Club Random with Bill Maher

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William H. Macy | Club Random with Bill Maher

Oct 13, 2025

Guest

William H. Macy

Join veteran character actor William H. Macy as he shares insights from his diverse career, including his journey from early roles to fame in Fargo and Shameless. The conversation delves into his unconventional college experience and the creative influence of David Mamet. Macy touches on the challenges of intimacy in acting, the comedic chaos of Hollywood, and the importance of honest friendships. With entertaining anecdotes about rye whiskey, skiing, and generational gaps, this chat reveals the humor and heart behind a life in the spotlight.

01:42:58

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ANECDOTE

Late-Blooming Recognition

William H. Macy recounts his gradual rise to recognition, noting Fargo brought attention in his 40s.
He emphasizes acting requires staying physically present and aware of appearance for roles.

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ADVICE

Know Your Whiskey

Try different spirits and learn their categories before choosing favorites; Macy explains rye vs bourbon.
Read labels: bourbon must be 51% corn while rye is its own whiskey category.

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ANECDOTE

Shameless: A Crafting Job

Macy describes enjoying his long run on Shameless and how the job let him ride his motorcycle and personalize his trailer.
He says the steady work taught him craft and provided daily acting practice.

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Early Career and First Recognition

01:46 • 2min

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Rye Whiskey and Woody Creek Life

03:50 • 3min

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Shameless and Long-Term Work

06:42 • 2min

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Marriage, Collaboration, and Creative Feedback

08:31 • 3min

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Family, Tough Conversations, and Regret

11:56 • 1min

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Honest Friendship and Tough Love

13:22 • 2min

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Worry, Perspective, and Coping

15:24 • 4min

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Daily Routines and Sleep Habits

19:34 • 3min

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Tasting Rye and Drinking Memories

George Washington and Whiskey History

28:40 • 59sec

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Actor Work Realities and Trailers

29:39 • 2min

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Fame, Obsolescence, and Career Longevity

31:33 • 2min

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Improvisation vs. Script Adherence

33:42 • 50sec

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Friendship with David Mamet Despite Politics

34:32 • 2min

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Mamet's Prescience and Theatrical Bonds

36:20 • 60sec

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On-Set Intimacy and Performing Love Scenes

37:20 • 3min

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Playing Gay Roles and Professionalism

39:53 • 1min

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Politics, Representation, and Leadership Choices

41:10 • 4min

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Waspy Culture and Theater Readings

45:18 • 1min

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Generational Differences and Cultural Change

46:43 • 3min

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Comedy, Raunch, and Changing Tastes

49:40 • 1min

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Technology, Ski Boots, and Modern Gadgets

50:50 • 4min

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Skiing, Aspen Life, and Glamping

55:01 • 4min

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Wildlife, Hunting Seasons, and Conservation

59:01 • 3min

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AI, the Future, and Generational Risk

01:02:00 • 2min

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Diet, Vegan Experiments, and Nutrition

01:04:28 • 4min

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Reverse Improvement and Technology Frustrations

01:08:18 • 5min

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Smart Devices vs. Simplicity

01:13:00 • 2min

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Music, Lyrics, and Golden Ages

01:15:20 • 3min

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Taylor Swift, Modern Hits, and Musical Tastes

01:18:32 • 3min

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Politics, Presidents, and Meeting Leaders

01:21:40 • 4min

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Decorum, Dress, and Old-School Manners

01:25:40 • 48sec

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Goddard College, Mamet, and Experimental Education

01:26:28 • 3min

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College Outcomes and Practical Education

01:29:36 • 4min

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Changing Media and Historical Context

01:33:37 • 5min

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Generational Knowledge Gaps and Games

01:38:50 • 2min

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Future Fears: AI, Jobs, and Inheritance

01:41:04 • 37sec

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Closing Reflections and Farewell

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

Love Letter

None

George Saunders

George Saunders' "Love Letter" is a poignant short story presented as an epistolary narrative. It explores themes of political disillusionment, family relationships, and the complexities of moral choices in a dystopian near-future setting. The story unfolds through a grandfather's letter to his grandson, grappling with the ethical dilemmas of a society under authoritarian rule. The narrative masterfully blends humor and pathos, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about complicity and resistance. The story's power lies in its ability to evoke empathy for the characters while highlighting the insidious nature of political oppression.

Bill Maher sits down with Fargo star and Shameless legend William H. Macy for a wildly funny, unfiltered ride through the craft of acting, poker, politics, and the chaos of Hollywood. Macy opens up about his unconventional college years and the creative spark that came from meeting playwright David Mamet, leading to a lifelong obsession with truth in performance. The two swap stories about fame, risk, and the art of staying grounded in an industry built on illusion. And Bill tries rye whiskey – and somehow turns it into a debate about corn.

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ABOUT CLUB RANDOM

Bill Maher rewrites the rules of podcasting the way he did in television in this series of one on one, hour long conversations with a wide variety of unexpected guests in the undisclosed location called Club Random. There’s a whole big world out there that isn’t about politics and Bill and his guests—from Bill Burr and Jerry Seinfeld to Jordan Peterson, Quentin Tarantino and Neil DeGrasse Tyson—talk about all of it.

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ABOUT BILL MAHER

Bill Maher was the host of “Politically Incorrect” (Comedy Central, ABC) from 1993-2002, and for the last fourteen years on HBO’s “Real Time,” Maher’s combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs have garnered him 40 Emmy nominations. Maher won his first Emmy in 2014 as executive producer for the HBO series, “VICE.” In October of 2008, this same combination was on display in Maher’s uproarious and unprecedented swipe at organized religion, “Religulous.”

Maher has written five bestsellers: “True Story,” “Does Anybody Have a Problem with That? Politically Incorrect’s Greatest Hits,” “When You Ride Alone, You Ride with Bin Laden,” “New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer,” and most recently, “The New New Rules: A Funny Look at How Everybody But Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass.”

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