It seemed pretty obvious what they were going for. They wanted Bill to describe the discovery in the exciting way that he is known for and wanted the other two panelists to challenge him on why it's important, perhaps in a funny manner. This would then give Bill the chance to win them over. For the audience, they would probably initially identify with the two clowns and appreciate their quips and arguments, but ultimately, Bill would be able to convince them of the discovery's importance. Thus the audience goes in, looking for a laugh, gets it, but comes out enlightened. The execution obviously was way off. Wilmore was clearly unable to handle tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum, and Bill could barely get a word in edge wise. The producers obviously didn't count on the two panelists being not only ignorant, but willfully so, along with a vapid and narcissistic set of personalities that are clearly incapable of any type of enlightenment.

If they had more time, ala Bill Maher's show, maybe it would have worked, but the two panelists were too close minded to be pulled into the light in such a short time.