In a fiery monologue this week, Bill Maher transformed his HBO show Real Time into a rallying cry for late-night solidarity, sharply condemning ABC for suspending Jimmy Kimmel Live!—and drawing a direct line to his own controversial firing from the network more than two decades ago.

A Night of Solidarity and Sharp Words

“I know why you’re happy tonight: I’m still on,” Maher quipped to his audience’s cheers. “Talk show hosts are going down like Blockbusters in the ’90s.” Refusing to be cowed by the FCC or political pressure, Maher added, “If President Trump is watching, I have one thing to say to you: Have you lost weight? You look terrific.”

But Maher’s jokes soon gave way to a more serious reflection. “It was 24 years to the day that I made comments on ABC that got me canceled from that network, and Jimmy Kimmel took my slot at Politically Incorrect. I got canceled before cancel even had a culture.”

In 2001, Maher’s late-night career on ABC ended abruptly after his controversial post-9/11 remarks led advertisers and affiliates to flee. ABC replaced him with Jimmy Kimmel, who has since become a fixture in the network’s late-night lineup.

The Kimmel Controversy

Kimmel’s recent suspension came after a pointed joke about Donald Trump’s reaction to the killing of right-wing figure Charlie Kirk. The quip triggered FCC threats, affiliate pullouts, and a wave of political backlash. Major broadcast groups responded: Nexstar pulled the show “for the foreseeable future,” while Sinclair demanded an apology to Kirk’s family and a donation to Turning Point USA. The move sparked outrage across Hollywood, with unions, Democratic lawmakers, and fellow late-night hosts denouncing ABC’s decision as corporate cowardice.

Maher’s Personal Connection

For Maher, the déjà vu was unmistakable. He recalled his own firing, saying, “This sh*t ain’t new; it’s worse … ABC stands for Always Be Caving. So, Jimmy, pal, I am with you, I support you, and on the bright side, you don’t have to pretend anymore that you like Disneyland.”

Maher’s support was both personal and pointed. Over the years, he and Kimmel have shared a unique bond, forged in the crucible of late-night television’s shifting landscape. Maher’s experience—losing his show to network pressure and watching Kimmel step into his old slot—gave his words extra resonance.

Corporate Media Under Fire

Never one to mince words, Maher skewered the network’s capitulation: “Good Morning America has changed its name to add the postscript ‘even the scum who didn’t vote for Trump.’ Next year’s Golden Bachelor will be Rudy Giuliani. Even Wolf Blitzer will be reporting from ‘The Capitulation Room.’”

The underlying message: major media companies are increasingly vulnerable to political and corporate pressure, often at the expense of free speech and creative risk-taking.

Industry Impact and Community Reaction

The suspension of Kimmel has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. Hollywood unions and advocacy groups have called out ABC’s decision, warning that censorship and corporate interference threaten the very fabric of late-night comedy and political satire. Fellow hosts and comedians have rallied in support, emphasizing the need for solidarity and creative freedom.

Maher, meanwhile, insisted that regardless of whether he agreed with Kimmel’s joke, it should not cost him his job: “It is a fool’s errand to try to say that these nuts who do these things are any ‘team’ … This kid doesn’t belong in either party, he belongs in a straitjacket.”

Lessons From the Past—and Hope for the Future

To close, Maher offered a message of encouragement to his embattled colleague: “Pal, you did a great, funny show for two decades; you should be proud of that. If this firing goes for you the way it did for me, you’ll get 23 years on a better network.”

Maher’s words underscore a larger truth: while network decisions may silence voices in the short term, they often open doors to new opportunities and platforms. The fight for creative freedom and honest discourse continues, with Maher and Kimmel now united by shared experience and public support.

Bill Maher’s explosive monologue was more than just a personal rant—it was a powerful indictment of corporate media’s willingness to cave under pressure, and a reminder of the enduring importance of free speech in entertainment. As the industry grapples with the fallout from ABC’s decision, Maher’s solidarity with Kimmel stands as a rallying point for artists, audiences, and anyone who believes in the power of comedy to challenge, provoke, and—sometimes—change the world.

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