Comedian Bill Maher had to pump the brakes on film director Michael Moore during his Friday night show on HBO, finally telling him to “shut the f*** up.”
Moore was busy explaining why, going into November’s midterm elections, he had never been more optimistic about where the country was headed — and he got so giddy that Maher had to jump in and remind him to respond to other questions.
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Maher introduced Moore — noting that 2022 marked 20 years since the release of his award-winning documentary “Bowling for Columbine” — and teased the filmmaker about his apparent weight loss: “You look like Michael Less.”
The topic quickly turned to politics, however — specifically, the midterm elections.
“So, ah, listen, we’ve talked about the midterms many times here. I think there’s sort of a bright spot there in the fact that the country is on the brink,” Maher began. “Which, for the first time I can remember, the midterms are sexy. This is the one usually we had trouble getting people to go out and vote for. Now there’s very high enthusiasm for a midterm election.”
Moore began by reminding everyone to get out and vote – and then explained why he believed the Democrats were going to have a good year.
“I honestly believe Bill, and you know, you and I are two well-known pessimists, I think, and I have never felt this optimistic,” he said. “And I, and, you know, I was on your show here, what’s, now six years ago when I said that Trump was going to win. And the audience booed me and you stood up for me.”
“You know, I’m from the Midwest. I think I had a pretty good sense of what was going to happen. I think the opposite is going to happen this time,” Moore continued. “I think that that there is going to be such a landslide against the traitors, especially the 147 Republicans who just hours after the insurrection voted to not certify the elected President of the United States, Joe Biden.”
“And I think that there is going to be so many people coming out to vote. I want to thank the Supreme Court for reminding women that they are, in fact, second-class citizens and taking their rights away like this. There are so many,” he continued. Moore went on to name specific states where abortions had already been restricted in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
“I think there’s a real revolution, a nonviolent revolution going on in favor of democracy,” Moore concluded. “People don’t want to lose it.”
“Michael Moore. Now let’s meet our panel,” Maher tried to pivot.
“I’m sorry!” Moore interjected.
“I’m sorry. Question two!” Maher replied.
“I’m just excited,” Moore added. “We’re going to get rid of these people that are trying to tear the country down. We’re going to get rid of them. I’m excited about it.”
“I see. You know, we have some Republicans watching this show. We are, we are for all Americans on this show,” Maher reminded Moore.
“So I don’t know. But that’s why we should …” Moore kept going.
“Yeah, I know, I know. Shut the f*** up! Shut up right now and answer one other question. Okay?” Maher replied, making it clear that he was moving on.