A potential late-night TV rivalry is brewing, and it’s got everyone talking! The late-night host Bill Maher feels snubbed by Jimmy Kimmel, and he’s not holding back.
Maher, known for his sharp wit and honest opinions, recently expressed his disappointment on his podcast, Club Random. He believes Kimmel holds a grudge against him, evidenced by Kimmel’s failure to thank Maher during a controversial period in his career.
But here’s where it gets interesting… Maher supported Kimmel during his suspension from ABC, yet Kimmel seemingly overlooked this gesture. Maher shared his thoughts with guest Michael Rappaport, stating, “Look, Jimmy apparently doesn’t like me too much anymore because he thanked everybody but me. I was adamant about supporting him, and now I feel left out.”
The controversy stems from Kimmel’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, which led to his suspension. While Maher didn’t agree with Kimmel’s stance, he stood by him, believing ABC’s decision to cancel “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” was unjustified. Maher even joked, “ABC stands for ‘Always Be Caving.’ So, Jimmy, my friend, I’m with you. And at least now you don’t have to pretend to love Disneyland!”
Kimmel’s first episode back was a ratings success, and he took the opportunity to thank his supporters, including fellow late-night hosts like Stephen Colbert. But Maher’s name was notably absent from the list.
So, was it a deliberate snub? Maher isn’t sure, but he has a theory about Kimmel’s recent controversies. He echoes Jay Leno’s criticism of the current late-night TV landscape, suggesting that hosts like Kimmel are “ideologically captured by one side.” Maher believes this narrow perspective alienates a significant portion of the audience.
Indeed, Kimmel’s right-leaning views over the past decade have attracted both praise and criticism. While it may have lost him some viewers, his show remains popular, with strong television ratings and social media engagement.
The simple explanation for Maher’s omission could be that Kimmel had too many supporters to name. However, if Maher and Kimmel continue down this path, we might witness a new late-night feud.
What do you think? Is Maher right to feel snubbed, or is this all just a misunderstanding? Share your thoughts in the comments!