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Politically Incorrect
Title card used during the ABC run
GenreTalk show
Written byScott Carter
Bill Maher
StarringBill Maher
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons8
Production
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesHBO Downtown Productions
Comedy Central Productions (1993–1997)
Brillstein-Grey Entertainment (1997–1999)
Brad Grey Television (1999–2002)
Original release
NetworkComedy Central
ReleaseJuly 25, 1993 (1993-07-25) –
November 5, 1996 (1996-11-05)
NetworkABC
ReleaseJanuary 5, 1997 (1997-01-05) –
July 5, 2002 (2002-07-05)
Related
Real Time with Bill Maher

Politically Incorrect (stylized as POLITICALLY INCOrrECT) is an American late-night, half-hour political talk show hosted by Bill Maher that aired from July 25, 1993, to July 5, 2002. It premiered on Comedy Central in July 1993 and aired for three seasons until November 5, 1996; amid its success on Comedy Central, ABC expressed interest in bringing the show to the network to shore up its late-night lineup, moving there on January 5, 1997.

The show first originated from New York City, but soon moved to Los Angeles. The New York episodes were shot at the CBS Broadcast Center and the Los Angeles episodes at CBS Television City, where it remained even after its move to ABC.

The first episode featured comedian Jerry Seinfeld, Howard Stern co-host Robin Quivers, Republican Party strategist Ed Rollins, and comedian Larry Miller. Frequent guests included Dave Matthews, Arianna Huffington, Michael McKean, Ann Coulter, Carrot Top, and Christine O'Donnell.[1]

On September 17, 2001, Maher criticized United States foreign policy on the show and argued that the perpetrators of the September 11 terrorist attacks, "although terrible people," were not cowards. "What was cowardly," he argued, "was America's relationship with the rest of the world." The comments were widely condemned,[2] and while Maher later apologized and clarified the meaning behind his comments, major advertisers stopped advertising with the show. As a result, the show was canceled in June 2002.[3]

Format

[edit]
Bill Maher in 2007

The show began with a brief topical monologue from Maher. Then Maher introduces the guests individually, promoting their current projects. Four guests appear, usually a mix of individuals from show business, popular culture, pundits, political consultants, and occasionally regular people in the news, discussing topics in the news selected by Maher. Maher described the program as "The McLaughlin Group on acid."[4]

On rare occasions, Maher would interview a single guest. The show was pioneering in mixing political figures and entertainers. Maher tried to air all points of view, especially controversial ones. Guests could be both aggravating and insightful, with the conversation similar to a cocktail party with quick-witted guests.[4]

Writers

[edit]

The show's writers included Al Franken, Arianna Huffington, Kevin Bleyer, Scott Carter, and Chris Kelly.

9/11 controversy and cancellation

[edit]

On September 11, 2001, conservative political commentator Barbara Olson was on her way to Los Angeles to appear as a guest on Politically Incorrect, when the airplane she was on was hijacked and flown into the Pentagon during the September 11 attacks.

In the aftermath of the attacks, U.S. President George W. Bush said that the terrorists responsible were cowards. On September 17, 2001, one of Maher's guests, Dinesh D'Souza, said "These are warriors. And we have to realize that the principles of our way of life are in conflict with people in the world. And so—I mean, I'm all for understanding the sociological causes of this, but we should not blame the victim. Americans shouldn't blame themselves because other people want to bomb them."[5] Maher agreed, and replied: "We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, [it's] not cowardly."[6] Similar comments were made by others in other media.[6]

Advertisers withdrew their support, and some ABC affiliates stopped airing the show temporarily.[6] White House press secretary Ari Fleischer denounced Maher, warning that "people have to watch what they say and watch what they do."[7] Maher apologized, and explained that he had been criticizing U.S. military policy, not American soldiers.[8]

The show was canceled the following June, which Maher and many others saw as a result of the controversy, although ABC denied that the controversy was a factor and said the program was canceled due to declining ratings.[9][10][11] Maher said that the show struggled for advertisers in its final months.[12] There were subsequently comments in various media on the irony that a show called Politically Incorrect was canceled because its host had made a supposedly politically incorrect comment.[13][14]

The show was replaced on ABC by Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2003.

