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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Rachel Luttrell to Robert Markowitz
Bill Maher Biography (1956-)
Surname is pronounced "mar"; full name, William Maher; born January 20, 1956,in New York, NY; raised in River Vale, NJ; son of Bill (a radio announcer and network news editor) and Julie (a nurse; maiden name, Berman) Maher. Addresses: Agent: Steve Lashever, Creative Artists Agency, 9830 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212; (personal appearances) Jackie Miller, Agency forthe Performing Arts, 9200 Sunset Blvd., Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90069.; Manager: Marc Gurvitz, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, 9150 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 350, Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Publicist: PYR Public Relations, 139 SouthBeverly Dr., Suite 230, Beverly Hills, CA 90212. Web.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Male
- Occupation
- Actor, comedian, writer, producer
- Birth Details
- January 20, 1956
- New York, New York, United States
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Television Appearances
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Series
- Marty Lang, Sara, NBC, 1985
- Host, The Midnight Hour, CBS, 1990
- Elliot, Charlie Hoover, Fox, 1991-92
- Host, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (also known as Politically Incorrect), Comedy Central, 1993-96, ABC, 1997-2002
- Host, Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO, 2003-
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Miniseries
- (In archive footage) Mouthing Off: 51 Greatest Smartasses, ComedyCentral, 2004
- (In archive footage) 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time (also known as Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time), Comedy Central, 2004
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Movies
- Rick, Club Med, ABC, 1986
- Maxwell "Max" Taylor, Out of Time, NBC, 1988
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Specials
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The Eighth Annual Young Comedians Show, HBO, 1983
- Gower Rhodes, Hard Knocks (also known as Play "Mr. Tambourine Man" for Me), Showtime, 1987
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Funny, You Don't Look 200: A Constitutional Vaudeville, ABC, 1987
- Himself, Election Night Live 1992 (also known as Comedy Central's "Election Night Live 1992"), Comedy Central, 1992
- Host, Say What?, CBS, 1992
- "We're Mad as Hell Hosted by Dennis Miller," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO,1992
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Indecision '92, Comedy Central, 1992
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But ... Seriously, Showtime, 1994
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Comic Relief VI, HBO, 1994
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State of the Union Undressed '94, Comedy Central, 1994
- "Bill Maher: Stuff That Struck Me Funny," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1995
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Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, HBO, 1995
- Anchor, Indecision '96: The Democratic National Convention, ComedyCentral, 1996
- Anchor, Indecision '96: The Republican National Convention, ComedyCentral, 1996
- Host, Setting the Agenda: Indecision '96, Comedy Central, 1996
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Catch a Rising Star 50th Anniversary--Give or Take 26 Years, CBS,1996
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Comedy Club Superstars, ABC, 1996
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State of the Union Undressed '96, Comedy Central, 1996
- Host, Politically Incorrect's "Greatest Hits with Bill Maher," ABC, 1997
- Host, Steve Allen's 75th Birthday Celebration, PBS, 1997
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Bill Maher: The Golden Goose Special, HBO, 1997
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50 Years of Television: A Celebration of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Golden Anniversary, HBO, 1997
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A Gala for the President at Ford's Theatre, ABC, 1997
- Host, M*A*S*H, Tootsie & God: A Tribute to Larry Gelbart, PBS,1998
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Sex with Cindy Crawford, ABC, 1998
- Mediator and host, Politically Incorrect After Party Presented by Pepsi, ABC, 1999
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E! Rack-n-Roll: Behind the Scenes, E! Entertainment Television, 1999
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Fall in Love with a Stranger, PAX TV, 1999
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The Great American History Quiz, History Channel, 1999
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NFL All-Star Blitz, CBS, 1999
- Host, The Politically Incorrect After Party, ABC, 2000
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Bill Maher: Be More Cynical, HBO, 2000
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The Great American History Quiz: Pursuit of Happiness, History Channel, 2000
- Himself, VH1 News Special: Islamabad Rock City, VH1, 2001
- Host, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher After Party, ABC, 2001
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The College of Comedy with Alan King III, PBS, 2001
- Himself, Heroes of Black Comedy, Comedy Central, 2002
- Himself, Inside the Playboy Mansion, Arts and Entertainment, 2002
- (In archive footage) Hello, He Lied, & Other Truths from the Hollywood Trenches, American Movie Classics, 2002
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Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Bravo, 2002
- Presenter, VH1 Big in '03, VH1, 2003
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Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home, HBO, 2003
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Playboy's 50th Anniversary Celebration, Arts and Entertainment, 2003
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Uncensored Comedy: That's Not Funny, Trio, 2003
- Himself, Choose or Lose Presents: The Best Place to Start, MTV, 2004
- Himself, Escape to Canada, Documentary Channel, 2004
- Himself, When Stand-Up Comics Ruled the World, VH1, 2004
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Comedy Central's Bar Mitzvah Bash!, Comedy Central, 2004
- (In archive footage) 101 Biggest Celebrity Oops, E! EntertainmentTelevision, 2004
- Also appeared in The Tonight Show Anniversary Show, NBC.
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Awards Presentations
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The 11th Annual CableACE Awards, multiple channels, 1990
- Host, The 16th Annual CableACE Awards, TNT, 1995
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The 17th Annual CableACE Awards, TNT, 1995
- Host, The 1996 Clio Awards, Fox, 1996
- Presenter, The 1996 Emmy Awards, ABC, 1996
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The 10th Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1996
- Presenter, The 11th Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1997
- Presenter, The 19th Annual CableACE Awards, TNT, 1997
- Presenter, The 23rd Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1997
- Host, The 1998 Genesis Awards, Animal Planet, 1998
- Presenter, TV Guide Awards, Fox, 1999
- Presenter, The 26th Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 1999
- Presenter, The 52nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, ABC, 2000
- Presenter, The Second Annual TV Guide Awards, Fox, 2000
- Presenter, The 28th Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 2001
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The 2001 Genesis Awards, Animal Planet, 2001
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The 2001 TV Guide Awards, Fox, 2001
- Host, The Seventh Annual Critics Choice Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2002
- Presenter, The 29th Annual American Music Awards, ABC, 2002
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Episodic
- Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, multiple appearances, beginning 1982
- Officer Gary Conroy, "Vera's Anniversary Blues," Alice, CBS, 1984
- Himself, Our Time, NBC, 1985
- Guest, Late Night with David Letterman, multiple appearances, 1986-99
- Haskel, "Whackets," Max Headroom, Cinemax and ABC, 1987
- Norm Murphy, "The Buck Stops Here," Newhart, CBS, 1988
- Rick Rivers, "Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble," Murder, She Wrote, CBS,1989
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One Night Stand, HBO, 1989, 1992
- Frank Albertson, "Good-Bye Charlie," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1990
- "Comic Strip Live on Campus," Comic Strip Live, 1990
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London Underground, Comedy Central, 1991
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The A-List, Comedy Central, 1992
- Adam, "You Can't Miss," Married ... with Children, Fox, 1993
- Bob, "It Was Twenty Years Ago Today," Roseanne, ABC, 1993
- Mr. Lorre, "Strike," The Jackie Thomas Show, ABC, 1993
- Guest, "Freedom of Speech," Dennis Miller Live, HBO, 1995
- Voice, Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist (animated), Comedy Central, 1995
- Himself, "Mr. Montgomery Goes to Washington," Dharma & Greg, ABC, 1997
- Himself, "The Roast," The Larry Sanders Show, HBO, 1997
- Himself, "One Wedding and Val's Funeral," V.I.P. (also known as V.I.P.--Die Bodyguards), syndicated, 1998
- Guest, "Drugs," Dennis Miller Live, HBO, 1998
- Celebrity square, Hollywood Squares, syndicated, 1998
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Sin City Spectacular (also known as Penn & Teller's "Sin City Spectacular"), 1998
- Guest, Howard Stern, E! Entertainment Television, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
- Himself, "Higher Calling," Snoops, ABC, 1999
- Himself, "Politically Impolite," Brother's Keeper, ABC, 1999
- Himself, "Politically Incorrect," Spin City (also known as Spin), ABC, 1999
- Guest, The Martin Short Show, syndicated, 1999
- Guest, The View, ABC, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
- Guest, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 1999, 2004
- Himself, "Adam West: Behind the Cowl," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2000
- Guest, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, NBC, multiple appearances,beginning 2001
- Himself, "Penetration Island," Son of the Beach, F/X, 2002
- Guest, "Freedom of Speech," Dennis Miller Live, HBO, 2002
- Guest, Mohr Sports, 2002
- Himself, "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons," The Greatest, 2003
- Guest, Hannity & Colmes, Fox News Channel, 2004
- Guest, Larry King Live, Cable News Network, 2004
- Guest, Last Call with Carson Daly, NBC, 2004
- Guest, The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CBS, 2004
- Guest, Mad TV, Fox, 2004
- Guest, The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, 2004
- Guest, Steve Harvey's "Big Time Challenge" (also known as Big Time and Steve Harvey's "Big Time"), The WB, 2004
- Himself, Hannity & Colmes, Fox News, 2005
- Himself, Tavis Smiley, PBS, 2005
- Also appeared in Ally McBeal, Fox; The Bob Monkhouse Show;
The Merv Griffin Show, NBC, syndicated, and CBS; Pros & Cons, Court TV; Steve Allen's Music Room; and Weakest Link, NBC.
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Pilots
- Freddie, Rags to Riches (also known as Foley and The Girls fromSt. Mags), 1986
- Host, You!, Fox, 1999
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Primetime Glick, Comedy Central, 2001
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Television Work
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Series
- Editor, Fame, Fortune, and Romance, ABC, 1986
- Creator and executive producer (with Scott Carter), Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (also known as Politically Incorrect), ComedyCentral, 1993-96, ABC, 1997-2002
- Executive producer, Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO, 2003-
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Television Executive Producer
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Specials
- "Bill Maher: Stuff That Struck Me Funny," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1995
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Bill Maher: The Golden Goose Special, HBO, 1997
- (And creator) Politically Incorrect's "Greatest Hits with Bill Maher," ABC, 1997
- (And creator) Politically Incorrect After Party Presented by Pepsi, ABC, 1999
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Bill Maher: Be More Cynical, HBO, 2000
- (And creator) The Politically Incorrect After Party, ABC, 2000
- (And creator) Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher After Party, ABC, 2001
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Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home, HBO, 2003
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Pilots
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You!, Fox, 1999
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Film Appearances
- Bill (some sources cite Baba), D.C. Cab (also known as Street Fleet), Universal, 1983
- Party guest, Ratboy, Warner Bros., 1986
- John, House II: The Second Story, New World, 1987
- Jim, Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (also known asJungle Heat and Piranha Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death),Guacamole, 1989
- Elmo Bunn, Pizza Man, Jonathan F. Lawton, 1991
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Bimbo Movie Bash, Amazing Fantasy Entertainment, 1997
- Himself, Primary Colors (also known as Perfect Couple and Mit aller Macht), Universal, 1998
- Host, EDtv (also known as Ed TV), Universal 1999
- Himself, Last Party (documentary; also known as The Party's Over), Film Movement, 2001
- (Uncredited) Carlos, Tomcats, Columbia, 2001
- Himself, John Q., New Line Cinema, 2002
- Himself, Earthlings (documentary), 2003
- Himself, Stupidity (documentary), Trailervision, 2003
- Himself, Is It True What They Say about Ann? (short documentary film), DVD International, 2004
- Himself, The Aristocrats, ThinkFilm, 2005
- Himself, Inside Deep Throat (documentary), Universal, 2005
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Stage Appearances
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Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home (solo show), Virginia Theatre,New York City, 2003
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Hollywood Hell House, Los Angeles production, 2004
- Also appeared in Seymour Glick Is Alive but Sick.
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Major Tours
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Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home (solo show), U.S. cities, 2002
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Radio Appearances
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Episodic
- Guest, The Howard Stern Radio Show, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
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RECORDINGS
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Albums
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Political Incorrections, c. 1997
- Reader, When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden, New Millennium Audio, 2003
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Videos
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Nothin' Goes Right (also known as Rodney Dangerfield: Nothin' Goes Right), 1988
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Video Games
- Member of comics table, Don't Quit Your Day Job, 1996
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WRITINGS
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Teleplays
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Series
- (With others) Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (also known asPolitically Incorrect), Comedy Central, 1993-96, ABC, 1997-2002
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Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO, 2003-
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Specials
- "Bill Maher: Stuff That Struck Me Funny," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1995
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Bill Maher: The Golden Goose Special, HBO, 1997
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Politically Incorrect After Party Presented by Pepsi, ABC, 1999
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Bill Maher: Be More Cynical, HBO, 2000
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Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher After Party, ABC, 2001
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Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home, HBO, 2003
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Pilots
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You!, Fox, 1999
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Writings for the Stage
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Bill Maher: Victory Begins at Home (solo show; based on the book When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government SHOULD BeTelling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism), tour of U.S. cities, 2002, then Virginia Theatre, New York City, 2003
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Writings
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Other
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True Story: A Comedy Novel, Random House, 1994
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Does Anyone Have a Problem with That? Politically Incorrect's GreatestHits, Villard Books, 1996
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When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government SHOULD Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism (posters and essays),New Millennium, 2002
- Contributor to periodicals, including Entertainment Weekly,
LosAngeles Times,
Newsday,
New York Post,
People Weekly,
Playboy,
San Francisco Chronicle,
TV Guide,
Village Voice, and Washington Post.
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Books
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Authors and Artists for Young Adults, Volume 56, Gale, 2004
Periodicals
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Austin-American Statesman, November 15, 2004
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Details, Volume 15, number 6, 1996, pp. 120-22, 127, 182
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Los Angeles, February, 1996, p. 60
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Mother Jones, January/February, 1998, p. 67
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People Weekly, August 7, 2000, p. 24
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Playboy, August, 1997, p. 51
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Rolling Stone, March 21, 1996, p. 109; April 15, 1999, pp. 57-59
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TV Guide, April 6, 1996, pp. 38-41; February 8, 1997, p. 30; February 16, 2002, pp. 24-26, 59; June 22, 2002, p. 3
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U.S. News & World Report, January 20, 1997, p. 59
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