I am going to be so angry if Real Time is axed. At worst, his quip is in poor taste, though I honestly found it rather funny in the context of the interview. The self-cannibalizing left, those who feel any dud one-liner or minuscule moral infraction requires a thousand deeply felt think pieces, have chased him in the past: they giggle when he jabs at Christian hypocrisy, but feign outrage when he comments on Islam, etc. I know they smell blood in the water today and will circle at lightning speed.

Agreed - it would be crazy to end it over this. I don't think HBO will do that.

He'll survive lol

Good thing he's a democrat.

Poor Paula Deen.

Paula Deen is on another level. Her mode of comedy is spontaneous and almost effortless. Unfortunately, she was on the wrong network. Oh how I missed her jokes.

It's not even in poor taste. It was funny. I'm not one of those morons that believes NOBODY APART FROM BLACKS CAN USE THE N-WORD. It's a word to be used, and it was properly used here in a good quip. Props to Maher for pushing the envelope and riling the PC brigade. If he had a nigger on his show and started whipping him while saying "work, nigger! work!", then ok that's in poor taste, but Jesus, this is so fucking tame and nothing alike.

I love the show, and believe it will stay on, but he should know better. This is the one word where nobody cares about context. You can't just drop it casually like that. I think a big fine, a "voluntary" charitable donation and a week off would be a suitable punishment.

That being said, SJWs need to take a chill pill. Bill is one of the good guys and spreads the liberal gospel to a different type of audience. Bill getting the axe would make the ugly side of the party feel big and important for a week, but the real world consequence is Trump having a better chance of reelection in 2020. We don't need an extra 5 million+ people being bitter about thin-skinned pussy liberals.

No surprise here, but I find this all to be lunacy. It was a statement made in a humorous context, he wasn't calling anyone a nigger or anything of the sort. What is the big deal? People can say faggot, cunt, beaner, wetback, etc to no end in a comedy setting without this level of pushback so why is "nigger" (or nigga, whatever) so out of bounds?

And the idea of a fine or punishing him with a week off is ridiculous. There should be no punishment--he didn't do anything. It's like all these delicate SJWs know they can't really ever get anything done in regards to this current administration--as that batch simply don't care what these people have to say--so they just come down hard on anyone they know might listen who says anything that isn't pre-approved and non-offensive to anyone who ever lived or may ever live.

I wish people would develop thicker skin. If someone making a joke/jest/whathaveyou (as, again, Bill didn't call anyone a nigger, he just used the word in a joking context) is such a body-blow to you and your day, then maybe public life isn't for you? A nice shack in the woods or a basement where you can get food delivered might cater to those delicate sensibilities since the harsh reality of other people is just too much.

He might have been able to survive just a joke with the N word alone, but I think what will do him in is this is just the straw that broke the camel's back, SJWs have been looking for an excuse to get him out for the Islamophobia, giving a platform to Milo, etc. for a while

This is the frustrating thing. There is a legit portion of the liberal movement that has the ability to address the growing gap between the rich and poor in this coutry and the growing resentment towards science and intellectualism. Instead, "liberals" and the direction of the Democrat party is fixiated on race relations. This is back firing greatly and only dividing the country allowing scum like Trump to get elected.

Yeah, but we live in a world where Moonlight wins best picture so Hollywood can make up for giving african-americans and homosexuals thousands of quality jobs that come with luxurious lifestyles. If HBO does nothing the controversy will just balloon until they have to fire him just to get people to shut the fuck up. If Maher just goes away for a week or two it will all blow over and the SJWs will find something else to get mad about.

Why? Because he points out the bigotry in other cultures? Specifically yours.

It wasn't a great idea to use the word, but for the record, a comedian like George Carlin used the word in his act, and he wasn't using it in an offensive tone. Words are words. Was it a poor choice? Yeah, it was. But he shouldn't lose his job over it.

Comparing this to Kathy Griffin is silly. One made a poor decision in the moment and used an offensive word. One emulated a malicious attack on the president. I think they should both be allowed to make those statements and expect the consequences. But hers was worse.

David, do you regularly watch Maher? I've been watching for about six, seven years. Ever since the show after Trump was elected, I find Maher is slurring his words slightly through the monologue and the first half hour. I know he smokes weed, but it feels like he's been drinking too. He also missed a performance back in January, where he coincidentally seemed to be back to his normal self until recently, especially Friday.

I try to catch every episode, though not always live. His post-Trump run thus far is not prime Maher, but I have not noticed an enormous dip in vigor or vision.

It is an odd comedy show in the way the opening monologue tends to be just all right, almost halfhearted, compared to the always funnier and more dynamic finale, particularly New Rules.

Fair enough, I don't watch Maher too closely, so I cannot speak for his entire rhetoric.

Correct. They don't. THAT's the problem society should be trying to fix, not ganging up on one man that used one word in the hope that it will solve racism. The funny (frustrating) thing is that if it was, say, Eddie Murphy using that word (same context, same line) ... this thread would not even exist.

They're afraid if they don't constantly white knight every time someone says the N word, they'll lose more of the black vote.

That's a funny expression.

I'm on the Magnus side of this one. I'm indifferent towards him, he does some good things. But man, he's mostly a bigot. And he gives platforms to some of the most vile people.

I don't think what he said was what should end his run... but the many things he's said over the years should've.

He is more into housekeeping instead of labour in the open.
What is wrong with that?

Last night's show was pretty good. The convos with Michael Eric Dyson and Symone Sanders were great, I felt a little bit of tension between Maher and Ice Cube. Maher could have handled himself a little better on that, but overall, I don't think this will cause lasting damage. One of the other guests brought up a solid point that America needs to accept apologies and redirect attention to those who don't apologize for their indiscretions and hold them accountable. I'll take someone who made a poor joke to someone who actively harbours resentment and contempt for groups of people (i.e. the entire Trump administration).

It is frustrating that a white male can make a poor joke and apologize and survive any blow back... but that doesn't seem to always be the case for any woman/poc. (see: kathy griffin) (not that her "joke" wasn't leaps and bounds worse, imo)

Mahers joke was stupid ok....but people with some backbone should be able to call "Fuck off" to him and leave it.

But Griffins was just fucking crossing the line.

The real problems with the African-American community is economic disparity, a draconian legal system, and poor inner city public education. Getting all bent out of shape about racial slurs undermines these real problems and just let's us feel good while this vicious cycle continues in the inner cities.