Rumor: MSNBC courting Bill Maher for new 10p.m. show?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

It's widely known in the cable news world that the third-place network has a longstanding interest in Maher, who now hosts a weekly current-events chat program, Real Time, on HBO. He's an obvious choice, having hosted his own daily talk show, Politically Incorrect, until ABC canceled him in 2002, a few months after the comedian made some poorly-received remarks about the Sept. 11 hijackers.

Though more libertarian than strictly liberal, Maher's politics make him a good fit with MSNBC's audience, which has grown in direct proportion to the network's enthusiasm for the Democratic party. One caveat: Maher would probably be expensive (although Chris Matthews's recent pay cut, from $5 million a year to around $2 million, frees up some cash for that)

from:http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/mixed-media/2009/01/22/msnbcs-newest-host-bill-maher-could-happen

[rcrush]

1. God I hope not.

Bill Maher will just get censored on network television even if its MSNBC. HBO is the best thing ever to happen to Bill Maher. Plus I dont think Bill Maher will be able to go without dropping a f bomb.

[EFerrari]

2. I agree. They can't house train him enough to get through a whole season.

He's good on HBO.

[babylonsister]

3. Hmm. I hope not. Maher has to say what he thinks. nt

[Historic NY]

4. Boy that would make Pukes heads pop like zits.

[Aqaba]

5. D.H. Hughley on CNN

Methinks they are trying to emulate Stewart and Colbert.

[Cleita]

6. Should channels devoted to news, politics and current events

have entertainment and comedy shows? I don't think it's a good fit anymore than HBO or Showtime having news shows. Let's keep Maher at HBO where he can be himself. His language is at times raw and I wouldn't want him censored.

[Hamlette]

7. I'd be thrilled. I don't get HBO anymore. But Tweety got a pay cut?

From $5 mill to $2 mill. How much does KO make? Rachel? Anyone know?

[tridim]

8. Jon Stewart?

[tkmorris]

12. I thought that was ridiculous... at first...

But you know, Stewart must realize that The Daily Show has been the vehicle it has primarily due to the Bush presidency and the increasing number of sane people who opposed Bush so vehemently that they NEEDED an outlet that didn't suffer from the ailment the MSM did of being unable to adequately criticize the admin.

Now Bush is gone, and while TDS is firmly established as a late-night fixture for Liberals everywhere, it's raison d'etre has disappeared along with Bush's helicopter into last Tuesday's sky. I'm not sure there's any future in the show really, and if Stewart has any idea what he wants to do after TDS, now's the time to do it. He'll have to reinvent himself to fit what would likely be a very different format than the one he is accustomed to, but he will eventually need to do that anyway. As much as I love TDS, perhaps it's time to see what Jon is capable of in a more serious format.

[ColbertWatcher]

15. Two words for why there will still be a need for Dr. Colbert and his Jewish Friend ...

... Boehner and Palin.

I'm sure there's more, but you get the idea.

[riverdeep]

22. Have you been watching the shows?

They're doing fine. WHEN Obama needs skewering, it happens. For example, The Daily Show played the Obama inauguration speech, and then played cuts from Bush saying many of the same things (we will defeat our enemies, God will guide this country, etc.). They were skewering the very dynamic you bring up, i.e. where will this show go now? Jason Jones said it's confusing like why does putting melted cheese on Italian food taste great but putting it on Chinese food taste terrible?

Colbert, of course, always has a reason to exist because he's got the faux conservative angle working.

And finally, the conservatives aren't going anywhere. My guess is they will become even more insane (even though they've been redlining it for years already) just because they feel backed into a corner, and as we all know, they don't reflect on why they are there, they simply lash out and blame everyone else.

[tridim]

24. That's exactly why I suggested it.

Jon has been doing just fine this week, but I know (because he's said so) that he is worried about the traditional TDS format going forward. He was not going to do the Daily Show forever, maybe now is the best opportunity to move up and move on.

The only aspect I don't like is that the TDS team would be out of a job. No way Jason Jones would be hired by MSNBC.

[LSdemocrat]

9. Please no, I've never really cared too much for Maher.

Way too angry and/or hate-filled for my tastes. Plus as someone who is distinctively more liberal than libertarian, he just rubs me the wrong way much of the time.

[Agent William]

10. I say MSNBC picks up The Young Turks...

for the time slot.

anyone with me?

[hwmnbn]

13. I'm with you....

although it would be a long shot.

Then again, Rachel was a long shot too.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

19. my pick, too

after Sam Seder. Either one would be awesome.

[Eurobabe]

11. In the beginning I liked Maher

but he's just another egomaniac now.

[MagickMuffin]

14. I'd rather see Whoopie get the time slot, she's funny and MSNBC needs more diversity

Maher should stay where at HBO. Besides he takes a lot of vacations, so he can do other things.

I don't really care all that much for him, even tho I watch his program. He doesn't control his guests very well, mostly the blowho's rethuglicons.

[LatteLibertine]

16. I'd love to see Bill on MSNBC

The cable company decided to scramble HBO here again and remove it from basic. Well I am tired of getting robbed by them a dime at a time. I just let it go.

I do agree that Bill has become a bit too bitter in the last few years and perhaps the Obama administration will cheer him up.

[Jeanette in FL]

17. How about Wanda Sykes?

She is a very intelligent woman and humorous.

I would much rather see her be given a time slot than Bill Maher.

She has a much more positive attitude than Maher.

[4lbs]

18. Hey MSNBC, you already have this qualified lady in your employment.

Her name is Tamron Hall.

[Kip Humphrey]

20. The Exile is over, the gulogs emptied. Can Phil Donahue be far behind?

[a kennedy]

21. Seriously, isn't there an African American that could fill that spot???

I mean really isn't it about time MSM handle an alternate view...like a liberal, progressive African American??? Just asking....... :hi:

[riverdeep]

23. Thanks, but no thanks.

If they do decide to do a comedy show, it should be on maybe three nights a week, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Leave the weekday nights for the real news.

They really do need to replace those weekend doc-blocks with something though. If I see one more guy walk naked into a room thinking he's going to get busy with a fourteen year old on 'To Catch a Predator', it'll be too many.

If they really want to be cutting edge and take a chance, look to some of the cast of 'Current TV'. They're young, energetic, hip, informed and could deliver stuff that no other network is even thinking of. You'd need to develop the idea to fit MSNBC, but it could work. That's what I would do if I was a program director. That's why Rachel works, she's not the carbon copy of every other bimbo-tard on the cable news shows.