Maher rebounded with an hour-long weekly program on HBO called Real Time with Bill Maher premiering on February 21, 2003, which follows a similar format, with fewer guests since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Awards and recognition

[edit]

The show won a 2000 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Series." In addition, it was nominated for seventeen other awards, including: "Outstanding Variety"; "Outstanding Music or Comedy Series" (every year from 1995 to 2002); and "Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program" in 1997. The show also won two CableACE Awards in 1995 and 1996 for Talk Show Series and was nominated for a third in 1997. It was also nominated for two Writers Guild of America awards for best Comedy/Variety series in 2001 and 2002.[15]

[edit]

Maher released a book in 1997, Does Anybody Have a Problem with That? The Best of Politically Incorrect, which featured questions asked on the show, comments Maher made and guest answers. In 2003 an audiobook POLITICAL INCORRECTIONS: The Best Opening Monologues from Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher was released, which featured opening monologues from the show accompanied by explanations of the current affairs that were being discussed in the media at that time.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Politically Incorrect

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
was an American hosted by comedian , which aired from July 25, 1993, to July 5, 2002, initially on before moving to ABC in January 1997. The program featured panel discussions with a mix of politicians, celebrities, journalists, and experts debating current political and cultural issues in a freewheeling, humorous format that prioritized candid, often provocative exchanges over conventional politeness. The show's defining characteristic was its deliberate challenge to emerging norms of , aiming to foster unfiltered dialogue on subjects and critiquing what Maher viewed as excessive sensitivity in public discourse. It gained a for blending with substantive , often compared to a more irreverent version of traditional political roundtables, and attracted high-profile guests seeking an outlet for contrarian views. Despite strong ratings on ABC, Politically Incorrect faced cancellation in 2002 following backlash to Maher's post-9/11 comments, in which he argued that the September 11 hijackers were not "cowards" and that the U.S. had itself engaged in cowardly acts by launching missiles from afar, prompting sponsor withdrawals and network pressure. This controversy underscored the program's commitment to defending free speech amid heightened national sensitivities, influencing Maher's subsequent HBO series Real Time with Bill Maher, which adopted a similar but evolved format. The show's legacy lies in its role as an early platform for pushing back against sanitized media narratives, prioritizing empirical scrutiny and logical debate over ideological conformity.

Overview

Premise and Creation

"Politically Incorrect" was created by comedian Bill Maher as a half-hour late-night talk show format emphasizing unfiltered discussions of political topics through humor and diverse panelists. The program premiered on Comedy Central on July 25, 1993, with its inaugural episode featuring guests Jerry Seinfeld, Larry Miller, Robin Quivers, and political strategist Ed Rollins. Maher developed the concept after experiencing setbacks in prior television and film projects, viewing it as the format he had long desired to host: a venue for treating politics as entertaining rather than solely the domain of professionals. The core premise rejected political spinning, which Maher defined as the manipulative distortion inherent in partisan discourse, in favor of candid exchanges that prioritized truth over orthodoxy. Each episode typically assembled four guests from , , academia, and other sectors for freewheeling debates on current events, aiming to provoke thought and laughter without deference to prevailing sensitivities. This approach positioned the show as a counter to sanitized media commentary, fostering an environment where controversial viewpoints could clash openly. Comedy Central's selection of the show aligned with its mandate for irreverent comedy, providing Maher a platform to blend stand-up sensibilities with topical amid the early cable expansion. Initial production emphasized Maher's hosting style, derived from his stand-up career, to moderate panels without imposing a rigid script, thereby highlighting spontaneous insights over rehearsed narratives.

Hosts and Key Personnel

Bill Maher hosted Politically Incorrect exclusively from its debut on July 25, 1993, until the series concluded on July 5, 2002, spanning both its Comedy Central and ABC runs. As creator, host, and executive producer, Maher shaped the show's irreverent format, drawing on his stand-up comedy background to facilitate unfiltered discussions among diverse guests. No guest or substitute hosts appeared during the program's nine seasons. Executive producers included Maher alongside , , and Nancy Geller, who managed production during the Comedy Central era and the transition to ABC. Scott Carter served as a key executive producer, contributing to scripting and segment development; he later collaborated with Maher on . Additional producers such as and Marilyn Wilson handled operational aspects, including guest coordination and live broadcast logistics. The writing staff, led by figures like , supported Maher's monologue and topical segments, ensuring alignment with the show's provocative tone.

