During an exclusive interview with Nicole Alvarez, Tim McIlrath of the politically-charged Chicago punk band Rise Against commented on reality show sensation Alana Thompson, better known as the pint-sized star of the wildly popular and controversial TLC series, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. It’s safe to say he’s not a fan.

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“It’s the new lowest form of television,” McIlrath said. “The most despicable celebration of a lack of intellectual ability. If we can look to that as something not to aspire to, maybe we can find something good out of it.”

McIlrath’s scathing observation came during the light-hearted interview, in which he also spoke on the Kardashian family (“I’m largely unaware of the Kardashians”) and the Mayan calendar, which many believe signifies the end of the world on December 21 of this year.

“I think the world’s got so many solvable issues, why worry about the one that appears to be unsolvable?”

Politics eventually found their way into the conversation, with McIlrath pondering what he would say if given an audience with President Obama.

“Among many things, close Guantanamo Bay,” he said in mock dramatic fashion. “I think he should also free Bradley Manning,” the singer added, referencing the U.S. soldier arrested in 2010 on suspicion of supplying classified information to the Wikileaks website. “I think that we need whistle-blowers like Bradley Manning.”

Rise Against wrapped up a busy 2012 supporting their most recent album, Endgame, with a rousing performance at this year’s edition of the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas alongside bands like Linkin Park, Jack White, fun., Garbage and more.

-Scott T. Sterling, CBS Local