CNN, whose ratings have continued to crater under new leadership, announced that it will air liberal comedian Bill Maher’s “Overtime” segments on Friday night beginning February 3rd.
Maher currently hosts “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO, which like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The “Overtime” segments feature additional discussion from “Real Time” and were previously available only online. Now, these segments will receive some network exposure.
CNN chief Chris Licht has been looking for someone to replace Chris Cuomo, and though Maher won’t get a primetime slot, he has a loyal following for his mix of comedy and politics that do not always follow his liberal beliefs.
This move by CNN won’t likely move the ratings needle, given the 11:30 pm timeslot, but it will give Licht a chance to see if programs like “Overtime” can give the network a boost while saving money from hiring high-priced on-air talent.
This may be the first step for CNN to become more entertainment-oriented and push news to the back-burner in an effort to generate bigger profits for Warner Brothers Discovery, which probably won’t bother conservatives nor the few viewers they have left.
