On Friday's episode of "Real Time," host Bill Maher slammed the co-hosts of "The View" for "silencing" themselves by waiting several days to comment on Jimmy Kimmel’s show being suspended.

Speaking about Democrats more broadly, he said, "It wasn't a good look for the woman party that all the guys were speaking out for Jimmy Kimmel when Trump went after him except on the woman show, where for five days the outspoken hosts were suddenly as quiet as a geisha." "Then on the fifth day they rose and said, ‘No one silences us.’"

The show had been, initially, conspicuously quiet on the decision by ABC to pull Kimmel off the air following the comedian's controversial remarks about the alleged killer of Charlie Kirk, leading critics to suggest they were being pressured to remain silent by their own network.

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Maher referenced "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg on Sept. 22 declaring that "no one silences us." He argued that "no one had to" because "you silenced yourselves."

"Whoopi Goldberg continued, 'Did you all really think we weren't going to talk about Jimmy Kimmel?' Uh, no. I thought you would, but then you didn't," Maher joked. "Five days. Talk about needing extra time to get ready."

Representatives of "The View" declined Fox News Digital's request for a comment. 

This wasn’t the first time Maher called out the "outspoken hosts" of "The View" for their unusual silence on the controversy, given that the show typically opens with its "Hot Topics" segment featuring commentary on major headlines.

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"I’m friendly with the ladies on 'The View,' but they didn’t say anything about this, this week. Nothing," Maher noted the day after Kimmel's suspension.

"You know, because it’s never been their thing to weigh in on the issues. It’s just an upbeat party show. That’s why they hired people named Joy [Behar] and Sunny [Hostin] and Whoopi [Goldberg]," he quipped.

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was temporarily suspended by ABC and the Walt Disney Company on Wednesday, Sept. 17. (That day's "The View" had already aired.) The "View" co-hosts neglected to mention Kimmel's suspension on Thursday's episode, and Friday's show was taped prior to the news about Kimmel's suspension breaking.

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On Monday, Sept. 22, five days after the late-night host's suspension, co-host Whoopi Goldberg claimed the show "took a breath" to see if Kimmel would publicly address his show's suspension.

"Now, look, did y’all really think we weren’t going to talk about Jimmy Kimmel?" Goldberg said. "I mean, have you watched the show over the last 29 seasons? So you know no one silences us, and to all my friends who reached out, you have to know, it’s OK, we’re still here. We’re still broadcasting. And when the news broke last week about Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, we took a breath to see if Jimmy was going to say anything about it first. We did the same thing with Stephen Colbert. Then our show was on tape on Friday, but we are live here today, and we’re getting into it now."

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Fox News' Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.

For an entire generation of Americans, Dwayne Johnson has only been known as one of Hollywood's most bankable actors, not for being the professional wrestler known as simply "The Rock" that made him famous to begin with. But in A24's "The Smashing Machine," the two worlds collide. 

Johnson is almost unrecognizable as real-life MMA fighter Mark Kerr, one of the pioneers that helped put the Ultimate Fighting Championship on the map in the late 90s. Today, UFC has gotten so popular that President Donald Trump is bringing the octagon to the White House lawn next Fourth of July to celebrate America's 250th birthday. 

For Kerr, winning is all he knows. Early on in the film he says he "feels like a god" because every time he wins, there's always another fighter to face. Competing in Japan's Pride Fighting Championship, he is at a loss for words when a Japanese reporter presses him on how he would feel if he lost his next fight. He tells the reporter, "I don't know how to respond to that because I've never lost." 

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His winning streak comes at a cost as he struggles with his near-fatal opioid addiction. He does have his own support system, made up of his then-girlfriend (and eventual ex-wife) Dawn Staples, played by his "Jungle Cruise" co-star Emily Blunt, and his best pal, colleague and rival Mark Coleman, played by MMA fighter Ryan Bader making his acting debut. 

Kerr is a gentle giant, having almost a child-like quality to him outside the ring (he repeatedly refers to his "tummy"). That said, the man sure has a temper — it's hard to imagine how much he spends replacing doors he's demolished from fits of rage in his house. Dawn can be a hot head too. While she was a positive force in combating his addiction, her own personal demons surface as she becomes resentful at how he's no longer fulfilling her needs after sobering up in rehab. 

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"The Smashing Machine" was written and directed by Benny Safdie, his first solo feature outing following co-directing 2019's brilliant  "Uncut Gems" with his brother Josh Safdie. With "Uncut Gems," there was such an emotional investment for a viewer that was lacking in "The Smashing Machine." Sure, you're rooting for Kerr, but you're mostly going through the motions. 

At the heart of this film is Johnson's transformative performance. For nearly 25 years, Johnson has only done popcorn flicks with many hits like his "Jumanji," "Fast & Furious" and "Moana" films, with a few misses along the way (ahem, "Tooth Fairy"). But never has he taken on a serious role like he does here. The deep shame he expresses in the hospital bed following an overdose reveals a side of "The Rock" audiences haven’t seen. The performance could be Johnson’s version of Matthew McConaughey’s career pivot with "Dallas Buyers Club." So don't be surprised if Johnson lands himself an Oscar nod next year. 

Johnson’s transformation is aided by remarkable hair and makeup work that makes him disappear into Kerr. Shot on 16 and 65 mm film, "The Smashing Machine" feels like a time capsule — as if you’re watching an old VHS tape.

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"The Smashing Machine" is a gritty biopic UFC and Johnson fans will appreciate, but it’s Johnson’s performance that gives the film its heartbeat. Johnson is "The Smashing Machine." Beyond that, there isn't much else to hold onto. 

"The Smashing Machine" is rated R for language and some drug abuse. Running time: 2 hours, 3 minutes. In theaters October 3, 2025.