| Politically Incorrect | |
|---|---|
| Format | Comedy Discussion |
| Starring | Bill Maher |
| Country of origin | USA |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Comedy Central (1993–1997) ABC (1997–2002) |
| Original run | July 25, 1993 – July 5, 2002 |
Politically Incorrect is a late-night, half-hour political talk show hosted by Bill Maher that ran from 1993 to 2002. It premiered on Comedy Central from 1993 to 1997, and later on ABC in 1997, which cancelled it in 2002.
The show first originated from New York City, but soon moved to Los Angeles to make it easier to get "stars" as guests. The New York episodes were shot at the CBS Broadcast Center and the Los Angeles episodes at CBS Television City, where it remained even after its move to ABC. The first episode featured comedian Jerry Seinfeld, Howard Stern sidekick Robin Quivers, Republican Party strategist Ed Rollins, and comedian Larry Miller. The show won a 2000 Emmy Award for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Series, and was nominated for seventeen others, including one for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series every year from 1995 to 2002, and one in 1997 for Maher in the category of Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program. The show also won two CableACE Awards in 1995 and 1996 for Talk Show Series, and was nominated for a third in 1997. It was also nominated for two Writers Guild of America awards for best Comedy/Variety series in 2001 and 2002.[1]
The show's writers included Scott Carter, Al Franken, Arianna Huffington, Chris Kelly, Kevin Bleyer.
Frequent guests included Dave Matthews, Arianna Huffington, Michael McKean, Ann Coulter, Carrot Top, and Christine O'Donnell.[2]
Contents |
The show began with a brief topical monologue from Maher. Then Maher introduces the guests individually, promoting their current projects. Four guests appear, usually a mix of individuals from show business, popular culture, pundits, political consultants, and occasionally regular people in the news, discussing topics in the news selected by Maher. Maher moved the conversation along and encouraged guests to be themselves. Maher described the program as "The McLaughlin Group on acid."[3]
On rare occasions, Maher would interview a single guest. The show was pioneering in mixing political figures and entertainers. Maher tried to air all points of view, especially controversial ones. Guests could be both aggravating and insightful, with the conversation similar to a cocktail party with quick-witted guests.[3]
In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and elsewhere, U.S. President George W. Bush said that the terrorists responsible were cowards (included in the September 11 attacks was the crash of American Airlines Flight 77, upon which frequent guest Barbara Olson was traveling to a Politically Incorrect taping; Maher left a panel chair empty for a week afterwards). On Politically Incorrect's September 17 show, Maher's guest Dinesh D'Souza disputed Bush's label, saying the terrorists were warriors.[4] Maher agreed, and according to a transcript replied "We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly".[4]
While similar comments had been made in other media, Maher's comments became a major controversy.[4] Some advertisers withdrew their support and some ABC affiliates stopped airing the show temporarily.[4] White House press secretary Ari Fleischer denounced Maher, warning that "people have to watch what they say and watch what they do."[5]
Maher almost immediately apologized, and explained that he had been criticizing U.S. military policy, not American soldiers. He pointed out that whether the attacks were cowardly was irrelevant to whether they were morally right or wrong.
The show was canceled the following June, which Maher and many others saw as a result of the controversy, although ABC denied that the controversy was a factor and said the program was canceled due to declining ratings.[6][7][8] Maher said that the show struggled for advertisers in its final months.[9]
Maher now hosts an hour-long program on HBO called Real Time with Bill Maher, which follows a similar format.
After Republican Christine O'Donnell won the Delaware Senate primary in 2010, Maher reminded the media (on Larry King Live) that O'Donnell had been a frequent guest on Politically Incorrect and on that Friday's Real Time, Maher showed an old clip of O'Donnell saying she dabbled in witchcraft, threatening to show more clips from the show until she came on his show. O'Donnell has said she doesn't plan to appear on Real Time.
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