Bill Maher shares his opinion on why he gets less Emmy nominations than Trevor Noah and John Oliver

Bill Maher appeared on Cuomo Tuesday, where he gave his thoughts on why his HBO show, Real Time With Bill Maher, doesn’t receive the same love as some of his contemporaries do come award season.

“Looking at just a sheer metric of ratings, okay? You crush John Oliver regularly. Trevor Noah’s, you crush his numbers. You do not get nominated the way they do for Emmys,” Chris Cuomo said, before eventually asking, “Why do you think you don’t get the shine that they do?” “I tell the truth,” Maher said. “I don’t perform for just one half of the country and say the things that will make them applaud, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Maher hasn’t been nominated since 2017, while Noah, and especially Oliver, have experienced success at the Emmys. But Maher said that’s not what’s important to him.

“They’re very talented people you’re talking about, and do fine shows,” Maher said. “But I just — this has always been my bond with the audience, which is much more important to me than an award, is that I will call it as I see it.”

Maher blamed so-called woke culture, which he has repeatedly railed against recently, for his lack of nominations.

“In recent years, yes, not even a nomination because, of course, the nominating body out here is very woke, and woke has become a big thing,” Maher said. “And woke I say meaning woke with an eye roll kind of woke. I mean, there is a kind of woke that’s valid, when it started. It became ridiculous.”

Video Transcript

[AUDIO LOGO]

- Looking at just a sheer metric of ratings, OK? You crush John Oliver regularly. Trevor Noah, you crush his numbers. You do not get nominated the way they do for Emmys.

KYLIE MAR: On Cuomo Tuesday, comedian Bill Maher gave his opinion about why his HBO show "Real Time with Bill Maher," has not enjoyed the same award nominations as his competitors "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah" and "Last week tonight with John Oliver."

- Why do you think you don't get the shine that they do?

BILL MAHER: I tell the truth. I don't perform for just one half of the country and say the things that will make them applaud. And there's nothing wrong with that.

KYLIE MAR: Both Noah and Oliver have experienced success at the Emmys, especially Oliver, who has now taken home a trophy several years in a row. But Maher says that's not what's important to him.

BILL MAHER: There's very talented people you're talking about and do fine shows, but I just-- this has always been my bond with the audience, which is much more important to me than an award is that I will call it as I see it.

KYLIE MAR: "Real time with Bill Maher" hasn't been nominated for an Emmy since 2017. Maher blames that on so-called woke culture, which he has repeatedly railed against on his show in recent months.

BILL MAHER: In recent years, yes, not even a nomination because, of course, the nominating body out here is very woke. And wokeness become a big thing. And woke, I say, meaning, woke with an eye roll, kind of, woke. I mean, there is a kind of woke that's valid. When it started, it became ridiculous.