I stayed up to watch Maher on Leno to see what his damage control operation would do. Leno did everything possible to let Maher appear misunderstood. Maher seemed apologetic at first but later turned belligerent again about "airing issues" and "the right to dissent." He looked like he was trying to collect applause from the audience.
By the way, two kids were on before. One boy had his friend come out to meet Pamela Anderson. Pam had the 12 year old boy sit on her lap. He seemed happy and scared at the same time. So Maher came out next after a soft introduction. Maher sat on Pam's lap. It looked ridiculous and unfunny.
Invading Pam's space and sitting on her lap showed another side of Maher - thoughtless and self-centered.
I recall a PI show (which I seldom watched before and hope will fail now) where Arsenio Hall told Maher that ABC ran the show. Maher made a speech about how that wasn't so. Arsenio just laughed and said, "Maybe you tell your girlfriend that, but the guy with the mouse ears controls the show." (I paraphrase) Maher blew up at Arsenio and told him, "Just because your show failed..." Maher went on to express his outrage and his sincere efforts to keep his show pure. Arsenio laughed at his tantrum.
Seldom do I watch Leno or PI, but curiousity got the best of me.......so I watched. I don't know if anyone else noticed this but Maher's defense was IDENTICAL in both his show and Leno's. VERBATUM----NOT CLOSE BUT IDENTICAL! He had scripted his verbal defense.......all the way down to his stupid jokes. He failed to specifically admit EXACTLY what he said and he seemed to be running behind the freedom of speech for protection. I don't know what will be the final outcome, but what is ABC waiting for...if they were going to can him, it seems to me they would have alread? Just an observation.............