Comedian not intimidated by Alaska’s politics

MAT-SU — You might think a comedian who has gotten a lot of mileage out of making Alaska and Alaskans the butt of jokes would be a bit reluctant to bring his act here. But Bill Maher is not your typical comedian.

The veteran comic and host of HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher” brings his unique brand of socio-political humor to Alaska for two shows this month. The performances, Aug. 23, at the Blue Loon in Fairbanks, and Aug. 24 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, will be Maher’s first here since 1996.

A favorite whipping boy of the political right, Maher says he has no concern about performing his act in Republican strongholds like Alaska.

“It’s always more fun for me in the red states,” he said in a recent telephone interview. “I will go anywhere and prove that I can bring those people out to the shows.”

The Alaska performances come in the middle of Maher’s summer break from “Real Time.” They are part of his “Making Back My Million” tour, a reference to the high-profile donation he made to President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign.

The 57-year-old New Jersey native began his career in comedy in 1979. His stand-up specials for HBO have been nominated for Emmy awards three times over the years, and his “Real Time” show has received 17 Emmy nominations. Maher is also the author of five bestsellers.

No stranger to controversy, Maher has little patience for ideological bullies and makes no apology for the offense sometimes caused by his humor.

“It’s between me and the people who come to see me,” he explained. “We somehow got to a place in this country where anyone who is disturbed has to make a big deal about it. We are super sensitive now. But it becomes white noise to me.”

Even two highly publicized June Twitter jabs directed at Maher by one of his favorite targets — former governor Sarah Palin — did not faze him. Such outrage, he said, goes with the comedy turf. Although he expressed amazement at “the number of people out there who obviously have nothing better to do than monitor Twitter all day.”

“Wait 15 minutes after you tweet anything and you’ll weed out all the haters. They want to get their hate out immediately,” Maher said, borrowing an observation from filmmaker and political activist Michael Moore. “Then you can have a real conversation.”

What passes for political discourse these days is fertile comedic turf for Maher, who regularly pokes fun at Tea Party politics and the stacked deck he says has allowed their ascension to elected office.

“Some of these crazy right-wingers are totally safe because of gerrymandering. They have nothing to lose because they’re in safe districts,” he said. “These people do not know where the far right border is, and they’re dragging the country along with them. We’re losing the center.”

Maher has also been an outspoken proponent of more reasonable marijuana laws. Pointing out the futility and waste of the decades-long war on drugs, he has been at the vanguard of efforts to heighten awareness and bring meaningful change to how marijuana is perceived.

“I’ve never been shy about this,” he said. “An entire generation that grew up using marijuana knows it’s not horrible. Now they’re in positions of power.”

Despite his record of professional accomplishment, Maher said he expects to continue doing what he does for many more years.

“(Approaching 60) is what it is. I’m not one who’s going quietly about aging,” he said. “I still feel good. But I know it’s happening. You can’t get away from the fact that you’ve used up most of your life.”