Did You Know...

Maher toured clubs throughout the 80s without gaining much critical success or renown despite his cutting-edge material. He was not afraid to pounce on taboo subjects from the media like AIDS. In 1983 his career picked up as he began appearing in movies and sitcoms. He began with the film D.C. Cab with Gary Busey and moved on to play a sleazy lawyer in the television sitcom Sara starring Geena Davis. He also appeared in Club Med, Rags to Riches, and Out of Time. His first starring role was in the little known film Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death. The name probably didn't help the film's ratings.

Maher finally found his niche in the late 80s on cable television. He co-hosted CBS late-night stand up series Midnight Hour and later appeared on The A-List on Comedy Central and One Night Stand on HBO. He was even enlisted as a special correspondent for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Maher's big break came in 1992 when he pitched the idea for a comedy show to up-and-coming network Comedy Central. He described the show as 'The McLaughlin Group on Acid'.

Politically Incorrect was soon broadcast into homes across the US. Politically Incorrect was an instant hit. Its offbeat discussion of current events paired with Maher's quick wit soon earned the show awards as the Best Talk-Show Series on cable. Maher also earned the Best Entertainment Host award from the Cable ACE. ABC soon picked up the talk show and put it on late-night. By 1997 the show was nominated for multiple Emmy Awards.