Politically Incorrect

He's got a decent rank in Comedy Central's list of greatest stand-up comics of all time. He's white and middle-aged, known for politically incorrect humor, attacks on the media, politics and various other favorite comedy punching bags. Half-Catholic, half-Jewish. These could describe any number of notable stand-up comedians, but we're talking here about Bill Maher, who's somehow managed to remain singular in a sea of pissed-off, cynical white guys. His 2008 film Religulous was genuinely funny, irreverent and informative (and, as a result, probably made Michael Moore cry a lot), and he's keeping HBO moderately relevant with his talk show, Real Time With Bill Maher. Sure, he said that creepy thing about Michael Jackson once on the Craig Ferguson show ("If I had a choice between being savagely beaten and being gently masturbated by a pop star...") but on the whole, he seems to know that if you let the idiots of the world speak for themselves, the jokes are secondary to proving a point. Maher may not be fun for the whole family, but at least the ones who like to sneak out to the garage and talk shit on Thanksgiving. Load 'em up and get tickets to see Maher at 8 p.m. this Saturday at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. Tickets are $57 to $97. Visit LiveAtTheMajestic.com.
Sat., July 11, 8 p.m., 2009