Broadcast History

Early Years on Comedy Central (1993–1999)

Politically Incorrect debuted on Comedy Central on July 25, 1993, as a half-hour late-night talk show hosted by stand-up comedian Bill Maher. The format centered on Maher moderating unscripted panel discussions among four guests typically selected from politics, entertainment, comedy, and media, focusing on current events with a emphasis on humorous, boundary-pushing commentary that challenged prevailing orthodoxies. Initially taped in New York City before shifting production to Los Angeles, the show aired on weeknights, allowing for timely responses to news and fostering an improvisational style unencumbered by the stricter content regulations of broadcast networks. The program's name reflected its core approach: eschewing euphemisms and enforced consensus in favor of direct, often provocative exchanges intended to provoke thought and laughter. Maher, drawing from his experience in stand-up where he honed satirical takes on social and political topics, steered conversations toward underrepresented or taboo angles, such as critiquing both liberal and conservative pieties without deference to institutional sensitivities. The debut episode featured guests , Larry Miller, , and political strategist , exemplifying the eclectic mix that became a hallmark. Over its run on , which produced 411 episodes, the show cultivated a dedicated audience among younger viewers seeking alternatives to mainstream political discourse, earning descriptions from critics as akin to "the McLaughlin Group on acid" for its energetic, less formal debate dynamic. This cable exclusivity enabled content that might have faced elsewhere, including candid discussions on race, sex, and , contributing to its reputation for intellectual candor amid Comedy Central's push for original, youth-oriented programming. The series' success in this environment demonstrated the viability of satirical political talk on niche cable, influencing subsequent formats in the .

Move to ABC and Mainstream Expansion (1999–2002)

In January 1997, Politically Incorrect transitioned from Comedy Central to ABC, marking one of the earliest successful shifts of a cable program to broadcast network television, which broadened its potential audience beyond niche cable viewers. By 1999, the show had established a foothold in ABC's late-night lineup, airing weeknights at 12:05 a.m. ET following Nightline, and attracting a mix of politicians, celebrities, and comedians for unscripted debates on current events. This period saw ABC renew the series in June 1999 for an additional season, signaling confidence in its viability despite competition from established late-night programs like NBC's The Tonight Show. The move to ABC facilitated mainstream expansion through increased visibility and diverse guest lineups, including high-profile figures such as Senator , actor , and conservative commentator in a single November 1999 episode, reflecting the show's appeal to cross-ideological audiences. Viewership stabilized and occasionally peaked, with the program averaging 2.79 million viewers in the week ending September 30, 2001—its highest since March of that year—outperforming rivals in select markets and demonstrating sustained draw amid post-9/11 shifts in public discourse. Production relocated between New York and studios, maintaining the half-hour format of Maher's opening monologue, panel discussions, and audience interaction, but with enhanced production values suited to network standards. However, this expansion introduced tensions with ABC's broader advertiser base and affiliates, as the show's provocative tone—prioritizing blunt political commentary over deference—led to occasional station preemptions and sponsor hesitancy. The period culminated in controversy following Maher's September 17, 2001, remarks criticizing U.S. foreign policy and labeling the 9/11 hijackers as non-cowards, which prompted advertiser withdrawals and public backlash, though initial ratings held steady. ABC announced the show's cancellation in May 2002, citing a strategic pivot toward youth-oriented programming like an expanded Nightline segment, rather than solely the prior incident, with the final episode airing July 5, 2002, after 320 ABC episodes. This end reflected the challenges of sustaining edgy content in a mainstream broadcast environment increasingly sensitive to post-9/11 patriotic sentiments and commercial pressures.

Format and Style

Panel Discussions and Guest Selection

The panel discussions on Politically Incorrect centered on host Bill Maher moderating unscripted conversations among a rotating group of typically four guests per episode, who debated current political, cultural, and social issues in a half-hour format. This structure emphasized rapid-fire exchanges over prepared monologues, with Maher interjecting humor and provocations to challenge panelists and elicit candid responses, often prioritizing ideological diversity to foster debate rather than consensus. Guest selection deliberately favored an eclectic mix of viewpoints, including liberals, conservatives, independents, celebrities, politicians, comedians, and self-described non-experts, to avoid echo chambers and highlight politically incorrect angles. Maher's producers targeted individuals known for outspokenness, such as entertainers unaccustomed to policy deep dives, to generate spontaneous clashes; for instance, early episodes featured panels like comedian Roseanne Barr alongside journalist Matt Lauer, actress Lorraine Bracco, and conservative editor John O'Sullivan on September 19, 1993. Later examples included comedian George Carlin with lawyer Robert Shapiro, civil rights attorney Horace Cooper, and actress Julie Warner on May 16, 2001, blending humor, legal expertise, and ideological opposition. Recurring figures like comedian Carrot Top or columnist Arianna Huffington appeared multiple times, reflecting a preference for guests who could sustain tension without adhering to partisan scripts. This approach drew from Maher's stated intent to platform "real people" over polished pundits, though critics noted an occasional tilt toward entertainment value over balanced representation, with celebrities sometimes outnumbering policy experts. Panels occasionally included high-profile conservatives like future frequent guest , ensuring cross-ideological friction, but the format's reliance on availability and provocative potential led to ad hoc lineups rather than rigid quotas. By design, selections avoided overly deferential figures, prioritizing those likely to voice taboos, which amplified the show's reputation for raw discourse amid mainstream television's growing sensitivity to offense.

