Bill Maher’s New ‘Overtime’ Segment On CNN May Come Back To Haunt The Network

Chris Licht, a showbiz veteran, assumed control of CNN last January. He pledged to bring more ideological balance and reverse the network’s decline. Ratings slide.

“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Comically biased canned alum “media reporter” Brian Stelter is one of many quick moves by the channel, but it remains a platform for Left-leaning information. Commentator Van Jones’ recent CNN column suggesting the five black officers who beat Tyre Nichols so badly he later died Were driven by racism It is a great example.

The latter part of the plan isn’t going according to schedule, either, and that’s being kind.

According to reports, CNN wanted to add a liberal comedian to its late-night lineup in hopes of restoring some ratings glory. This was a small step by Team Licht. CNN will broadcast “Overtime,” the online-only part of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” Weekly series.

This long-running program features Maher as a reporter covering current headlines, with a rotating Left-leaning audience. Maher is himself an atheist, as you can see in his 2008 documentary “Religulous?”) and reliably progressive. Maher is the comedian who loathes President Donald Trump more than any other comedian.

It sounds safe enough to be CNN-worthy. But not so fast.

Maher is one the few liberal late-night hosts that doesn’t attack his own side. He’s started an ongoing, rhetorical war against the woke orthodoxy, slamming identity politics and extreme speech measures from his HBO bully pulpit.

The New Republic was one of several progressive outlets to clutch its pearls over Maher’s addition to the CNN lineup, no matter how modest it may be. The site’s headline captures the sentiment – “CNN Welcomes Bill Maher, Who Once Used a Racial Slur on Air, to Its Lineup”

Why single out a singular episode from Maher’s past? His ability to ridicule both sides has attracted a lot of attention from the hard Left. They have a point in a sense.

It’s one thing to watch Greg Gutfeld, an openly libertarian comic, scorch woke platitudes from his Fox News perch. It’s what viewers expect, which doesn’t diminish Gutfeld’s approach to the material.

However, it is quite powerful to see an avowed progressive do this.

It’s like turning on today’s biased “Saturday Night Live” And spotting a sketch skewering Rep. Alexandria Ocasio -Cortez or President Joe Biden.

That’s a “man bites dog story,” It is, without doubt, a worthy subject of our attention. (It’s also something we’ll never, ever see, alas).

That approach is what Maher can bring to CNN, and it’s sorely needed. CNN viewers may get a glimpse of news narratives kept away from them by the channel’s gatekeepers. For starters, not everyone is in favor of the woke revolution.

Maher regularly debunks progressive talking point on crime, pandemics, and many other issues.

Here’s just one recent example: Maher called out climate change advocates like John Kerry and Taylor Swift who, in between environmental lectures, Private planes. That’s a huge no-no given their massive carbon footprints.

This kind of banter is unmatched by any liberal late-night comedian.

Licht suggests CNN isn’t interested in “partisan hackery,” A comedian is a great brand enhancement.

“There is nothing wrong with opinion or perspective, especially in prime time, but it has to be authentic. We are completely uninterested in partisan hackery and ideological talking points,” He said.

That’s true, depending on the comedian in question. Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert for example are examples of comedians who expound. “ideological talking points.”

Not Maher.

There’s another aspect to Maher circa 2023 that’s worth noting. While Maher is known for his sharp elbows while perched on HBO, he does the opposite. “Club Random.” Maher enjoys a lighthearted podcast that allows him to smoke and drink weed with some famous guests. Maher is also interested in hearing from voices on the ideological Left.

The goal isn’t another screaming match session but To see where people on both sides of the aisle can agree to disagree.

In short, Maher wants to unite Americans … even if it means agreeing to disagree with folks like Kid Rock Dave Rubin, both Right-leaning stars.

Does CNN, which loves dousing gasoline on raging cultural fires, want a performer who reminds us we’re all American citizens despite our differences? That’s another reason the Maher addition may come back to haunt CNN. Tribalism sells, sadly, and sometimes Maher doesn’t want to push that anger.

The move is also suspect based on what Licht must do, and fast — reverse the ratings free fall. “Real Time” isn’t a ratings disaster, but it’s hardly the kind of content that guarantees a larger audience. The show routinely lags behind other late-night fare, from Fox News’ “Gutfeld!” to “The Tonight Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” These shows are still available on broadcast TV, but they are free to watch.

“Real Time” Does it frequently trounce? “Last Week Tonight,” The HBO showcase features a more liberal perspective.

Adding Maher to the mix could be jarring to CNN’s dwindling base, the folks who think Don Lemon is the ultimate truth-teller. They