Bill Maher Shares Take On How Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel And More Hosts Use Political Humor

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There’s been a lot of talk lately about late-night TV, especially following the news of Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show being canceled. Many people have expressed their opinions about the future of this medium, some believing it’s on the decline. Meanwhile, others have discussed what they see as problems with chat shows today. In light of these discussions, renowned commentator Bill Maher recently shared his perspective on how hosts like Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel use political humor in their shows.

Bill Maher, a veteran in the media industry, noted during an episode of his podcast “Club Random” (available on YouTube), that he’s witnessed significant changes over the years. In a conversation with actress Drea de Matteo, he expressed his viewpoint that individuals in the arts no longer approach politics as they once did. He described this shift as a kind of reversal in the way people interpret creative works.

Historically, people tended to evaluate art purely based on its merit, with political considerations playing a secondary role. However, it seems today’s trend is flipped, as many decisions about art are increasingly influenced by political agendas rather than the art itself. This shift has also been observed in my line of work.

Essentially, the host of HBO’s Real Time (streamable with an HBO Max subscription) has applied the logic described earlier to late-night programs. More specifically, he compared modern talk show hosts such as John Oliver, Stephen Colbert, and Jon Stewart with their counterparts from previous eras. While Bill Maher made it clear that he wasn’t criticizing his peers, he did offer insights into how they handle the news of the day when they’re on air, distinguishing their styles from those of yesteryear’s hosts.

In the past, hosts like David Letterman, Jay Leno, Johnny Carson kept their political views private. However, today’s hosts such as Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, John Oliver, and Jimmy Kimmel openly express their political beliefs. It’s not a scripted requirement, but it seems that whatever MSNBC stands for, these hosts strongly support it.

In simpler terms, during a conversation this summer, Jay Leno discussed the role of political humor in late-night TV. Leno admitted he appreciates comedy about politics, but cautioned that it can lead people to favor one side over another excessively. John Oliver responded by suggesting that humor isn’t meant for everyone and that it’s naturally subjective. However, Bill Maher believes avoiding a political stance is best, and he explained the potential problems when hosts support one side exclusively.

Instead, one could say, “Half the nation found it offensive, but Leno always kept things fair. His approach was inclusive; he joked about everyone.

More on Stephen Colbert

After being canceled by CBS, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert recently earned its first Emmy Award. Could this Emmy win be an attempt by voters to save the show?

Amidst ongoing debates about the value of political humor, the cancellation of The Late Show is still a hot topic. Paramount, being CBS’s parent company, claimed financial reasons led to its termination, hinting at annual losses in the millions for the show. Yet, some speculate that this move was politically driven, as it occurred soon after Paramount settled a $16 million lawsuit with former U.S. President Donald Trump – an issue Colbert publicly criticized on air. Notably, this legal matter was a necessary precursor to Paramount’s merger with Skydance.

Stephen Colbert’s talk show, scheduled to conclude in May 2026, consistently touches on political topics. While politics have been a staple of late-night television, opinions may differ on its suitability. As time progresses, it will be interesting to see if more established figures in the industry express views similar to Bill Maher’s and Jay Leno’s.

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2025-09-10 19:39