“I always wonder how people like Maher ever get TV shows, etc.”
You overestimate the minds and spirits of the American public by many magnitudes. You are after all talking about the same country that elected Obama and Biden.
The same country that, after Obama has proved to be a cataclysmic failure, cannot wait to put Hillary Rodham in charge.
Forget too big to fail. America is too stupid to survive.
Also, the same people that make the scumbags in "Jersey Shore" a TV hit, not to mention many other trash reality shows.
Disclaimer: Yes, I DO watch American Idol and America's Got Talent. I like talent competition, although I can't believe some Sinatra crooner won AGT over the highly creative and unique Silhouettes or whatever their name was with the dozens of children. Never seen anything like it. They were absolutely inspiring.