Greg Gutfeld Scores Largest Audience in Program History During Fox News Interview with Bill Maher (2024)

Comedian Bill Maher made just his second-ever appearance on Fox News Monday during an interview with Greg Gutfeld. It turned out to be a record-breaking arrival.

During Monday’s edition of Gutfeld! averaged 2.9 million viewers as the longtime comedian and news host conversed with the Fox News star about a bevy of topics. Included in that 2.9 million figure was 342,000 viewers in the coveted adults 25-54 demographic.

The discussion between the two topped both the late-night cable news ratings, as well as the late-night network shows hosted by Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jimmy Fallon. The Fox News program, however, benefits from airing from 10-11 PM ET while the other shows do not start until 11 or 11:35 PM ET.

Since launching in 2021, Gutfeld! has continuously battled for the top spot in the late-night TV ratings, and has frequently bested the network competitors.

During a previous appearance on the Club Random podcast, Bill Maher congratulated Greg Gutfeld on his success, stating while he didn’t “have to love” the heights the Fox News host has reached, he does “have to respect” the success.

For decades, the long-running precedent was to not include commercials during a presidential debate. CNN is changing that standard in 2024.

The Commission on Presidential Debates had operated under a no-commercial policy. However, former President Donald Trump (R) and President Joe Biden (D) have agreed to side-step the non-partisan committee and agree to a set of debate rules outside the purview of the Commission.

With the lack of oversight from the longstanding adjudicator of presidential debates, CNN — and ABC News, who will host a September debate — are free to air commercials during the made-for-TV events.

Variety’s Brian Steinberg added that CNN has yet to unveil just how many ad breaks will be seen in its coverage, but did say the network would allow potential simulcast partners the opportunity to insert their own ads into debate commercial breaks.

However, there is one stipulation should another network join CNN for the debate. Steinberg claimed that the network would “prohibit other news organizations from filling commercial breaks with commentary segments from their own analysts, correspondents or personalities.”

As CNN and ABC News make plans to host presidential debates, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not qualify. He now claims Elon Musk is working in conjunction with NewsNation to bring an alternative to the X social media platform.

During an appearance with Chris Cuomo Wednesday evening, the NewsNation host asked the presidential candidate if he had planned on creating an alternative to ensure his voice was heard.

RFK Jr. shared plans to have an event on NewsNation and X with the help of Musk.

“We are talking right now with NewsNation — with your network — and Elon Musk has offered us a platform on X. Elon is now talking also with NewsNation to do a joint platform and a joint debate. Kind of an alternative debate,” the candidate claimed. “So that’s something we’re looking at. I obviously would like to be on the main debate stage.”

The revelation that an alternative event is in the works came after Kennedy filed a complain with the Federal Election Commission saying CNN had “colluded with the Biden Committee and the Trump Committee to schedule … a debate with criteria that were designed to result in the selection of certain pre-chose participants.”

CNN has denied those allegations.

Last year, former Fox News producer Alexander McCaskill was fired after creating a graphic that called President Joe Biden a “wannabe dictator.” Now, he’s joining NewsNation.

McCaskill recently left the Tucker Carlson Network to join NewsNation as a producer for Dan Abrams Live, according to a report from The Daily Beast.

Fox News quickly caught flak last June when a graphic stated “Wannabe Dictator Speaks At The White House After Having His Political Rival Arrested” during a Biden speech at the White House. The network stated that the “chyron was taken down immediately and was addressed.”

On his digital video show the next day, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson revealed that McCaskill — who worked as a senior producer of his program during his time at the network — had been let go. He was also listed in a lawsuit brought forth by former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg alleging a toxic workplace environment. He, along with others listed, denied any wrongdoing. The lawsuit was ultimately settled for $12 million.

NewsNation has continually billed itself as a center-focused news organization, balking the cable news trends of hyper-partisanship. Some left-wing media members have accused the network of a right-leaning bias due to former Fox News hosts and correspondents joining the company.