Another day, another dumb self-inflicted wound committed by a liberal(ish) comedian. During an interview with Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse on Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher jokingly used the “N-word,” when Sasse invited Maher to come “work in the fields” in Nebraska. “Work in the fields?” Maher responded, “Senator, I’m a house [word I refuse to even type because NO].”
This, of course, drew criticism from all corners, liberals and conservatives alike, while also opening up a whole discussion of political correctness and intention and who can use the word and who can’t and whether or not Maher should be fired and the hypocrisies of the left and yadda yadda yadda infinite repeat.
HBO announced they were removing the comment from the episode for future broadcasts, and called it “inexcusable and tasteless.” Bill Maher then released a statement of apology, that read:
“Friday nights are always my worst night of sleep because I’m up reflecting on the things I should or shouldn’t have said on my live show. Last night was a particularly long night as I regret the word I used in the banter of a live moment. The word was offensive and I regret saying it and am very sorry,”
And as for Ben Sasse himself, he regrets not saying something in the moment — probably because he can already see the negative campaign ads of him sitting there grinning like a dumb idiot — but gave Maher a pass because of the First Amendment.
And look, I am for the freedoms of the First Amendment as much as anyone and I don’t know that Maher should lose his job over this — but I wouldn’t be mad at HBO if they fired him, either. Maher has a long history of poking at what he considers the Left’s delicate sensibilities — his first show was called Politically Incorrect, after all. Most of his schtick is that while he agrees politically with most of the Left, he is an unabashed Islamophobe and is willing to say things — hateful, dangerous things — that liberals won’t.
But let me be very, very clear: FUCK NO IT IS NOT OK FOR YOU TO USE THAT WORD, BILL MAHER. NEVER. NOT EVER. It does not make you cool or edgy or naughty, it doesn’t make you less of a “snowflake,” it just makes you an asshole. Don’t do it again.
And lay off the Muslim bashing while you’re at it. Thanks.
In other TV news
Here are a bunch of different interviews with Damon Lindelof about the end of The Leftovers, which I thought was as beautiful as anything I’ve ever seen on television.
- Here Lindelof spends a lot of time explaining why he had Nora tell her story and didn’t show it when the answer to that question seems perfectly obvious to me: because ultimately this show is a question about belief. I, like Lindelof, want to believe Nora. I’m not sure that I do, but I want to.
- Lindelof and Theroux discuss what it all means: “there is grace at the end of suffering.”
- Here Lindelof talks about the obvious comparisons of the endings of The Leftovers and Lost. He also discusses the genesis of the idea at the heart of Nora’s story, which came to him while they were shooting the pilot.
- Lindelof talks about the possibility of Jennifer Lopez being sent back through Dr. Van Eeghen’s second machine. He also discusses whether or not you have to watch season one. (Yes.)
- Lindelof jokes about what is next for him.
- And this isn’t an interview, but a lovely appreciative piece comparing finales of The Leftovers and Lost while managing to not shit all over the Lost finale (for a nice change of pace).
WAIT, THE EIGHTH AND FINAL SEASON OF GAME OF THRONES MIGHT NOT AIR UNTIL 2019? NOT ACCEPTABLE. Also, there’s a lot of prequel talk in this interview: basically, they might only make one, it might be a limited series, and it is not happening anytime soon.
Meanwhile, there are some spoilers for the first couple of episodes of this season if you just can’t resist.
And HBO basically just confirmed the whole Littlefinger’s dagger thing.
Is it possible the Onion Knight is the actual hero of Game of Thrones? Probably not! But I love me a crackpot theory!
And here is an interesting interview with the director of photography for both of Game of Thrones and Westworld, if you are a nerd like that.
Speaking of nerds, this guy spent 18 months to build this Game of Thrones throne room out of Legos.
And in other unacceptable TV delays, UnREAL won’t be back until 2018.
Is Curb Your Enthusiasm returning this October? Maybe!
Apparently ABC has been hit by the same hacker who released Orange is the New Black, and they released Steve Harvey’s Funderdome ahead of its premiere. Oh no. What a tragedy.
T. J. Miller has been very vague about why he’s leaving Silicon Valley, something something other projects.
Vince Gilligan is working with Sony to create some sort of virtual reality experience based on Breaking Bad? What the hell is this?
The Most Interesting Man in the World actually kinda lives up to his title.
Cancellations
In Development
- Showtime has greenlit Escape at Dannemora, a prison break drama from Ben Stiller starring Benicio del Toro and Patricia Arquette and Paul Dano.
- Netflix has picked up a documentary about Marsha P. Johnson, a LGBTQ icon.
Casting News
- So, weird things are happening over at Kevin Can Wait: Erinn Hayes, who plays Kevin’s wife, is out and Leah Remini is in — but not as Kevin’s wife. She will reprise her role as his former partner, which suggests the show is turning away from being a family comedy and towards a workplace comedy? Maybe? I don’t care because I don’t watch it?
- Anthony Edwards will be Judge Weisberg in Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders.
- Kassie DePaiva is returning to Days of Our Lives after having beat her cancer, yay!
R.I.P.
Jimmy Piersall, Baseball announcer and MLB player
WATCH THIS
The Bachelorette: SO WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF, DEMARIO? 7 p.m., ABC
Gotham: New alliances are formed in the two hour season finale. 7 p.m., Fox
Shadowhunters: The team go after Azael, a greater demon in the season premiere. 7 p.m., Freeform
Late Night: Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: John Lithgow, Riley Keough, Giles Martin, Thundercat featuring Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins Late Night with Seth Meyers: Kevin Kline, Sharon Horgan, Cage the Elephant, Jared Champion The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Kevin Hart, Ali Wentworth, the War on Drugs The Late Late Show with James Corden: Gordon Ramsay, Michael Strahan Jimmy Kimmel Live: Gwyneth Paltrow, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Ryan Adams Conan: Sarah Silverman, Shawn Hatosy, Alt-J The Daily Show: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II
| MON. | 7:00 | 7:30 | 8:00 | 8:30 | 9:00 | 9:30 |
| ABC | The Bachelorette (new) |
Still Star-Crossed (new) |
| CBS | Kevin Can Wait (repeat) |
Man With a Plan (repeat) |
Superior Donuts (repeat) |
The Great Indoors (repeat) |
Scorpion (repeat) |
| CW | Supergirl (repeat) |
Whose Line is it Anyway? (new) |
Whose Line is it Anyway? (repeat) |
News/Local |
| FOX | Gotham (new) |
News/Local |
| NBC | Stanley Cup Playoff (live) |