Posted on 06/25/2002 5:42:53 AM PDT by jordan8
Sept. 11 comment doomed peppery 'Politically Incorrect'
By DIANE HOLLOWAY
Cox News Service
After five years and 1,200 shows on network television, Bill Maher's "Politically Incorrect" is turning toes up. The official last day is Friday, but ABC wrote the show off last September, when the provocative host took issue with President Bush calling the suicide hijackers cowardly.
"We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly," Maher said Sept. 26, on the first show that aired after a post-attack hiatus. "Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."
The remarks set off howls of protest from viewers, network executives and advertisers. Some say Maher's exercise of free speech killed the show, but let's face it: The host's tedious cynicism had already worn thin with viewers.
What began as an innovative, amusing, thought-provoking idea has become a tired, predictable and boring program.
"Politically Incorrect" debuted on Comedy Central in 1993 and quickly became one of cable's hottest shows. Maher, a former stand-up comic, put together wildly diverse panels featuring a quartet of personalities from politics, media, literature and entertainment to discuss hot topics in the news.
The topics weren't the draw, though. The chemistry of the guest quartet was.
Marilyn Manson proved surprisingly articulate in a political discussion. Rockers and sitcom stars chatting about the budget deficit with senators and authors made for surprisingly compelling television.
Sparks flew, and "P.I.'s" cable ratings soared. TV Guide called it "the best talk show on television." So when ABC went looking for a late-night companion to "Nightline" in '97, "P.I." was a logical (if bold) choice.
The marriage of Maher, whose views range from liberal to libertarian, and the conservative management of Disney-owned ABC was tense from the start. But as long as the show's ratings held up and the buzz continued, however, Maher roamed free.
As the seasons wore on, however, Maher lost his satirical fire and became increasingly cynical. Ironically, the show that caused his downfall was one of his best in a long time. His opening comments let viewers know that this wasn't going to be sweet, sad or sentimental, like many entertainment shows were at the time.
It was during the panel discussion that the subject of cowardice emerged. At the end of the show, the audience rose in a standing ovation.
But Maher's comments prompted public outrage and calls on advertisers to boycott the program. Sears and FedEx pulled their support, and several stations yanked "P.I." temporarily.
Maher's subsequent apology was considered weak. Truth be told, he wasn't exactly a voice in the wilderness. Similar statements were made elsewhere -- by Susan Sontag in The New Yorker and in an editorial that ran in the conservative American Spectator.
By the time the furor died down, Maher's goose was already cooked, and ABC canceled his contract. Last month, executives announced a second edition of "Nightline" will air in place of "P.I." until a new show, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel ("The Man Show"), arrives in the fall.
WTF?? On what planet has this author been residing?
I'm old enough to remember when Disney knew the difference between right and wrong. Ain't nothing conservative about Disney's current management.
Actually, it was the ratings they couldn't stand. (The comment just quickened the demise a little.)
I, too, thought at the time that he was really speaking about the policy of Clinton that resulted in a few cruise missiles being fired at nothing.
Poetic justice, maybe. - Having your words used against you!
Hey, look who's alive! :-) Still employed, wife working hard as usual, and baby is still absolutely adorable. Life is a good!
Let me know if you need any help moving.
Yeah, that's a jaw dropper alright.
The show was never politically incorrect.
Maher, a former stand-up comic, put together wildly diverse panels ...
Here is another howler. Three liberals and one conservative plus liberal Bill Maher was the formula for every stinking show.
Maher is a flaming leftist. His program was extremely politically correct and, the few times I could stomach it, always predictable. Even when there was a rational or conservative voice on, the pinko flamers lead the babble to the left. It wasn't funny, it wasn't entertaining, and Maher, despite his own self-evaluation to the contrary, isn't an especially bright guy.
I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did and that advertisers were willing to waste money on him for as long as they did. I am aware of no demographic that would have made these decisions prudent.
To blame this flamer's demise on an unpopular single statement is to give him far, far more credit than he deserves and makes conservatives look like censors. You expect this from an extremist liberal media. It wasn't Maher's single stupid comment, it was that he wasn't funny (glib, yes), he wasn't entertaining, and it was almost always clear that his position was perfectly correct to place him way over there on the extreme left wing.
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