The Moment
Bill Maher, the veteran comic and host behind “Real Time” and “Club Random”, reportedly lavished praise on Spencer Pratt’s run for Los Angeles mayor this week, calling the former “The Hills” star “very authentic” and urging him to “keep doing what you’re doing,” per new coverage of their chat. The segment, framed as surprisingly warm, also touched on frustrations with LA leadership and unions.
One more wrinkle: an Emerson College survey was cited as showing Pratt gaining ground in the primary field. Add in whispers about big-name endorsements and donor intrigue, and suddenly a tabloid villain from 2009 is back, this time as a would-be city executive. Welcome to LA, where the plot twists write themselves.
The Take
I know, I know. Spencer Pratt, mayor? But that’s exactly why Maher’s praise lands with a thud and a thrum. The thud: the serious-business reality of governing a massive city with real crises (housing, public safety, climate threats). The thrum: voters are restless, and celebrity crossovers scratch that anti-establishment itch.
Maher’s brand is “say the unpopular thing,” and Pratt’s brand is “I’m not pretending this isn’t a show.” Together they feel like LA’s oddest odd couple, the disenchanted civics teacher handing the class clown a hall pass to the principal’s office. Is it a real endorsement? Not yet. But it’s a vibe shift, permission for curious voters to take a second look.
The hype: quippy clips, mega-famous friends allegedly cheering from the wings, and a tidy narrative about shaking up City Hall. The reality: elections are spreadsheets, not sizzle reels. Polling crosstabs, fundraising reports, ballot statements, ground game, those decide whether a headline turns into a result. If Pratt wants to surf this wave, he’ll need steelier stuff than sympathy for LA frustrations. He’ll need specifics, receipts, and a coalition that extends beyond podcast applause.
Receipts
Confirmed:
- Spencer Pratt is a reality TV alum who rose to fame on MTV’s “The Hills”.
- Karen Bass has served as Los Angeles mayor since December 2022; the next LA mayoral election is slated for 2026, with a primary preceding the November general.
- Bill Maher hosts the “Club Random” podcast and HBO’s “Real Time”, both ongoing platforms for his commentary.
Unverified/Reported:
- Maher praised Pratt’s bid on a newly released “Club Random” episode, calling him “very authentic,” and encouraged him to stay the course (reported via coverage of their conversation).
- Maher echoed kind words about Pratt on a recent “Real Time” episode (reported).
- An Emerson College poll last week showed Pratt moving into second place behind Karen Bass (reported; crosstabs not reviewed here).
- Google co-founder Sergey Brin donated $1,800 (the reported maximum) to Pratt’s campaign (reported; we have not reviewed the filing).
- Endorsements from Joe Rogan and Paris Hilton are reported; Leonardo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx are “said to” support, those last two remain unconfirmed.
- Pratt and Heidi Montag reportedly lost their Pacific Palisades home in January 2025 wildfires; Pratt blames Bass’s management, those are his allegations, not established findings.
Backstory (for Casual Readers)
Spencer Pratt, once reality TV’s favorite heel, leaned into notoriety on “The Hills” with wife Heidi Montag in the late 2000s. Bill Maher, a self-described old-school liberal, has long critiqued both the far-right and the far-left, and lately, California governance. Karen Bass, a former congresswoman, became LA’s first woman mayor in 2022 and has faced intense scrutiny over homelessness, public safety, and disaster readiness. LA’s 2026 mayoral race was expected to be Bass vs. the field, until celebrity turbulence entered the chat.
What’s Next
Watch for three near-term tells:
- Paper trail: Official campaign filings and updated finance disclosures will show whether the Brin donation and big-name endorsements exist on paper, not just in headlines.
- Polling receipts: Emerson’s full release and crosstabs (if public) will tell us whether Pratt’s bump is broad-based or just name-ID sugar.
- The Maher factor: Does this stay in “friendly interview” territory, or turn into a formal endorsement, fundraiser, or repeat segments?
Also keep an eye on Bass’s response and any issue-specific plans from Pratt beyond anti-corruption notes: homelessness policy, fire mitigation, transit, and budget math. That’s where a vibe becomes a vote, or doesn’t.
If a celebrity candidate speaks plainly to your city’s frustrations, does that earn your vote, or do you need traditional experience above all?
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