Michael Douglas Joined Invoice Maher for a Put up-Election “Actual Time”

Election Day is over, the President-elect has been chosen and Invoice Maher took to the Actual Time stage to a radical spherical of applause. “That’s the proper perspective,” he stated. “We’re nonetheless going to have enjoyable.” Maher was in a extra dour mode than regular, for comprehensible causes  — he’d predicted a Harris win earlier than the election, and he’s additionally been sued by Donald Trump up to now.

Of the incoming Trump administration, Maher struck a word of warning relating to what’s to return. “Now they’ve actuality they should cope with. We’ll see what they do,” he stated. Later in his monologue, he expanded on this: “[Trump] acquired lots of people who say they simply wish to see what he’ll do. I name this the ‘get the cat excessive’ vote.”

His first visitor was Michael Douglas, there to speak in regards to the common state of politics within the nation and selling the documentary America’s Burning, which he produced and narrated. Their first level of dialog wasn’t something to do with Douglas’s personal profession, however was as an alternative his late father Kirk Douglas. Of that, Maher advised Douglas, “You make nepo infants look good.”

Apparently the elder Douglas was a fan of Maher’s work. His son advised Maher in regards to the final yr of his father’s life, when “the one issues he would watch have been Final Preventing and also you.” Maher, for his half recalled the “many, many notes” the star of Spartacus despatched him.

Douglas introduced up a degree that many pundits have within the wake of the election: the truth that incumbent parties everywhere in the globe — and everywhere in the political spectrum — suffered because of inflation. Douglas additionally  in contrast the inventory market’s rise over the past 40 years to a a lot smaller acquire in precise wages for staff. 

Later, the 2 males mentioned Douglas’s movie profession, which led to the sudden sight of Maher basically pitching Douglas — particularly, suggesting that he make a movie in regards to the media. “You aren’t too outdated to play Rupert Murdoch,” Maher stated. 

It was half of a bigger argument Maher made — that most of the highlights of Douglas’s profession had additionally reckoned with bigger societal points, from The China Syndrome to Visitors. This prompted Maher to revisit Falling Down, and the 2 males shared their reminiscences of working with Joel Schumacher. “How come I get D.C. Cab and also you get Falling Down?” Maher requested.

Maher additionally introduced up Douglas’s latest efficiency as Ben Franklin. How would he have reacted to the latest election? “I believe he’d have one other drink,” Douglas replied.

Another notable moments from the episode:

• Maher on his aspect ventures: “I personal a pot retailer, are you aware that? Woody Harrelson and I. Huge shock, proper?”
• Maher on No Nut November: “I imagine that masturbation is sweet for the physique and thoughts, like pickleball.”
• Maher on AI: “I don’t need that nosy little bitch in my cellphone.”
• Puck’s John Heilemann and The Dispatch’s Sarah Isgur joined Maher for the panel dialogue.
• Throughout New Guidelines, Maher introduced up a topic that neither major-party presidential candidate had raised of their campaigns: the state of air pollution on the planet’s oceans. “We discovered a solution to drown fish,” he stated at one level, and you can hear the hushed response from the viewers.
• There will probably be two extra Actual Time episodes this season. Subsequent yr may even deliver a new stand-up special from Maher.