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Bill Maher's unsellable podcast studio has been cancelled.
In 2024, The Late Night Comedian launched Club Random Studios, a podcasting company built around a show of the same name. However, less than two years later, the comedian's podcast studio had stopped operations, so the two familiar with the situation told Semafor.
The website that once hosted network shows is no longer functional. The comedian Matt Friend podcast has not shared a full episode since late last year. Journalist Rikki Schlott, who announced the show on the network last year, has also not shared an episode in months.
Club Random Studios did not reply to requests for comment.
The network was originally intended to elevate Maher's voice from the expanded universe. Comedians, musicians and journalists had heterodox views on the issue, sharing skepticism about what is perceived as left overreach with liberals. The studio also helped launch the show from Sage Steel and associate founder Shane Smith. The studio quickly signed a deal with Studio71, a podcast network that agreed to distribute parts of the show, including Maher's Podcasts.
“I want to help this impressive other voice slate do the same with Club Random Network,” he said at the time. “Dance like no one is watching? We'll talk so that no one can cancel us.”
The closure of Maher's Studio has not affected many of its biggest names. Steele's podcast continues to post regular episodes, with pumpkin frontman Billy Corgan making her recent debut on YouTube podcast.
Despite the controversy surrounding Vice's bankruptcy, Smith's return to camera was a success. According to a Vice spokesman, the founder will debut the second season of his show next month. “Vice continues to have a strong relationship with Bill Maher,” the spokesman said.
Still, there were several casualties. The Club Random Podcast, hosted by former Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst, was initially supposed to be focused on UFOs. Semafor was unable to find an online episode of the show.
