I had to stop watching this after episode 8 because I was overwhelmed with sympathetic embarrassment for Mr. Moore (since he obviously doesn't have the sense to be embarrassed for himself.) I knew he was a reactionary dribbler before I watched the tape but I thought it might be entertaining anyway. Too bad it was just sad. I only liked the first two episodes because he actually attempted to help people (the guy who needed an organ transplant, and the guy who was layed off,) but otherwise it was uninteresting and unfunny. His early episodes attempt to deal with issues which are mildy interesting (tobacco industry, homophobia... same old same old, but still noble) but in later episodes it becomes more about just lampooning the "bad people" (aka rich people) and not actually doing anything proactive. This would be fine if he were actually funny, but he's not, and his comedy bits sound more and more like leftist diatribe as the show goes on... And no, I'm not a republican, but I know garbage when I see it (GIGO.)

I caught a few episodes of The Awful Truth on the tele and must say it is a pretty mixed bag. I liked the episode on guns, where Moore went to the NRA with his new idea for a mascot, a walking talking gun. Needless to say they wanted no part of it, but it was much more to the point than was "Eddie the Eagle," or whatever the NRA calls its stuffed bird which tries to warn tots of the dangers of guns while at the same time it fights any and all legislation on the hill to combat the proliferation of handguns. But, at other times Moore sounds pretty sanctimonious, such as when he is wheeling through New York in his rented Taxi refusing to pick up white folks. In other words it is the Michael Moore many have grown to love, not afraid to take on the big boys, and at the same time pointing out the many inherent weaknesses in our society.

Michael Moore is one of the few journalists out there who understands and acts on the need to present the story as it stands, regardless of the consquences. He refuses to sell his soul in order to satisfy media magnates, and this means we get a combination of (a) the hidden reality behind the big media stories, and (b) a rather irreverent look at the way many large US corporations operate. Both of these are tackled in humourous ways (Crackers the Corporate Crime-Fighting Chicken taking on Disney was an absolute classic), but can also be alarmingly sober (e.g. cold-hearted insurance company refusing to pay out to save a client's life). The Awful Truth is thus social conscience as well as great entertainment.

We need Michael Moore - he helps to keep things honest. If he does something you disagree with (e.g. anti-war speech at the Oscars), just put your prejudice on the back-burner for a minute and think about the issue from another angle. As the great Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn said (in 'Maybe The Poet'), "...maybe you will not agree, but you need him to show you new ways to see." This is, after all, the essence of free speech.

I would have to say that the recommendation or the lack thereof from the states of California and Ohio on March 26th. of this year sold me on buying this first season of Michael Moore's show. When a product such as Mr. Moore's gets that much negative review from the conservatives of the country it has to be very worthwhile. Incidentally, I'm one of the few who applauded his honesty at the Academy Awards (Just where are all those WMD's that the president and his advisers swear are in Iraq? Wasn't that what the president's war was all about?) Mr. Moore reminds me of the great political sage/cartoonist Walt Kelly, who, during the Vietnam War era of Dick Nixon, placed in the mouth of his cartoon character, Pogo, the profound proclamation, "We have met the enemy and he is us!" Mr. Moore's style reminds me of one of the sayings of the great comedian, W.C. Fields, who once said, "There comes a time in a young man's life when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation." Thanks Mike.

Many thanks to the "reviewer" who, like all of the flag-waving, jingoistic fascists demands that we supress any dissent and has the audacity to decide what's "right" or "wrong" or "correct" expression. I count myself among those who love the America our founding fathers envisioned, not the America of McCarthy and Nixon. The McNixons want us all to shut up and tell us what to do, or say, or buy if we "love America". Well, I love America so much I'm buying Michael Moore's work; and I'm STAYING in America and fighting for America and it's flag, despite what the counter-revolutionary Stalinistas want - a silent, compliant, slave-state.