BILL MAHER - MODERN-DAY PROPHET WITH SPUNK.

Byline: Phillip Zonkel Staff Writer

Bill Maher has found a marriage he likes.

Sitting in his office at Hollywood's CBS Television Studios following two tapings of late night's ``Politically Incorrect,'' the comedian turned moderator, who has replaced his on-air attire of a suit and tie with the more casual black sweater and jeans, isn't a reluctant husband. Despite his consistent lampooning, Maher has happily settled down.

Who's the lady he's agreed to spend life with - for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health? Her initials are ABC.

``I feel good about this marriage, not because it's a perfect marriage but because the people in the marriage now know each other,'' says Maher, who, in January, celebrated his show's fourth anniversary on the network. ``We both want to make it work. We have some issues with each other, but that's what a marriage is. Nothing is going to be perfect right away, and I'd rather work it out in the marriage. It's a marriage I'm living with. It's a marriage I want to last.''

Till death do they part. Apart from the anniversary gifts of linen and electrical appliances, ``Politically Incorrect,'' which debuted on Comedy Central in 1993, also enjoys ratings bliss, holding 75 percent of ``Nightline's'' audience. It's also a winner for the 43-year-old River Vale, N.J., native.

After graduating in 1978 as an English major from Cornell University, Maher honed his comedic skills on the New York club scene. In 1983, after his third ``Tonight Show'' appearance, Maher moved to Los Angeles. Nine years later, thanks to his successful stand-up career, he was able to buy a house in chic Bel-Air. Still, the comedian struggled to climb the next career rung.

In 1985, ``Family Ties'' creator Gary David Goldberg cast him opposite Geena Davis in the NBC sitcom ``Sara,'' but the show never made the fall schedule. He starred in a slew of B movies, such as 1988's ``Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death,'' and had guest spots on numerous sitcoms, including ``Roseanne'' and ``Newhart.'' But in late 1992, his comedic timing was on the mark.

He pitched the Comedy Central brass an idea for a timely and topical current events talk show.

``This is not the McLaughlin Group. It's the McLaughlin Group on steroids,'' says motivational speaker Tony Robbins, who's appeared on the show six times. ``They take a different approach.''

Maher's concept then, and now, is a nightly cocktail party with him hosting four guests (a funny person, a famous face, a conservative and a wild card meant to offset the other three), who debate the day's issues.

``Our audience cares about the topics; they care about a good discussion. They know what the show is,'' Maher says. ``They would rather Russell Simmons and Susan Carpenter McMillan go at it and argue their points - even though they aren't movie stars - than watch a dull, dull conversation between movie stars. That, they can see other places. We would rather feed good conversation over celebrity.''

``It does get interesting. You do learn a little bit about these people who are on the show, whether they're informed or uninformed or clever,'' says Tom Arnold, a 12-time guest. ``It's surprising the images we have of people and how watching this show, unlike any other show, you can see more of what's underneath.''

Sometimes, however, Maher doesn't like what he sees.

``People push my buttons when they are about infringing on my freedom, when they tell everyone that they should live the way they live. That bothers me,'' Maher says. ``People who say to me, 'Jesus Christ is the Lord; it's a fact, and only those who believe in Him will get into heaven,' that pushes my buttons. It's insulting. It's saying, 'I know better than you.' ''

Maher also pushes people's buttons with some of his pet causes.

``I'm a libertarian, which is someone who believes that a citizen in a free country should be able to do whatever they want to do as long as it doesn't hurt somebody else,'' says Maher, who believes in the legalization of drugs and prostitution.

But Maher stands apart from the apathetic crowd. In an age of hypersensitivity, Maher campaigns on an open forum of ideas, including freedom of speech. Four weeks ago, former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke was a guest. Maher admits the show turned ``Springer-esque,'' but he doesn't regret hosting unpopular guests.

``I don't cop out to the view that some people have, 'You don't even put someone like that on TV.' I don't agree with that; it's very, very dangerous. In this country, there's this idea that people with unpopular thoughts should be shut down.

``People say, 'Why are you defending John Rocker' (the Atlanta Braves pitcher who made anti-immigrant and anti-gay remarks in a newspaper interview)? I'm not defending John Rocker any more than I defend the Nazis, but I would defend their right to march.''

Maher's outspokenness doesn't sit well with everyone, but that doesn't bother him. In fact, his in-your-face opinions are as integral a part of the show as the guests.

``Very low percentages of the people who watch the show agree with me most of the time, but they don't hold it against me. The ace in the hole is that the audience gets the show. They get it better than the media; they get it better than the network. What they appreciate is that sense of total honesty.

``To me, politically incorrect has always meant totally honest, which is the total opposite of political. `If this show has proven one thing that was not around before this show began, it's that a TV host can have opinions and stay on the air. Before this show, the book on that was, if you tell someone how you feel on an issue, you're going to alienate half of them. This show broke that rule.''

The facts

--The show: ``Politically Incorrect.''

--What: Freewheeling talk show moderated by Bill Maher.

--Where: ABC (Channel 7).

--When: 12:05 to 12:40 a.m. weeknights.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo: Bill Maher: ``To me, politically incorrect has always meant totally honest ... the total opposite of political.''

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer