Victory Begins at Home

Bill Maher’s solution to the War on Terror is simple: bring back World War II propaganda posters, but swap out Hitler for Osama bin Laden. Sitting on a sparsely decorated stage beside giant reproductions of commissioned artwork, he pitches alternative public-service announcements that target American oil dependence, including a revised version of the vintage “When you ride alone, you ride with Hitler” campaign. It is a highly specific, media-focused framing for a stand-up set that leans heavily into post-9/11 anxiety and political gridlock.

The live HBO special was recorded at the Hudson Theatre in New York City in July 2003, following a limited run at Broadway’s Virginia Theatre earlier that spring. Maher was at a volatile turning point in his career. Just a year after ABC cancelled Politically Incorrect in the wake of his controversial remarks about the September 11 hijackers, he was already rebuilding his television footprint with the debut of Real Time on HBO. This solo show allowed him to expand on those televised talking points in front of a live theater audience.

Alongside his thoughts on Middle Eastern policy and airport profiling, the material dips into social critiques, with Maher drawing some groans for his rants about a “feminized” culture. Despite some contemporary reviews that found his delivery a bit too self-righteous, the theatrical run secured a Tony Award nomination for Best Special Theatrical Event.