Topics, Tone, and Unscripted Elements

The topics on Politically Incorrect encompassed a broad spectrum of political, social, and cultural issues, often focusing on current events such as the , the trial, and President Bill Clinton's scandal. Panels typically addressed controversial subjects like , sex, , and , blending serious policy debates with lighter pop culture commentary to reflect the eclectic mix of guests from politics, entertainment, journalism, and beyond. This approach aimed to dissect timely headlines through diverse viewpoints, prioritizing provocative questions over consensus. The tone was defined by a no-holds-barred irreverence, combining glib irony and with underlying passion and honesty, which distinguished it from more restrained political talk formats. Maher's hosting style—aggressive yet comedic—fostered an atmosphere of free-wheeling humor that mocked pieties and challenged orthodoxies, often resembling a lively rather than a scripted . This hybrid of entertainment and discourse encouraged blunt exchanges, with Maher frequently interjecting sardonic one-liners to underscore hypocrisies across ideological lines. Unscripted elements formed the core of the show's dynamic, as discussions unfolded spontaneously after Maher's opening stand-up monologue, allowing guests to engage in unfiltered, topical debates without rigid moderation. Taped before a live audience, segments often featured impromptu clashes, such as heated arguments over terrorism tactics following the , where Maher controversially reframed U.S. military responses as lacking courage compared to hijackers' resolve. From 1999 to 2000, the inclusion of a "Citizen Panelist"—an ordinary local viewer—added unpredictability, injecting grassroots perspectives into elite conversations and amplifying the raw, audience-responsive energy. This structure prioritized authentic tension over polished narratives, occasionally yielding viral soundbites but also exposing the risks of unchecked rhetoric in live broadcasts.

Role of Writers and Production

The production of Politically Incorrect was managed by Brillstein-Grey Entertainment in association with HBO Downtown Productions, with executive producers including Bernie Brillstein, Brad Grey, and later figures like Sheila Griffiths as supervising producer and Marc Gurvitz as executive producer. Episodes were taped weekly before a live audience, initially in Manhattan from 1993 to early 1996, then relocating to Los Angeles studios thereafter, with occasional remote tapings in locations such as Washington, D.C., New York, London, or even an Arizona prison during the ABC era starting in 1997. This setup facilitated a half-hour format prioritizing immediacy, with production handling logistics like set design—a semicircular panel arrangement to encourage direct confrontation—and technical elements to capture unpolished exchanges. A core production responsibility was guest booking, which sought ideological and professional diversity: typically four panelists comprising politicians, , actors, activists, and non-traditional voices (e.g., non-experts on ) to ignite spontaneous on social and political topics. This curation aimed for balance between liberal and conservative viewpoints, often pairing adversaries to provoke candid, humorous clashes, though it occasionally drew criticism for prioritizing over depth. Writers, led by creator and host —who received Emmy nominations for writing—focused primarily on scripting the opening monologue, a 3-5 minute stand-up routine delivering satirical jabs at current events to establish the show's irreverent premise. Supporting writers like Scott Carter, who contributed as both writer and across hundreds of episodes, assisted in researching and punch-up for these topical bits, drawing from news cycles for timely, edgy humor. Others, such as Chris Case in early seasons, honed comedic elements amid the show's emphasis on unscripted panel segments, where no formal scripts guided guest interactions to preserve authenticity. This limited scripting differentiated Politically Incorrect from more structured talk shows, allowing production to pivot quickly to live reactions while writers ensured the opener's precision.

