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Bill Maher's Real Time scores with Bolton, Pollan and Wilson this week, VIDEOS

By April MacIntyre May 30, 2009, 18:05 GMT

Bill Maher -"Real Time with Bill Maher" will see former UN ambassador John Bolton and former New Mexico Rep. Heather Wilson discuss current events with Maher. Actor Hill Harper and author Michael Pollan are interview guests. © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

Last night's "Real Time with Bill Maher" with the tighter, more focused panel was excellent for the additional substance and insight Bill's guests had to offer. 

Maher should book more moderate Republicans alongside educated and thoughtful celebrities/writers like Hill Harper, Arianna Huffington and Christopher Hitchens. 

Much like putting the guest list together for a perfect party, it's all in the mix of personalities.

The panelists, Fmr. Ambassador John Bolton Fmr. Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM), armed with their level of insiders knowledge and perspective made Bill a better moderator and challenged him to more robust debate, without the show devolving in to a cheap laughs free-for-all.

More balance on his panel makes for a better show.  Bill shines when his brain is firing on all pistons when his guests' worldviews differ from his, than when he is joined in sycophantic chorus by dilettante actors-turned-political commentators and consistently liberal Democratic panels, which happens too frequently. 

It would be great to see Maher book (and grill) Rush Limbaugh AND Rachel Maddow, and comb the Senate and Congress for more thoughtful and less showboat-y personalities (Rep. Barney Frank, cough cough).

Another request for Maher, his segment with Michael Pollan was fascinating and too short.  Bill needs to devote one whole show to challenging food myths, exposing big Agra, booking relevant expert guests who can educate and entertain while Bill shares his own journey.

Maher told Pollan he considered supermarkets "evil."  So, where and how does he shop? Farmers Markets, health food stores? Has he completely cut sugar out of his diet? Does he grow his own? How does he know the pot he smokes was grown without additives and pesticides? When he goes to restaurants, what does he eat?  When did he become a vegan?

I have a lot of questions for him.

Here's the show from last night including Overtime: Michael Pollan...