VIDEO : Bill Maher Gets Emmy Nomination In Face Of N-Word Controversy

Bill Maher, host of HBO's Real Time, surprised many with a nomination for best variety talk series on Thursday morning. While competition in the category was particular steep, it was actually Maher's recent comments that were thought to have kept the political comic from earning a nomination. HBO, viewers and Maher's guests the following week all condemned Maher's use of the racial epithet. Competing against Maher this year are Full Frontal with Samantha Bee , Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Jimmy Kimmel Live! , The Late Late Show with James Corden and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert .