Bill Maher Rules the Palms

As any regular viewer of HBO’s “Real Time” knows, Bill Maher has never been one to keep his personal views personal.

Whether he’s tearing Republicans a new one or calling out religious fanatics (often at the same time), Maher reigns as the top left-of-center standup comedian, an award-winning talk show host, a best-selling author and an acclaimed filmmaker, whose “Religulous” is the eighth-highest-grossing documentary of all time.

Since March, Maher has called the Palms his Vegas home and will continue his residency at the Pearl Theater for the rest of the year, performing on Sept. 6 and 7, and Nov. 2 and 3. He is among a handful of popular comedians who have landed gigs in Las Vegas’ premium venues, which indicates that today’s audiences are still drawn to entertainment with an old-school Vegas vibe.

“When I first played Vegas as an opening act in the ’80s,” Maher told the Las Vegas Guide recently, “I would finish my 15 minutes and rush out to see Sammy Davis, Sinatra, Shecky Greene, Tom Jones, Alan King, Diana Ross — and they all dazzled the audience with nothing but talent. I don’t recall any gimmicks or props that any one of them ever used.”

At its core, Maher’s act is the kind of personality-driven, no-frills show that established Vegas as America’s entertainment capital. “I’m a human, and not a dolphin or an acrobat,” Maher said. “Also, Vegas, after trying to reinvent itself as a number of different things, came back to being a place for adults, and that’s what my show is. Strictly for grown-ups.”

Maher’s audience can expect the adults-only, politically driven humor that has earned his weekly talk show a loyal Friday night following and 17 Emmy nominations.

Not for the easily offended, Maher updates his standup in tempo with the news, plucking out political headlines and spinning them into merciless material straight through to the downbeat of the show.
And with religion, gun control, celebrities, drugs, politicians and the media as some of his primary targets, Maher should have enough material to last him well past the reckoning.

Bill Maher at the Pearl Theater
Sept. 6 & 7, Nov. 2 & 3; 8:00 p.m.
4321 W Flamingo Rd.
(702) 944-3200
www.palms.com

—Sarah Ricard, Brand Publishing Writer