Bill Maher: Elisabeth Hasselbeck has a “bug up her a*s”

Nov 16, 2011 2:13 PM by Kim Grundy

Posted in Entertainment / Television

Bill Maher Vs.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Things got heated on The View when Elisabeth Hasselbeck confronted Bill Maher regarding some remarks he had made about her on his show. His response? She has a "bug up her a*s!"

Outspoken Republican Elisabeth Hasselbeck and liberal talk show host Bill Maher seem to rub each the wrong way -- and it was all caught up on tape on Tuesday's episode of The View. Maher was a guest on the show and Hasselbeck sat next to him, ready to pounce.

Bill Maher and Elisabeth Hasselbeck on The View

She was upset about some comments Maher made on his HBO Real Time show when talking about news correspondent Lara Logan, who was attacked in Egypt while covering the protests. "New rule," said Maher on his show in February. "Now that Hosni Mubarak has released Lara Logan, he must put her intrepid hotness on a plane immediately. In exchange, we will send Elisabeth Hasselbeck."

Hasselbeck read the joke back to him on The View. "You can't sit here right now and tell me I'm wrong for saying that wasn't that funny,'' she snapped.

"We do a comedy show for an audience that's perhaps different than your audience." Maher said, defending himself. "You are a public figure. It was not aimed at you personally, but when you are a public figure, you are out there and you're fodder for comedians to make comments on."

She then asked him "on behalf of all women" if he would make the same joke again. "If I had a crystal ball and knew I was coming here and had to spend my whole segment talking about it, no I wouldn't… It really wouldn't be worth it," he quipped.

Co-host Joy Behar came to Maher's defense, saying, "We walk the ledge. It's not easy. Sometimes people's feelings get hurt."

They then moved on to a different topic, however the tension continued between Hasselbeck and Maher. "I actually feel smarter sitting next to you," she said. "Really? I feel like I'm in high school sitting next to you," he snapped back.

Maher appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman that night and added fuel to the fire by saying that Hasselbeck "had some bug up her a*s."

"I was abused. I felt like a teenage boy at Penn State," Maher said. "It's funny, I am never in the role of the victim... It was like, thank you, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, for making me look good!"

Tell us: Whose side are you on? Are you team Hasselbeck or Team Maher?

Photo: ABC

Tags: bill maher elisabeth hasselbeck the view

Comments

Comments on "Bill Maher: Elisabeth Hasselbeck has a “bug up her a*s”"

Okay, I don't think the guy literally wanted a trade to happen between her and Logan. It was just a joke. If feelings get hurt, so be it, that's what a joke basically does these days. Even the audience laughed when she repeated the joke and she told them it was okay to laugh because it's a joke yet she went after him. @Marilena, go back to your place, i.e - the kitchen.

Team Maher. The good little Republican should have remembered her manners. Never treat a guest so rudely in your own home. Maher was invited as a guest and should not have been ambushed like that; Hasselbeck took the comment out of context and should have moved on after initially springing the question and getting an answer. Quite frankly, the other ladies should be held accountable also for not taking control of the situation. It was painful to watch. I commend Maher for his handling of the situation. Hasselbeck should grow up or talk about personal problems on her own time and dime.

Comedian like Bill Maher is a real jerk!!!! I loved comedians when they present themselves in a very classy way. But when they attacked specific individual they always make an excuse " I am a comedian". Get a life and maybe you can consider finding another career. Go Elizabeth, you are quite a lady and a very smart one too.

Elisabeth'side! Maher hates women. And of course he gets a pass on that Penn St. Remark..

Totally Team Maher. Elisabeth made a total fool of herself. Once again she was an embarrassment to the entire show. The joke was made months ago, most people had completely forgotten it. If she was still so upset about it should could have contacted Maher privately, or if she really felt the need to say something on camera she should have made her comment, listened to his reply and then moved on - not kept harping on it. Maher's original joke might have been a cheap shot but he certainly nailed it when he compared to her behavior to that of a high school student. She was certainly demonstrating the term 'sophomoric'.