Bill Maher Jabs Mitch McConnell, Will Smith in 'Real Time'

Bill Maher took aim at two familiar targets during his Friday night monologue on "Real Time," prompting big reactions from his studio audience, TheWrap reported.

Maher opened with executions, the week's big topic in the United States. He talked about lethal injections failing and mentioned the failed execution of convicted murderer Christa Pike, quipping that they "saved her life so that we could have another shot at killing her."

That's where McConnell came in. Maher said Pike was now conscious and talking, then added: "Or what Mitch McConnell calls 'showing off.'"

The crowd gasped, then laughed and applauded loudly. Maher assured them it was "gentle good humor."

McConnell's health has been a recurring news story. The senator was hospitalized after a fall in June that left him briefly unconscious, and his office initially gave few details. He returned to work in September but appeared to need assistance to cast a vote.

Maher also targeted Pentagon plans to livestream the firing-squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan. He mocked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's desire to let people watch, telling the audience to "smash that like and subscribe button."

The crowd erupted again. Then Maher brought in Will Smith: "Before they shoot him, they're going to have Will Smith come out and slap him across the face."

The reference to Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars got the biggest applause of the night, according to TheWrap.

Maher's monologue is available in clips on HBO's social channels.

• Bill Maher
• HBO
• Mitch McConnell
• Nidal Hasan
• Real Time
• Will Smith