On Friday night’s episode of HBO’s “Real Time”, host Bill Maher voiced his support for fellow late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, whose show was recently suspended by ABC. Maher took the opportunity to criticize the Disney-owned network, recalling his own experiences with censorship when they canceled his show, “Politically Incorrect”, over comments made shortly after the 9/11 attacks.
At the beginning of his monologue, Maher humorously remarked, “I know why you’re happy tonight. I’m still on. Oh, my god. Man, talk show hosts are going down like Blockbusters in the ’90s.” This light-hearted jab set the tone as he addressed the week’s major topic: “Well, I guess you all heard Jimmy Kimmel, my friend, my compatriot. He’s been canned by ABC for comments he made about Charlie Kirk’s assassin.”
Maher continued to express his solidarity with Kimmel, stating, “Jimmy, pal, I am with you, I support you, and on the bright side, you don’t have to pretend anymore that you like Disneyland. That was always a great part of it for me when I got my ass canned over there.” He praised Kimmel’s long-standing contributions to late-night television, saying, “You did a great, funny show for two decades. You should be proud of that.”
It’s important to note that Kimmel has not been officially “fired.” On Wednesday, ABC announced that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has been “preempted indefinitely.” Reports from Variety indicate that Kimmel and Disney executives are currently engaged in discussions to potentially bring the show back on air.
Reflecting on his own past experiences, Maher pointed out that his comments on September 17 marked “24 years to the day” since he made remarks on ABC that led to his own cancellation. “Oh yes, I got canceled before cancel even had a culture,” Maher quipped, highlighting the evolving landscape of censorship in media.
Maher referenced a Variety article from September 30, 2001, which reported on the backlash he faced from advertisers after his comments following the 9/11 attacks. He mentioned, “This shit ain’t new. It’s worse, we’ll get to that, but you know, ABC, they are steady. ABC stands for ‘Always Be Caving.'”
In 2001, Maher controversially stated that America had been “cowardly” in its military response compared to the terrorists responsible for the attacks. This led to significant advertiser pullout, prompting him to later apologize, emphasizing that he had never intended to disrespect those in military service.
During the episode, Maher also addressed threats made by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr against ABC regarding Kimmel’s suspension. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Carr warned on a conservative podcast, leading Maher to assert, “I am not intimidated by the FCC,” citing HBO's independence from FCC regulations.
Maher further criticized the climate of fear and censorship, remarking, “And if President Trump is watching, I have one thing to say to you. Have you lost weight? You look terrific.” He went on to highlight the hypocrisy of intimidation tactics from the right, pointing out that networks like “Good Morning America” are reshaping their content to appease a broader audience.
In the wake of Kimmel’s suspension, fellow late-night hosts including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart, and David Letterman have publicly expressed their support for him. Maher closed his segment by encouraging hosts like the ladies from “The View” to take a stand on these pressing issues, stating, “It won’t kill you. I promise!”
As the situation continues to unfold, many are watching closely to see how the discussions between Kimmel and ABC will evolve and what this means for the future of late-night television.
