How we live for those uncomfortable television moments.
This week on The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck took on comedian and HBO personality Bill Maher, addressing an issue she had with him dating back to February.
Whenever you have two people from opposite ends of the political spectrum chat it out on TV, it usually is somewhat entertaining, and sometimes uncomfortable. That’s what happened this week when just minutes into his appearance on the show, Maher had to defend a joke he made involving Hasselbeck last winter.
After saying you need “women as a moderating influence” while talking about the Penn State sex abuse scandal, Hasselbeck interjected and said “can I bring something up?”
And that’s when the show went from Maher promoting his new book, to him defending a joke he made about Hasselbeck after CBS reporter Lara Logan was attacked in Egypt.
“Now that Mubarak has released Lara Logan, he must put her intrepid hotness on a plane immediately. In exchange we will send Elizabeth Hasselbeck,” said The View talky, reciting Maher’s joke.
Some in the audience even cracked a laugh after she repeated the joke. “You can’t sit here right now and tell me I’m wrong for saying that wasn’t that funny,” she said.
Said Maher: “Well, you know we do a comedy show for an audience that’s perhaps different then your audience and you know, you are a public figure, it was not aimed at you personally but when you are a public figure, you’re out there and your fodder for comedians to make comments on.”
When asked if he draws the line, Maher said he does, but added, “I also live on the line…what you have to know is somebody has to be out on the edge to know where the edge is.”
“Thanks for being the hero,” said Hasselbeck, who repeated several times that she wasn’t hurt by the comments.
When the conversation moved on to politics, and more specifically republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, the political talkies continued their fight. “Cause your so brilliant, wow, I actually feel smarter sitting next to you,” Hasselbeck said sarcastically.
“Really? I feel like I’m in high school sitting next to you,” Maher shot back.