Reception

Critical Reviews

Critics initially praised Politically Incorrect for its innovative format upon its 1993 debut on , describing it as an irreverent, fast-paced alternative to traditional political talk shows, akin to " on Acid" due to its lively, unscripted panel discussions blending entertainers, politicians, and non-experts. The program's half-hour structure, featuring Maher's opening stand-up monologue followed by semicircle debates, was noted for fostering passionate, honest exchanges on current events, often in unconventional settings like prisons or with thematic gimmicks such as "Citizen Panelist" segments. As the show transitioned to ABC in 1999 for a broader audience, reception became more divided, with some appreciating its commitment to unfiltered discourse amid rising political correctness, while others faulted its chaotic execution. Conservatives occasionally accused Maher of slanting discussions leftward, citing uneven treatment of guests and topics that highlighted progressive cultural views over conservative ones. By its final seasons, detractors like Entertainment Weekly's lambasted the program as a "tiresome shout-fest" that prioritized showbiz guests—such as comedians and —over substantive political analysis, allowing entertainment to undermine serious points from figures like or . Tucker argued that Maher's lengthy, sententious monologues overshadowed genuine debate, rendering the show a chaotic mess unembraced by any and outlasting its entertainment value. Despite such critiques, the format's emphasis on eclectic, expert-free panels was credited with pioneering a model for later that valued provocation over polish.

Viewership and Ratings

During its initial run on Comedy Central from 1993 to 1999, Politically Incorrect cultivated a niche audience in the cable late-night landscape, with viewership growing steadily; by late , ratings had increased 40% year-over-year, reflecting rising appeal amid limited competition in programming. Specific Nielsen figures for the cable era remain sparse, but the show's performance was sufficient to attract ABC's interest for network expansion, where broadcast reach promised higher visibility. Upon moving to ABC in January 1999, the program achieved stronger numbers typical of late-night broadcast slots, averaging approximately 2.6 million viewers per episode during politically charged weeks, such as November 2000 amid coverage. At its peak in the late and early , episodes drew up to 3 million viewers nightly, roughly triple the typical cable late-night audience and competitive with contemporaries like NBC's . By October 2001, following a two-year renewal, the average held at 2.8 million viewers, indicating sustained if not exceptional performance in the post-Nightline slot. Post-September 11, 2001, viewership began to erode amid broader industry shifts and external pressures, contributing to the show's vulnerability; ABC cited declining ratings as a factor in its May 2002 cancellation announcement, with the program unable to maintain prior averages despite its established format. The final episode aired on July 5, 2002, marking the end of a nine-year run that transitioned from cable cult status to network relevance but ultimately faltered in sustaining advertiser-supported momentum.

Public and Industry Impact

"Politically Incorrect" significantly shaped public discourse by embodying resistance to emerging norms of political correctness, fostering an environment where guests from diverse ideological backgrounds engaged in unscripted, often heated exchanges on taboo subjects such as religion, sexuality, and war. This format encouraged audiences to question sanitized media narratives, contributing to heightened awareness of free speech boundaries in entertainment. The show's title and content directly critiqued the stifling effects of PC culture, which critics like Maher argued suppressed honest debate, and episodes routinely sparked off-air conversations in print media and among viewers, as seen in coverage of guest appearances by figures like Noam Chomsky and Ann Coulter. On an industry level, the program innovated by merging satirical monologue with roundtable discussions, diverging from traditional celebrity-focused formats and paving the way for hybrid political-entertainment hybrids. Its success in drawing 1.2 million nightly viewers on ABC demonstrated demand for substantive, irreverent content, yet the 2002 cancellation amid advertiser withdrawals—triggered by post-9/11 remarks—exposed broadcast networks' vulnerability to external pressures, contrasting with cable's greater tolerance for controversy. This shift influenced Maher's transition to HBO's "" in , which retained and refined the panel style, underscoring "Politically Incorrect"'s role in evolving the toward subscription-based models less beholden to sponsors.

Controversies

Notable Pre-9/11 Disputes

In January 2001, Maher sparked backlash during an episode of Politically Incorrect by comparing dogs to individuals with intellectual disabilities, stating, "Dogs are like retarded children. They're sweet. They just need a lot of looking after." The remark, made in the context of discussing pet ownership and dependency, prompted complaints from advocacy organizations such as the American Association on Mental Retardation, which condemned it as demeaning and harmful to public perceptions of the disabled. ABC executives publicly rebuked Maher, with network spokespeople emphasizing that the comments did not reflect the views of the broadcaster and violated standards of sensitivity, marking a rare instance of the network distancing itself from the host's on-air statements prior to the . Maher later apologized on the air and in statements, acknowledging, "I make no excuses," while defending the intent as observational humor rather than malice, though critics argued it exemplified the show's boundary-pushing style crossing into offensiveness. Maher's recurring critiques of , especially Catholicism, also generated pre-9/11 disputes, with the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights repeatedly protesting episodes where he mocked Catholic doctrines and . For example, in discussions portraying as irrational or superstitious, Maher drew accusations of anti-Catholic bigotry from the group, which organized letter-writing campaigns and called for advertiser boycotts, contrasting his quick apology for the disability remark with perceived reluctance to retract religious jabs. These incidents highlighted tensions between the show's provocative format—intended to foster unfiltered debate—and sensitivities from religious advocacy groups, though they did not result in immediate network intervention or cancellation at the time. Earlier in the show's run, during a 1998 episode amid coverage of the case, Maher defended the teacher's actions by questioning the severity of her imprisonment and noting she had "started a " with her underage student, prompting debate on gender disparities in perceptions of . While the comments aligned with the program's contrarian ethos, they later resurfaced in critiques of Maher's consistency on related issues, underscoring ongoing viewer and media scrutiny of guest discussions on taboo topics like age-of-consent laws before the ABC era's mainstream expansion.

