With N-word joke, Bill Maher losing Sen. Franken, if not HBO show

What if Bill Maher gave a show, and nobody wanted to come on?

That’s HBO’s fears in the wake of the political satirist using the N-word (about himself) on air during a chat last Friday with Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, who invited Maher to “work in the fields” of the Cornhusker State.

After Maher jokingly referred to himself as a “house n****r,” Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota dropped out of a scheduled appearance this Friday night on Maher’s “Real Time” show.

“Senator Franken believes that what Bill Maher said was inappropriate and offensive, which is why he made the decision not to appear on the next episode of ‘Real Time,’” a spokesman told Huffington Post.

Maher — like Kathy Griffin before him — later apologized. He called his use of the term “offensive.”

But the damage continues to pile up. Though HBO said it has no plans to fire him, Ice Cube, Former Rep. David Jolly of Florida and journalist David Gregory have yet to confirm they’ll appear on the show Friday as scheduled.

The only confirmed guest is Symone Sanders, former national press secretary for Bernie Sanders, “although she hopes to have a discourse about Maher’s use of the ‘N-word,’” HuffPost said.

Other coverage and commentary: