Bill Maher Stands Up for Jimmy Kimmel, Criticizes ABC

Bill Maher, known for his sharp wit, recently defended his fellow talk show host Jimmy Kimmel on his HBO show, "Real Time."

Maher didn't hold back when criticizing ABC, the network that suspended Kimmel's show after some controversial comments. Maher, who knows a thing or two about being canceled, shared his thoughts on the situation.

Maher's Monologue

Maher started his monologue with a joke about the current state of late-night TV, saying that talk show hosts are disappearing faster than Blockbuster Video stores in the '90s. He then turned his attention to Kimmel, calling him a friend and expressing his support. Maher even joked that Kimmel no longer has to pretend to like Disneyland, a dig at ABC's parent company, Disney.

Kimmel's Situation

It's important to note that Kimmel wasn't exactly fired. ABC just took his show off the air for a while. There are talks happening between Kimmel and Disney execs to figure out a way to bring the show back.

Maher's Past Experience

Maher pointed out that this isn't the first time ABC has faced backlash for controversial comments. He recalled his own experience back in 2001 when he made some comments about the 9/11 attacks on his show "Politically Incorrect." Maher said that America was being cowardly in its response, comparing it to the bravery of the terrorists. This didn't go over well with advertisers, and ABC eventually canceled the show.

FCC and "The View"

Maher also talked about the FCC chairman's threat against ABC if they didn't take action against Kimmel. He joked that he's not intimidated by the FCC, unlike some other networks that are changing their names to please everyone.

Maher even had some advice for the hosts of "The View," another ABC show. He encouraged them to speak up about important issues, just like he did. He also joked that he might be next on the chopping block, but he's not worried.

Support from Other Hosts

Other late-night hosts have also shown their support for Kimmel, including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers.