Comedian Bill Maher likes Utah. Really!
The host of HBO's politically-charged talk show, "Real Time with Bill Maher," has taken his share of shots at Utah culture on his series. But after showing up in the Beehive state for the first time for a standup gig at Kingsbury Hall Saturday night, he did have one nice thing to say about Salt Lakers — well, sort of.
"There's a lot of hip people — even in Red states," he quipped.
Sunday night, Maher was in Park City to launch his new Amazon.com-sponsored Internet talk show, "Fishbowl with Bill Maher," with guests Stephen King, author Armistead Maupin and musician Rob Thomas.
After the show, Maher (who complained all night that the lodge he stayed in didn't have any food) and King had more fun at the expense of our great state.
What did Maher think of his first visit here?
"I think it's cold and there's no food," he said without missing a beat.
King remembered being in Utah while filming "The Stand" in 1993.
"I made a miniseries in Utah, and we were here for eight weeks. I thought it was six months, and I ate more fruit salad in Utah," he said. "This is the fruit salad capital of the world. Fruit salad in jello."
To which Maher replied, "I would have given a left nut for a fruit salad," he joked.
"That's what was in my fruit salad!" King declared.
Said Maher, pointing to the master of horror: "It's scary how funny he is."
- Vince Horiuchi