Maher: “I lied” about direction of new film to participants

HotAir ^ | October 14, 2008 | Ed Morrissey

[rightwingintelligentsia]

CNN looks into complaints from people appearing in the new Bill Maher film, Religulous, that filmmakers misrepresented their aims in interviews. Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) claims to have been taken out of context, but others claim that Maher and director Larry Charles flat-out lied. Both of them admit to it:

(Video at link)

Pryor’s complaint seems minor compared to the other allegations in this piece. I would imagine that PBS might have some issues with Maher and Charles posing as members of their news teams to gain the trust of these subjects, as it will make it more difficult for them to get interviews in the future. I imagine CNN would have provided a lot more criticism of this practice had Maher posed as one of their news units, although CNN does a pretty good job of reporting on Maher and Charles in this piece.

[hometoroost]

Wait, I know for a fact that the only time Bill Maher lies is when his lips are moving.

[theDentist]

That’s whty they call ‘em Lieberals

[Army Air Corps]

Maher lied!? Next, you’re gonna tell me that water is wet and that the sun is rather bright. :-)

[AnotherUnixGeek]

CNN looks into complaints from people appearing in the new Bill Maher film, Religulous, that filmmakers misrepresented their aims in interviews. Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) claims to have been taken out of context, but others claim that Maher and director Larry Charles flat-out lied. Both of them admit to it

Apparently Maher felt he had to resort to the Sasha Baron Cohen (Ali G, Borat) style of documentary - the interviewer misrepresents himself to the interviewees in order to make them look dumb and get a few cheap laughs. I'm not religious, but Maher is not a man I respect at all.

[Carley]

What is a cnn?

Is it catching?

I am sure it’s an extinct ages old version of a cable station but I’m not sure.

It went to journalism hell along with msnbc years ago.

[Emmett McCarthy]

I wouldn’t watch anything by Maher for free, much less buy a ticket. But I wonder if he pokes fun at allah, mohammed or any of that? No, I didn’t forget to capitalize those names.

[polymuser]

He lies when he sleeps, too.

[Paleo Conservative]

Sounds likel they were clueless. I wouldn’t ever agree to be in the same building with that slime.

[Cyman]

The best thing I can say about Bill Maher is that he is truly the ugliest man I have ever seen. In my house we call him Peen which is short for the male anatomic part that is hanging between his eyes.

[newheart]

I would imagine that PBS might have some issues with Maher and Charles posing as members of their news teams to gain the trust of these subjects

I seriously doubt this bothers PBS one iota.

[allmendream]

Sounds like the makers of the movie “No Intelligence Allowed”. They also lied to get participation; saying the movie was to be called “Crossroads” and was going to be neutral not an advocacy piece.

Double standard or are both equally reprehensible?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Sounds like a remake of MARJOE from 1972.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068924/

[Jeff Chandler]

Bill Maher: President Obama’s Press Secretary.

[hometoroost]

"He lies when he sleeps, too."

He talks in his sleep? :)

[polymuser]

Well, he lies down...

[Babu]

Maher started lying back when you could take rides on dinosaurs.

[hometoroost]

I gotcha...hence the smiley face.