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Dennis Miller (born November 3, 1953) is an American entertainer, comedian, and
television personality.

Miller studied journalism and graduated from
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh's Point Park
College. In the early 1980s he would host The
Trolley Show, a Saturday-afternoon newsmagazine
for teenagers, on Pittsburgh's KDKA-TV.

He then became a fixture on Saturday Night Live
where he served as a "Weekend Update
(sketch)|Weekend Update" anchor from 1985 to 1991.
 In 1990, he also released a stand-up comedy CD,
The Off-White Album, which drew heavily from the
language and metaphor-driven style he was known
for on Saturday Night Live, as well as showing
glimpses of the political based humor that would
influence his later work.  An well-received HBO
special, Dennis Miller: Black & White, would air
shortly after the release of the CD.

in 1992, following his departure from Saturday
Night Live, Miller launched a late night talk
show, "Dennis Miller Live".  Being a syndicated
show, without the backing of a major network, and
airing opposite the late-night king, NBC's The
Tonight Show, the show was swiftly cancelled after
less than a year due to low ratings.  (Miller's
sidekick on the show, Nick Bakay, would go onto
later fame voicing the cat Salem on TV's Sabrina,
The Teenage Witch, as well as occasional
appearances as a commentator for cable network
ESPN).

Beginning in 1994, he hosted Dennis Miller Live, a
half-hour talk show on Home Box Office|HBO
characterized by its stark simplicity. The show
had no set, band, or even much lighting. It mainly
consisted of Miller speaking to the largely unseen
studio audience on a darkened stage. There would
be one guest per show, either live in the studio
or occasionally on air via satelite, whom Miller
would quiz on the topic of the day. The show would
also have a call-in segment (the number to call
into the show was 1-800-LACTOSE, however call-ins
were phased out entirely in the last years of the
show). Miller and his writing staff won five Emmy
Awards while hosting the show, which aired 215
episodes during its nine-year run. The show was
cancelled by HBO in 2002.

The highlight of the show were Miller's "rants" on
various political issues. The rants always began
with the catch phrase "Now I don't want to get off
on a rant here..." and ended with the phrase "Of
course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong."
 Miller also used these rants as a basis for a
series of audiobooks and hardcover books released
during the run of the show, starting with 1996's
The Rants to 2002's The Rant Zone.

Miller has acquired a reputation for being
somewhat obnoxious and blunt, with a dark and
brooding sense of humor. His rants and stand-up
routines often feature elaborate metaphors and
references to obscure historical and political
events. Through most of the shows run, Miller's
rants were left-leaning, however, this would
change in the last years (post-9/11) of the show.

In 2000, Miller became a commentator on Monday
Night Football. He demonstrated a knowledge of the
game and its personalities, although at times he
tended to lapse into sometimes obscure
analogy-riddled stream of consciousness|streams of
consciousness similar to his "rants". After two
seasons, he was replaced in 2002 by former Oakland
Raiders coach (sports)|coach John Madden
(football)|John Madden.

Miller likes to note that the September 11, 2001
attacks|Sept. 11 terrorist attacks changed him.
Though, he claims the main reason is because
liberal activists were too quick to cast
disparaging labels on on people they disagreed
with such as Rudy Giuliani and John Ashcroft. He
became more partisan, and turned to political
commentary. 

Miller's new-found conservatism puzzled many of
his former fans, as it seemed to be a complete
180-degree turn from his earlier positions on a
number of issues. Miller's changed views were not
limited to foriegn policy, as he began bashing
environmentalists, civil rights leaders, and the
ACLU in his television appearances.

Miller's former head writer from his pre-HBO
syndicated show, Barry Crimmins, felt the decision
by Miller was an insincere attempt to establish a
new career as a conservative commentator, in the
style of Bill O'Reilly or Rush Limbaugh. Writing
in the Boston Phoenix, Crimmins said that Miller
"has carved a place for himself on the Rushmore of
wrong-headedness, and there he will stay for years
to come, a glowering, reactionary oaf for the
ages. He’s ready for his close-up, Mr. Murdoch."

In 2003, Miller provided short-lived regular
commentary for the FOX News show Hannity & Colmes
before moving on to do a prime-time political show
on CNBC in early 2004 called Dennis Miller. The
hour long show contained a daily news segment
called "The Daily Rorschach inkblot
test|Rorschach", which was reminiscent of his
"Weekend Update (sketch)|Weekend Update" segments.
The show also featured a panel discussion on
current topics dubbed "The Varsity", which offered
a wide variety of political viewpoints. The panel
often included Gloria Allred, Lawrence O'Donnell,
Willie_Brown_(politician)|Willie Brown, Harry
Shearer, Mickey Kaus, and David Horowitz. 

Though Miller had criticized John McCain for
endorsing 'someone as insipid as George Bush" on
Dennis Miller Live in 2000, Miller now stated that
his show would not feature any criticism of the
president. "I take care of my friends," Miller
stated. Groups such as Fairness and Accuracy in
Reporting and Media Matters (FAIR) criticized CNBC
for airing what they believed to be a blatantly
biased program, although they never criticized
CNBC shows with left-wing bias.

Miller's change of world view has also drawn flack
from his stand-up peers, such as from Janeane
Garofolo (who hosts a show on the radio network
Air_America_Radio|Air America, and who many
perceive as continuing to champion many of the
same views that Miller has abandoned) and from
comedian David Cross (who likened him to a
Republican 'court jester' on his comedy CD Shut Up
You Fucking Baby!).

Miller's show consistantly drew low ratings, as it
was programmed in the late hour against most
primetime cable news programs or local news. CNBC
cancelled the show in May, 2005. Shortly after his
cancellation, Miller appeared on Comedy Central's
The Daily Show and attempted to make the case that
he wasn't a conservative ideologue. "I'm only
conservative on the war," Miller said. His critics
were quick to point out that Miller has adopted
the conservative position on a number of issues
while on CNBC.

Miller is considered by many liberals to be a
neoconservative. He is a registered United States
Republican Party|Republican and in addition to
being one of only a few mainstream comedians to
support the GOP, Miller has earned a ride on Air
Force One and a top spot on the GOP's "celebrity"
A-list. Many in the GOP even called for him to run
for United States Senate|U.S. Senator from
California against Barbara Boxer.

It the past, Miller has shown to hold many
libertarian-type views on topics such as
Prohibition (drugs)|drug legalization and same sex
marriage.  And despite his perceived shift in
worldview on some issues, Miller has not seemed to
have publically reversed himself on views of
personal liberty issues such as those.   

==External links==

*http://mediamatters.org/items/200407070004 Daily
Ror-shocked: Is CNBC's Dennis Miller funny?
*http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/26/tv.denni
smiller.ap/ Dennis Miller: '9-11 changed me'
*http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features
/this_just_in/documents/02731746.htm Miller's
former head writer, Barry Crimmins offers
criticism of Miller's change in politics