Bill Maher
A mechanism-level breakdown of 26 analyzed bits from Bill Maher (2014), spanning 1 special. Every excerpt is tagged with its primary humor mechanism using the Comedy Stack framework.
- Analyzed bits
- 26
- Specials
- 1
- Active range
- 2014
- Go-to mechanism
- incongruity-resolution
How Bill gets laughs
Distribution across the primary humor mechanisms in the analyzed set.
26 attributed excerpts
Short quoted bits used here as editorial examples of Bill Maher’s mechanism-level craft. Each excerpt links to its full-transcript source.
“Nothing in there now. Just it’s… Rick Perry could not place the correct century for the American Revolution. He thought it happened in the 1500s.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'Nothing in there now. Just it’s… Rick Perry could not place the correct century for the American Revolution.', then the trigger 'He thought it happened in the 1500s.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“Second worst was when Kanye West grabbed the mike from Taylor Swift, obviously. Second worst day, but… Yes, they are… so obsessed with Benghazi.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'Second worst was when Kanye West grabbed the mike from Taylor Swift, obviously.', then the trigger 'Second worst day, but… Yes, they are… so obsessed with Benghazi.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“The problem is that the liberal base, You know, doesn’t show up for the midterms. Well, maybe you do. But mostly they don’t, you know.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'The problem is that the liberal base, You know, doesn’t show up for the midterms. Well, maybe you do.', then the trigger 'But mostly they don’t, you know.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“And he always tries to put a positive spin on it, Praises them whenever it’s at all appropriate, He gently criticizes when it’s absolutely necessary.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'And he always tries to put a positive spin on it, Praises them whenever it’s at all', then the trigger 'appropriate, He gently criticizes when it’s absolutely necessary.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“You sound like a great crowd. Are you ready for a moral question? Here it is. You’re in the locker room at Penn State.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'You sound like a great crowd. Are you ready for a moral question? Here it is.', then the trigger 'You’re in the locker room at Penn State.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“After the State of the Union last time, the Republican rebuttal, the guy said, “You know”, “Democrats are always talking about haves and have-nots.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'After the State of the Union last time, the Republican rebuttal, the guy said, “You know”,', then the trigger '“Democrats are always talking about haves and have-nots.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“No, they’re crazy in the mind because America is finally changing. This is what is so scary to them. Hispanics are ascendant in this country.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'No, they’re crazy in the mind because America is finally changing. This is what is so scary to them.', then the trigger 'Hispanics are ascendant in this country.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“We do have a black president. A third of the country can get gay-married. A third of the country has medical marijuana. America is changing.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'We do have a black president. A third of the country can get gay-married. A third of the country has medical marijuana.', then the trigger 'America is changing.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“They’re not logical. It’s all happening in the gut with them. I mean, logically they don’t exist.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'They’re not logical. It’s all happening in the gut with them.', then the trigger 'I mean, logically they don’t exist.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“This is my little pet theory About why they’re crazy.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'This is my little pet theory About', then the trigger 'why they’re crazy.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“Like that’s a thing. Here’s a great one from that poll. 44% said Obama will “Find a way to stay in office after 2017.” Wow.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'Like that’s a thing. Here’s a great one from that poll.', then the trigger '44% said Obama will “Find a way to stay in office after 2017.” Wow.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“The insertion of some extra-funny funny words That he’s been using exclusively, like “boobs.” MICHAEL: Look at this. BILL: There’s water up there, right?”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'The insertion of some extra-funny funny words That he’s been using exclusively, like “boobs.” MICHAEL: Look at this.', then the trigger 'BILL: There’s water up there, right?' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“They went past the Newseum, which, of course, is The newest monument in Washington to… Back in that time when we used to have news.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'They went past the Newseum, which, of course, is The newest monument in Washington to… Back in', then the trigger 'that time when we used to have news.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“You know, he’s from Argentina. He was a Jesuit. His real name is Jorge Bergoglio. Sounds like an expensive pair of shoes, doesn’t it?”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'You know, he’s from Argentina. He was a Jesuit. His real name is Jorge Bergoglio.', then the trigger 'Sounds like an expensive pair of shoes, doesn’t it?' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is imitation.
“What is he… They’re going by the FBI Building right now. Wait a minute. Oh, no, wait a minute. What’s going on in the street?”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'What is he… They’re going by the FBI Building right now. Wait a minute. Oh, no, wait a minute.', then the trigger 'What’s going on in the street?' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“Because they’re all abortion nuts. They’re always trying to prove that science knows that life begins earlier and earlier. “How can you kill that kid?”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'Because they’re all abortion nuts. They’re always trying to prove that science knows that life begins earlier and ear...', then the trigger '“How can you kill that kid?' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is benign-violation.
“That was a… [Cheering and applause] Thank you very much. There was an old lady and a Boy Scout in the middle of the street.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'That was a… [Cheering and applause] Thank you very much.', then the trigger 'There was an old lady and a Boy Scout in the middle of the street.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“And then they’re like, “Oh, yeah, that’s serious.” So here’s what happened. John Paul II died in 2005. Remember, Bush went to the funeral.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'And then they’re like, “Oh, yeah, that’s serious.” So here’s what happened. John Paul II died in 2005.', then the trigger 'Remember, Bush went to the funeral.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is benign-violation.
“They should own it. [Cheering and applause] But Democrats always get so intimidated whenever Republicans act like drama queens, which, of course, is always.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'They should own it.', then the trigger '[Cheering and applause] But Democrats always get so intimidated whenever Republicans act like drama queens, which, of...' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“Two states have regular old roll up a fatty and watch “SpongeBob” marijuana. [Cheering] I’m telling you, it’s a new dawn of some kind.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'Two states have regular old roll up a fatty and watch “SpongeBob” marijuana.', then the trigger '[Cheering] I’m telling you, it’s a new dawn of some kind.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“Tell her not to worry. All right, we’re going to… I don’t know what we’re going to do about this. What’s our plan here?”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'Tell her not to worry. All right, we’re going to… I don’t know what we’re going to do about this.', then the trigger 'What’s our plan here?' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“Bush administration here, so… You know, he’s still in the room. Keith, he’s still in the room. I don’t know what’s going on there.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'Bush administration here, so… You know, he’s still in the room. Keith, he’s still in the room.', then the trigger 'I don’t know what’s going on there.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“I had to run 3 blocks at breakneck speed. Oh, thank God I’m white. Oh, but thank you. Thank you for hanging out here.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'I had to run 3 blocks at breakneck speed. Oh, thank God I’m white. Oh, but thank you.', then the trigger 'Thank you for hanging out here.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“They’re coming up to the National Gallery There, folks, if you know Washington, D.C., The beautiful National Gallery With all of our fine art works.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'They’re coming up to the National Gallery There, folks, if you know Washington, D.C., The beautiful National', then the trigger 'Gallery With all of our fine art works.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“Michele Bachmann once said, “Thank God for the founding fathers, who worked tirelessly until they eradicated slavery.” I was at the Lincoln Memorial today.”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'Michele Bachmann once said, “Thank God for the founding fathers, who worked tirelessly until they eradicated', then the trigger 'slavery.” I was at the Lincoln Memorial today.' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
“Thank you, HBO and our staff, And everybody here in Washington. It was so great. [Cheering and applause] * MAN: Real… [Cheering continues]”
Why it works (Comedy Stack analysis)
The setup points the reader toward 'Thank you, HBO and our staff, And everybody here in Washington. It was so great.', then the trigger '[Cheering and applause] * MAN: Real… [Cheering continues]' forces a reinterpretation. The main mechanism is incongruity-resolution.
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