to contemplate or clean up.

28 posted on 01/14/2004 8:25:52 PM PST by Mad Dawgg (French: old Europe word meaning surrender)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Mad Dawgg
Hey, what's wrong with sex with peanut butter?

Don't knock it till you've tried it!
29 posted on 01/14/2004 8:27:17 PM PST by Doninnj
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Lancey Howard
I will be watching Dennis Miller, too.
30 posted on 01/14/2004 8:28:06 PM PST by mccann
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Salamander
Imagine if you will...that he may have been talking about this guy



Submitted for your perusal.
31 posted on 01/14/2004 8:29:52 PM PST by Live free or die
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: clintonh8r
Your kidding right? Greta is worthless and Miller would be great in her spot.
32 posted on 01/14/2004 8:36:04 PM PST by MizzouTigerRepublican (82nd ABN Gulf war vet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: GretchenEE
Edwards: a "reasonably shallow" guy. Perfect!
33 posted on 01/14/2004 8:36:56 PM PST by Carolinamom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: GretchenEE
Edwards: a "reasonably shallow" guy. Perfect!
34 posted on 01/14/2004 8:37:56 PM PST by Carolinamom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Aarchaeus
He is probably only one of seven people in the U.S. who know about "Pliny the Elder."
35 posted on 01/14/2004 8:43:32 PM PST by GRANGER (Must-issue states have safer streets.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: GretchenEE
Thanks! CNBC may gain some ratings with this...

Prairie
36 posted on 01/14/2004 8:47:55 PM PST by prairiebreeze (Was O'Neill being blackmailed or did Clinton call in the aluminum favor? Only the Shadow knows.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Weekdays at 9 PM is a good slot. Always thought that that Capital Report gave you the same crap as on the other networks, pols strutting without enough business interest. Getting rid of the Friday only WSJ Editorial Board was stupid - it was one of the unique and refreshing shows of late.
37 posted on 01/14/2004 8:53:57 PM PST by DmBarch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dog Gone
His political views most closely resemble libertarians, except that he's not a pansy on national defense.

I was going to say essentially the same thing, that he is something of a libertarian with hawkish attitudes on defense. Then again he is NOT agains paying alot of taxes, he says. Not too libertarian there either. So he is all over the spectrum, but definately moved (moving?) towards the Right.

38 posted on 01/14/2004 8:54:23 PM PST by Paradox (Cogito ergo boom.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Tumbleweed_Connection
I can only take him in short spurts. But then again I rarely watch any show all the way through.
39 posted on 01/14/2004 8:57:49 PM PST by Brimack34
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: McGavin999
Me either!
40 posted on 01/14/2004 8:59:47 PM PST by Howlin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-113 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson