While much of the television industry has treated Scott Pelley’s departure from 60 Minutes as a major story with potentially troubling implications for journalism, Bill Maher isn’t ready to join the outrage. The Real Time host downplayed the controversy amid sharing his personal thoughts on Pelley.
During Friday’s Overtime segment of Real Time with Bill Maher, the HBO host offered a notably different take on the controversy that has dominated the headlines in recent days. As journalists, television personalities, and political commentators continue debating what Pelley’s firing says about the future of CBS News, Maher suggested the reaction may be overblown.
“I just don’t think being a 60 Minutes correspondent is that hard. I don’t feel like Scott Pelley was a national treasure,” Maher said. “I never liked him, sorry. I just never did.”
In Maher’s view, new ownership often brings new leadership and new creative directions, and he questioned whether the reaction would be quite as intense if politics weren’t involved. “I feel like we see everything through such a partisan lens. ‘Oh my God! 60 Minutes has a new cast!’ So does Saturday Night Live!” Maher argued.
Maher also wasn’t swayed when another panelist suggested Pelley’s dismissal is an extension of what happened between CBS and Stephen Colbert. The Real Time host’s opinion also puts him at odds with Jimmy Kimmel once again.
Throughout the fallout surrounding Pelley’s firing, Kimmel has repeatedly framed the situation as part of a larger pattern at CBS. The Jimmy Kimmel Live! host blasted network leadership during a recent monologue, calling executives at Paramount “Trump suck-ups” and “clowns.” By portraying Pelley’s departure as another example of executives undermining programming, Kimmel reignited his attacks on the network since The Late Show‘s fate was announced.
While acknowledging concerns about President Donald Trump’s relationship with the media and agreeing that the president can pose a threat to press freedom, Maher argued that the evidence surrounding Pelley’s departure remains incomplete. He suggested he would need to see far more direct proof of political interference before declaring the situation a scandal.
The 60 Minutes situation gave more ammunition to critics who have pointed to Trump’s long-running battles with major news organizations and late-night hosts. Those concerns intensified following the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a decision that many viewed with skepticism. Although CBS maintained the move was financially motivated, critics, fans, and Kimmel questioned the timing, particularly given Colbert’s status as one of Trump’s most prominent television critics. Plus, there were Paramount’s efforts to navigate regulatory issues involving the federal government.
So for now, Maher is treating Pelley’s firing as a management decision rather than evidence of a larger conspiracy. Whether that position changes may depend on what emerges in the weeks ahead.
This article was originally published on www.lastnighton.com as Bill Maher breaks with Jimmy Kimmel on Scott Pelley controversy.
