What got cut last night on Real Time With Bill Maher: As many of you have informed me, when Maher went to New Rules, the TelePrompter was malfunctioning and it took about twenty seconds to get things moving. I'm guessing they would have left all this in for the rebroadcasts if it hadn't put them over in terms of time…though it seems to me that Maher's show has occasionally run long and in the past, HBO has trimmed some of their between-show promos to account for overage. The usual philosophy here is that a live show ought to be left the way it was done, warts and all. I mean, the program is called Real Time.
I also recall the 'prompter going out one other time but then, Maher had back-up paper copy in his pocket and he calmly hauled it out and continued. Guess he didn't have it last night…but will, from now on.
Thanks to all forty-two of you who wrote in response to my question. Like I said: We get answers fast around here. Here's the full video clip of last night's New Rules spot as it was aired live…
