ABC to End 'Politically Incorrect'

New York Times ^ | 5/14/02 | BILL CARTER

[kattracks]

BC will announce today that "Politically Incorrect," its late-night comedy-discussion program, will go off the air in January and be replaced by a show starring the comedian Jimmy Kimmel.

Mr. Kimmel, who has been one of the hosts of the raunchy "Man Show" on the Comedy Central cable channel, will start up a more traditional late-night show with a desk-and-guests format, an ABC executive said yesterday. The show will also explore aspects of Mr. Kimmel's home life, the ABC executive said. The news will be announced during ABC's introduction of a new prime-time entertainment schedule to advertisers.

ABC had been expected to make changes to its late-night programming, with "Politically Incorrect" seen as particularly vulnerable to cancellation. The show's host, Bill Maher, had alienated some advertisers, ABC executives and even the White House press secretary, Ari Fleischer, with a comment he made soon after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

Living up to his show's title, Mr. Maher took issue with characterizations of the hijackers as cowards, arguing that "we have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away."

ABC's desire to bolster its late-night ratings and profits was also at the heart of its ultimately unsuccessful effort to woo David Letterman away from CBS two months ago. After that effort failed, ABC renewed its commitment to Ted Koppel and "Nightline," promising that the show would remain in its 11:35 time slot for at least two more years. Mr. Koppel is expected to be a significant part of ABC's presentation to advertisers today.

[jrewingjr]

The show's host, Bill Maher, had alienated some advertisers, ABC executives ...

Or in other words, they were FReeped HARD and it worked. Great job everyone!

I love it when a plan comes together.

[ReaganIsRight]

They should've done this when he screwed up (like every show). Why did they wait?

[FreedomFriend]

Success. Congratulations.

[Bullish]

Now if we could just erase him from our memory banks..

[D-fendr]

If someone will give me the address, I'll send Bill some dead flowers.

[ppaul]

Good riddance!

[Leclair10]

next comes crossfire then the west wing keep it boys and girls.

[jrewingjr]

I love kicking liberal butt. Hee Hee Hee!

[laredo44]

ABC had been expected to make changes to its late-night programming, with "Politically Incorrect" seen as particularly vulnerable to cancellation. The show's host, Bill Maher, had alienated some advertisers, ABC executives and even the White House press secretary, Ari Fleischer, with a comment he made soon after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

So, the facts that Maher is a no-talent hack, the show an entertainment void, and the irony in the show's title being code for "Attack Conservatives" and thus Politically Correct to the hip audience it meant to attract also alienated a majority of the population had nothing to do with the cancellation? I don't know whether ABC executives are lying to themselves, or knowingly lying to the public hoping we wouldn't catch on, but their continuing refusal to balance the network's offerings will simply lead to smaller audiences. I say. "Go for it!"

[Samwise]

PC RIP Bump

[MeekOneGOP]

BIG PC bump!

[brewcrew]

My company - FedEx Express - was one of the first to yank its ads. They continue to make me so proud to work for them.

[luckyluke]

Bill Maher, had alienated some advertisers, ABC executives and even the White House press secretary, Ari Fleischer, with a comment he made soon after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.

Hmm, sounds like Maher was politically incorrect all right.

Funny how conservatives think PC only cuts one way.

But then I'm a liberal so what would I know?

[ChadGore]

More liberals twisting in the wind !

Sweeeeeeeet success.

[Bogey78O]

In celebration I won't rent Pizza Man tonight for the 2,400 consecutive day.

[Braak]

Indeed! Score one for the FRTeam!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I love kicking liberal butt. Hee Hee Hee!

Dead link. Here. Try this one.

[jrewingjr]

Nice one! The laughs just keep on coming. I just tried the Hee Hee link again and it's working for me now; it might have been overloaded before.

[sausageseller]

Taking the name from the beginning , doomed it for failure!

Bill was everything but 'Politically Incorrect'