Maher says 'Free speech' segment on CBS News' not so Free
{{date|September 17, 2006}}

The ''[[CBS]] {{w|CBS Evening News|Evening}} [[CBS News|News]]'' commentary segment "Free Speech" , which made its debut with {{w|Katie Couric}} this month, was accused last Friday by {{w|Bill Maher}} of {{w|HBO}}'s "Real Time with Bill Maher" of being "anything but [[free speech]]".

Maher said he was asked by ''[[CBS News]]'' to appear on the segment. But when he asked if he could talk about [[religion]], "that was a dealbreaker from the start". Instead, he said they would send over a list of "acceptable topics". 

''CBS News'' executive producer Rome Hartman has since responded in an e-mail to ''{{w|TVNewser}}'' saying that, "Bill Maher was never told that he couldn't discuss religion in a ''Free Speech'' segment," and added, "In fact, ''Free Speech'' has already addressed religion and we expect others will in the future." 

No response from Bill Maher on this statement as of yet.
{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.tvnewser.com
    |title=CBS Denies Maher's Statement
    |author=Brian Stelter
    |pub=TVNewser
    |date=September 17,2006}}
*{{source|url=http://newsbusters.org/node/7702
    |title=Bill Maher Prevented From Discussing Religion on CBS's ‘freeSpeech'
    |author=Noel Shepard
    |pub=Newsbusters
    |date=September 17, 2006}}
*{{source|url= http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2006/08/03/publiceye/entry1862966.shtml
|title="Evening News" Announces "Free Speech" Commentary Segment
|author=
|pub=CBS News
|date= August 3, 2006}}

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[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Culture and entertainment]]
[[Category:Television]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:CBS]]
[[Category:CBS News]]
[[Category:Free speech]]
[[Category:Religion]]
The CBS Evening News commentary segment "Free Speech" , which made its debut with Bill Maher of 's "Real Time with Bill Maher" of being "anything but free speech".

Maher said he was asked by CBS News to appear on the segment. But when he asked if he could talk about religion, "that was a dealbreaker from the start". Instead, he said they would send over a list of "acceptable topics". 

CBS News executive producer Rome Hartman has since responded in an e-mail to  saying that, "Bill Maher was never told that he couldn't discuss religion in a Free Speech segment," and added, "In fact, Free Speech has already addressed religion and we expect others will in the future." 

No response from Bill Maher on this statement as of yet.
North America Culture and entertainment Television United States Media CBS CBS News Free speech Religion