Freed from the constraints of network television, bolstered by a crowd of left-leaning New York theatergoers, comedian Bill Maher should have all the reason in the world to come out with both guns blazing, shooting satirical bullets through Democrats and Republicans with equal gusto. He should score as many "boos" as "yays" by being politically (and scabrously) incorrect yet truthful and gut-funny. Certainly, Victory Begins at Home has its zingers and its "Did he really say that?"s. So why do the evening's biggest laughs come at the expense of liberated women and Nascar drivers, as opposed to political leaders and financial magnates? It's not that Maher has gone soft, it's just that his political material is more smile-n'-nod than guffaw and applaud.
Maybe the topical stuff would have more oomph if he were doing the act down south or in Bush-country Texas; on Broadway, it's engaging and often funny, but alas, no more groundbreaking than any VH1 or Comedy Central smartypants. Just as we expect more from our leaders, we must demand more from our leading pundits.
