Abc Says It Won’t Tone Down ‘Politically Incorrect’

Fri., Dec. 13, 1996

From Wire Reports

“Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher,” the often outrageous talk show that became a signature program on Comedy Central, won’t be toned down when it joins ABC’s late-night lineup next month.

“We don’t want them to run from anything or hide from anything,” ABC Entertainment chairman Ted Harbert said Wednesday during a telephone news conference. Harbert said the program’s recent on-air wake for ‘60s psychedelic guru Timothy Leary, during which guests discussed their own illegal drug use, would be fair game on ABC as long as both sides of the drug issue were represented.

Rapper Coolio and ex-Watergate felon G. Gordon Liddy are booked for the show’s ABC premiere, Maher said Wednesday. “PI” launches Jan. 6 following Ted Koppel’s “Nightline.”

Four guests from various professions appear each night, sparring with Maher over issues of the day. Other celebs set for premiere week: Charlton Heston, Tony Danza, Rep. Pat Schroeder, Paul Rodriguez and Jay Thomas.

Guest lineup for the rest of the month includes: Garry Shandling, Don Henley, Dennis Miller, ex-Texas Gov. Ann Richards, Sen. Alan Simpson, Dana Carvey, Malcolm McDowell, Clint Black, Garry Marshall, Joan Rivers and Tom Arnold.

There will be no limitations on the subject matter for “PI,” Harbert added. Only a seven-second delay will be used to delete objectionable language, a practice used during the program’s cable run on Comedy Central.

“PI” executive producer Scott Carter said standards and practices at Comedy Central, which ran the program for three years, are not much different from broadcast television, and he does not expect to take a milder approach at ABC.

The show will also be more topical, as it will tape at 6 p.m. Pacific Time on the airdate. “PI” taped several shows in a day during its Comedy Central run.

“PI” will continue to put together panels of celebrity guests with widely varied backgrounds and points of view to discuss the hot topics of the moment with Maher.

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