September 11, 2001 Comments

On the evening of September 17, 2001, six days after the al-Qaeda terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon that killed nearly 3,000 people, Bill Maher hosted an episode of Politically Incorrect on ABC. During the discussion, conservative columnist Dinesh D'Souza argued that President George W. Bush had accurately labeled the hijackers as "cowards." Maher interjected, stating: "We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building—say what you want about it, is not cowardly." The remark aimed to critique U.S. military tactics like standoff missile strikes—referencing operations such as the 1998 launches against al-Qaeda targets in Sudan and Afghanistan—while contrasting them with the hijackers' direct involvement in their suicide mission, though Maher did not endorse the attacks. The comments drew immediate and widespread condemnation amid national mourning and calls for unity against . stated that Maher's words "suggests that we in the United States...need to stop calling them [terrorists] cowards," adding, "they're something much worse than that." Advertisers, including , Roebuck and Co. and the U.S. , withdrew sponsorship, citing the remarks as inappropriate in the post-9/11 climate. Public backlash intensified through viewer complaints to ABC affiliates, with some stations preempting reruns. Maher issued a partial apology on September 24, 2001, clarifying that his intent was not to diminish the evil of the attacks but to highlight perceived inconsistencies in labeling tactics as cowardly, emphasizing that "evil must never be mistaken for valor." He later defended distinction in interviews, arguing that the hijackers displayed fanaticism and resolve rather than fear-driven cowardice, while reiterating condemnation of their . The incident, while not the sole factor, contributed to mounting pressures on the show, which ABC canceled in May 2002 after declining ratings and ongoing advertiser hesitancy. Maher subsequently launched on in 2003, where he revisited the controversy as an example of post-9/11 speech sensitivities.

Backlash, Advertiser Pressure, and Cancellation

Following Bill Maher's comments on the September 17, 2001, episode of Politically Incorrect, where he stated that U.S. military actions involving cruise missiles were "cowardly" while acknowledging that the hijackers were not cowards for flying planes into buildings, the program faced immediate public outrage and commercial repercussions. Viewer complaints surged, prompting affiliates like WJLA in , to temporarily drop the show from their schedules. Advertiser pressure intensified rapidly, with major sponsors and announcing on September 20, 2001, that they were withdrawing their commercials from the program, citing Maher's remarks as inconsistent with their brand values amid the national trauma of the attacks. reviewed tapes and transcripts before pulling ads, while acted similarly after public backlash, including consumer calls urging boycotts; these decisions left gaps in the show's advertising inventory, which ABC filled with announcements. Other potential sponsors reportedly hesitated to commit, exacerbating financial strain on the program, though ABC executives maintained it would continue with alternative advertisers. Maher issued a partial apology on September 24, 2001, via his publicist, clarifying that his intent was to critique specific U.S. tactics rather than equate them with , but regretting the phrasing's insensitivity. Despite this, the controversy eroded the show's viability; affiliates in several markets reduced carriage, and ad revenue did not fully recover, contributing to its diminished profile. ABC ultimately canceled Politically Incorrect in May 2002, after the 2001–02 season, framing the decision as a shift toward "straight programming" in late-night slots rather than political talk. Industry observers attributed the end partly to the lingering effects of the 9/11 backlash, including sustained advertiser reluctance and lower ratings, though the network denied a direct causal link. The cancellation marked a rare instance of a network late-night show folding under combined public, affiliate, and sponsor pressure following a host's controversial statement.

