“I want to do a show that takes on Chick-Fil-A and the Westboro Baptist Church using the bible,” Current TV's new primetime host John Fugelsang told TheWrap on Wednesday.
Comedian Fugelsang will take on the religious right in a new primetime show the network announced earlier on Wednesday.
In addition to being a comedian, Fugelsang is a frequent guest on cable news programming and over the past few months has filled in for Current hosts Eliot Spitzer and Jennifer Granholm.
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“As Gov. Granholm focuses on democratic politics and Gov. Spitzer on Wall Street malfeasance, this show of mine will focus on the hypocrisy of the Christian right,” Fugelsang told TheWrap.
The show is set to debut in September, and though no exact time is set, it is expected to air at 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., with a late-night feel, eliminating the possibility of an afternoon timeslot.
Fugelsang will mix comedy, politics and pop culture, introducing viewers to new music at the same time he dresses down politicians.
However, his real focus is on religion and the selective interpretation of the bible he feels conservatives have pushed on the American public.
In an interview with TheWrap, Fugelsang described Jesus as one of the most liberal characters in history and quipped that parts of the bible say eating pork is a sin. In his eyes, that makes Chick-Fil-A president Dan Cathy just as guilty as gay people.
"The good news of the bible is that Jesus isn't a right-wing xenophobic creep," Fugelsang said. "He never hated on gay people, never mentioned abortion and never really criticized premarital sex."
Raised by a former Franciscan monk and nun, Fugelsang made regular appearances on “Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher” and is a regular guest on Stephanie Miller’s nationally syndicated radio program. Miller now has a morning show on Current.
Fugelsang praised the network, founded by Al Gore and Joel Hyatt, for its willingness to take on the two-party system and assail politicians on both sides.
Gore, Current TV Chairman, said in a statement that Fugelsang's “voice resonates with our audience.”
When Fugelsang has appeared on other Current shows, the ratings have indeed gone up.
For a network still looking to build its audience in an election year, that is all they can ask for.