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    Maher Knocks Trump’s Gutting of the Federal Work Force

    “America is in shock that the guy whose catchphrase was ‘You’re fired’ is firing everybody in government,” Bill Maher said of President Trump on “Real Time.”Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.Hulk SmashPresident Donald Trump’s first month in office has been eventful.On Friday’s episode of “Real Time,” the host Bill Maher referred to the last several days as “week four of Hulk smash,” saying that Trump’s administration “dissects a frog with a hand grenade — this is their method.”“We were so scared that the government was going to turn into ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ that we didn’t see that the big threat was from the guys on ‘The Big Bang Theory.’” — BILL MAHER“America is in shock that the guy whose catchphrase was ‘You’re fired’ is firing everybody in government.” — BILL MAHER“He wants to suck our blood? That is not what I voted for when I voted for Dracula.” — BILL MAHER“Maybe this is why Gen Z’s approval rating of Trump has dropped 30 points in one month. Hey, kids, a little tip: The time to pay attention is before the election.” — BILL MAHER“Look, I believe government is too bloated, but the way they’re doing it is ridiculous and horrible and now they went — maybe this is the one that’s too far — they went and fired almost everybody in the agency that’s responsible for maintaining our nuclear weapons. Fired — and then, of course, they had to walk that back because somebody said, ‘This is a national security crisis.’ Duh.” — BILL MAHERThe Punchiest Punchlines (Presidents’ Day Edition)”It is Presidents’ Day, so to those who celebrate, why?” — STEPHEN COLBERT“All government offices will be closed, although I think that was the plan anyway.” — BILL MAHER“When I was a kid, it wasn’t Presidents’ Day; we celebrated Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays. Every February, we would hang our stockings and wait for Abraham Lincoln to fill them with wooden teeth.” — STEPHEN COLBERTThe Bits Worth WatchingThe comedian Andy Richter and the lawyer and activist George Conway joined the panelists to dog DOGE on the Season 2 premiere of “Have I Got News For You.”What We’re Excited About on Tuesday NightGeorge Clooney will discuss his Broadway debut in “Good Night, and Good Luck” on Tuesday’s “Late Show.”Also, Check This OutDozens of current and former “Saturday Night Live” cast members, along with dozens of former hosts and musicians, gathered onstage with the show’s creator, Lorne Michaels (front row, second from left), to close out the show.Theo Wargo/NBC, via Getty ImagesThe “Saturday Night Live” 50th anniversary special was sweet, self-satirizing and star-studded. More

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    John Oliver Wins Emmy for Scripted Variety Series, Beating ‘Saturday Night Live’

    HBO’s “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” bested NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” by winning scripted variety series in a clash between two titans accustomed to dominating the Emmys from opposite sides of the variety fence.Since the Emmys fractured the outstanding variety sketch categories into two in 2015, John Oliver’s political satire scored seven Emmys for variety talk and “Saturday Night Live” had claimed six for variety sketch.The shows were dumped into the same category this awards under scripted variety series, described by the Television Academy as shows that “are primarily scripted or feature loosely scripted improv and consist of discrete scenes, musical numbers, monologues, comedy stand-ups, sketches, etc.”The award for talk series will now honor traditional late-night shows like “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” The Television Academy deemed Oliver unfit because much of his show is scripted, while other late night hosts engage in lengthy, unscripted conversations.It’s a different category, but still another win for Oliver. “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” scored four total Emmy nominations.Oliver’s show also beat HBO’s final season of “A Black Lady Sketch Show” for the award.During his speech, Oliver thanked his staff, HBO and “our lawyers who are angry with us all the time.”Before being rushed off the stage by Doris Hancox, Anthony Anderson’s mother, Oliver mentioned that he had promised to get his children Pokémon cards while in California. “And I don’t know where to get Pokémon cards in L.A.,” he said. “So, if anyone knows where to get Pokémon cards between here and L.A.X., it’s a significant problem that I’ve worked myself into.” More