Awards and Recognition

Emmy Nominations and Wins

Politically Incorrect garnered multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations across its run from 1993 to 2002, reflecting recognition for its format and production despite its provocative content. The show received eight nominations in the Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series category, spanning consecutive years during its ABC era, but did not win in this competitive field dominated by established late-night programs. In addition to series nominations, the program earned accolades in technical categories, winning one Primetime Emmy in for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video for a Series, highlighting the quality of its execution. Overall, sources tally approximately 11 to 16 nominations for the series, including writing, , and other production elements, though wins remained limited to the single technical award.

Other Honors

Politically Incorrect received multiple CableACE Awards, which preceded the for programming. In 1995, the show earned a CableACE for Best Host, awarded to . The following year, in 1996, it won the CableACE for Outstanding Series. Maher again received the Best Entertainment Host honor that year, contributing to the program's reputation for innovative late-night discussion format. In March 2002, shortly before the show's cancellation, Maher was presented with the First Amendment Award at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in , alongside comedians , , and the . This recognition highlighted the series' defense of unfettered speech amid controversies, including post-9/11 backlash.

Legacy

Influence on Political Satire and Talk Shows

Politically Incorrect established a template for that fused unfiltered political debate with comedic panel discussions, featuring diverse guests including politicians, actors, comedians, and media figures to address current events provocatively. Airing from July 25, 1993, to December 5, 2002, first on and then ABC, the program emphasized contrarian viewpoints and rejected deference to prevailing sensitivities, setting it apart from traditional monologic late-night formats. This structure influenced the evolution of by demonstrating that audience engagement could thrive on substantive, often contentious exchanges rather than scripted humor alone. The show's impact extended to successors like , which media scholar credits Maher with pioneering as the first to tackle politics nightly on television, paving the way for Jon Stewart's 1999 reinvention into a vehicle for sharp media and political critique during the era. Unlike apolitical predecessors such as Johnny Carson's , Politically Incorrect normalized hot-button topics in prime-time slots, contributing to a lineage where shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live!—which replaced it on ABC in January 2003—eventually incorporated more overt political commentary. Maher's format directly informed his HBO continuation, , debuting October 3, 2003, which retained the panel dynamic but amplified satirical segments critiquing both major parties, sustaining the legacy of boundary-pushing discourse amid advertiser sensitivities that ended the original series. By nurturing a style where offense and humor interrogated power—evident in guests like and early cable news provocateurs—the program shaped broader satirical trends, fostering politicians' adoption of irreverent packaging, as seen in figures like , while highlighting risks of backlash in network television. This contrasted with later late-night shifts toward aligned partisanship, underscoring Politically Incorrect's role in an era of ostensibly bipartisan irreverence.

