If you want proof of how good a host Bill Maher is, just catch the Politically Incorrect clone, Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn, that's currently getting a trial run on Comedy Central. It's the same show but the four panelists are all stand-up comedians and Quinn fires topics at them, presuming they have the material with which to respond. Granted, the show is just starting up, but it wasn't this awkward Maher's first week. He got his guests talking to one another, and going for more than the fast one-liner.
I've usually liked Colin Quinn, and would prefer a half-hour of him just bitching to the camera. He's funny, and I always get the feeling he really believes what he's saying and isn't just groping for a joke. That has not been the case with most of what he's extracted thus far from his guests…but I suspect there's a good show in there somewhere. Hope they find it before their two weeks are up.