Relation to Subsequent Maher Projects

Real Time with Bill Maher, which premiered on on February 21, 2003, functions as the primary successor to Politically Incorrect, preserving Maher's approach to blending with panel discussions featuring ideologically diverse guests such as politicians, journalists, and entertainers. The show's structure expanded on its predecessor's half-hour format by incorporating an opening of topical followed by extended debates, but retained the emphasis on unfiltered, often contentious exchanges aimed at challenging orthodoxies across the . HBO's subscription-based model, free from commercial interruptions and advertiser influence that contributed to Politically Incorrect's cancellation on ABC, enabled Maher to sustain the provocative tone without similar external pressures. Maher has characterized Real Time as a continuation of the "unflinching honesty and big laughs" pioneered on Politically Incorrect, allowing him to critique both major U.S. and cultural trends over more than two decades and 23 seasons as of 2025. This evolution reflects a shift from constraints to premium cable autonomy, where episodes consistently draw viewership comparable to late-night network programs despite the lack of traditional advertising revenue. While Maher has produced stand-up specials and written books in the interim, no other television project has replicated the ongoing talk-show format established by Politically Incorrect.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108897/
  2. https://epguides.com/PoliticallyIncorrect/
  3. https://www.museum.tv/tv-encyclopedia13/politically-incorrect-with-bill-maher
  4. https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/always-that-guy-bill-mahers-pliable-right-wing-brand/
  5. https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=102318&page=1
  6. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-sep-26-ca-49846-story.html
  7. https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/14/business/abc-to-end-politically-incorrect.html
  8. https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/bill-maher-defends-jimmy-kimmel-slams-abc-always-be-caving-1236525144/
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  10. https://www.cnn.com/2001/CAREER/jobenvy/03/12/maher/index.html
  11. http://archive.mrc.org/bozellcolumns/entertainmentcolumn/2002/col20020703.asp
  12. https://billkopp.com/maher01.html
  13. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108897/fullcredits/
  14. https://www.tvinsider.com/show/politically-incorrect/
  15. https://www.fayobserver.com/story/lifestyle/2015/06/02/bill-maher-still-politically-incorrect/22243963007/
  16. https://www.televisionacademy.com/shows/politically-incorrect-bill-maher-0
  17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8EhQXqoc8I
  18. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/abc-axes-politically-incorrect/
  19. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1997/rt9701/970104/01070116.htm
  20. https://variety.com/1999/tv/news/abc-extends-incorrect-run-1117503296/
  21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53pT_IjULZE
  22. https://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Ratings-up-for-Maher-s-show-2021588.php
  23. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-may-15-et-brownfield15-story.html
  24. https://youthjournalism.org/politically-incorrect-dumped-by-abc/
  25. https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/bill-maher-eclectic-guest-list-often-put-guard-down-1118066258/
  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQQ9hU1rR0I
  27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKq1305i69c
  28. https://www.jackdogwelch.com/?p=26420
  29. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/sep/25/bad-bill-the-man-behind-popular-polictically/
  30. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/dec/13/abc-says-it-wont-tone-down-politically-incorrect/
  31. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-20-ca-54578-story.html
  32. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-28-ca-60169-story.html
  33. https://theatre.artsandsciences.baylor.edu/person/scott-carter
  34. https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/legit/crew/chris-case-executive-producer
  35. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/opinion/columnists/political-correctness-1990s.html
  36. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/1997/09/wolcott-199709
  37. https://ew.com/article/2002/06/11/criticizing-politically-incorrect-correct/
  38. https://time.com/archive/6728280/television-beyond-the-one-liners/
  39. https://prospect.org/2002/06/03/economically-incorrect/
  40. https://variety.com/2000/tv/news/today-hits-record-1117789308/
  41. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/08/business/bill-maher-still-secure-in-abc-slot-at-least-now.html
  42. https://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0628/p02s02-ussc.html
  43. https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/bill-maher-real-time-hbo-trump-politically-incorrect-1203249574/
  44. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-26-me-17165-story.html
  45. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/18/us/tv-host-s-words-draw-criticism-and-apology.html
  46. https://www.deseret.com/2001/1/18/19563972/comments-from-tv-host-draw-firestorm/
  47. https://nypost.com/2001/01/19/bill-maher-is-sorry-kids/
  48. https://www.tvguide.com/news/maher-incorrect-44361/
  49. https://www.catholicleague.org/mahers-politically-correct-apology/
  50. https://www.catholicleague.org/media-12/
  51. https://decider.com/2017/06/06/brief-history-of-bill-maher-controversies/
  52. https://www.vice.com/en/article/watch-henry-rollins-be-on-the-right-side-of-a-debate-with-bill-maher-about-rape-in-1998/
  53. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/29/arts/think-tank-in-new-war-on-terrorism-words-are-weapons-too.html
  54. https://nypost.com/2001/09/27/white-house-rips-politically-incorrect-star/
  55. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=121312&page=1
  56. https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/if-bill-maher-made-the-same-controversial-911-comments-today-would-he-have-lost-his-show/
  57. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/bill-maher-jimmy-kimmel-politically-incorrect-suspension-1236376591/
  58. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-sep-20-mn-47859-story.html
  59. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/26/arts/tv-notes-sponsors-defect.html
  60. https://variety.com/2001/tv/news/tv-s-ad-verse-reaction-1117852905/
  61. https://deadline.com/2013/06/bill-maher-jon-stewart-politically-incorrect-variety-emmys-517967/
  62. https://www.televisionacademy.com/shows/politically-incorrect-bill-maher
  63. https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-maher-gets-emmy-nomination-despite-n-word-controversy-2017-7
  64. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-12-22-ca-16953-story.html
  65. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/11/17/Winners-of-18th-annual-CableACE-Awards/3016848206800/
  66. https://www.aspentimes.com/news/bill-maher-not-laughing-about-comedy-fest-award/
  67. https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/24/opinions/bill-maher-what-this-comedian-said-will-shock-you-hemmer
  68. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/arts/television/jimmy-kimmel-late-night-politics-trump.html
  69. https://www.thenation.com/article/culture/jon-stewart-daily-show/
  70. https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/television/2015/06/09/bill-maher-s-political-comedy/23996563007/
  71. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0350448/
  72. https://epguides.com/RealTimewithBillMaher/
  73. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/09/30/magazine/bill-maher-interview.html
  74. https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/real-time-bill-maher-october-24-episode-lineup
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