Real Time with Bill Maher

43
Metascore
2003-2026
26 seasons
CNN Original Series
Comedy, News, Talk & Interview
TV-MA

He's irrepressible, opinionated, and of course, politically incorrect. Comedian and satirist Bill Maher hosts this long-running, Emmy-nominated talk show, covering the week’s news and featuring a panel of guests, including actors, activists, politicians, musicians, comedians and more.

43
Metascore
2003-2026
26 seasons
CNN Original Series
Comedy, News, Talk & Interview
TV-MA

Late-Night Hosts Return with New At-Home Shows and Waste No Time Eviscerating Trump

They're back -- well, mostly

Tue, Mar 31, 2020

Late-Night Hosts Return with New At-Home Shows and Waste No Time Eviscerating Trump

Bill Maher Wants to Bring Right-Wing Troll Milo Yiannopoulos Back to Real Time

Bad idea, Bill

Tue, Jun 6, 2017

Bill Maher Wants to Bring Right-Wing Troll Milo Yiannopoulos Back to Real Time

Senator Al Franken Cancels Appearance on Bill Maher's Real Time Amid Controversy

Probably a smart choice

Mon, Jun 5, 2017

Senator Al Franken Cancels Appearance on Bill Maher's Real Time Amid Controversy

Bill Maher Under Fire for Using N-Word In "Joke"

Maher regrets saying it -- and HBO will omit the joke from future airings

Sat, Jun 3, 2017

Bill Maher Under Fire for Using N-Word In "Joke"

Emmys: Which Longtime Loser Will Finally Win?

We break down their chances

Wed, Sep 7, 2016

Emmys: Which Longtime Loser Will Finally Win?

HBO's Boss on Game of Thrones' End, Jon Stewart's New Series and a Female-Led Talk Show

But there's still hope for a Game of Thrones spin-off

Sat, Jul 30, 2016

HBO's Boss on Game of Thrones' End, Jon Stewart's New Series and a Female-Led Talk Show

Quentin Tarantino Clarifies, "All Cops Are Not Murderers," But Police Aren't Buying It

Can his Real Time with Bill Maher appearance Friday cool things down?

Wed, Nov 4, 2015

Quentin Tarantino Clarifies, "All Cops Are Not Murderers," But Police Aren't Buying It

VIDEO: Ben Affleck Blasts Bill Maher for "Gross, Racist" Views in Islam Debate

Things got a little tense on Friday's episode of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, with Ben Affleck calling Bill Maher and Sam Harris' characterizations of Islam "gross" and "racist."

Sat, Oct 4, 2014

VIDEO: Ben Affleck Blasts Bill Maher for "Gross, Racist" Views in Islam Debate

Emmy Watch: How the Late Night Upheaval Could Shake Up the Variety Series Competition

When Johnny Carson signed off from The Tonight Show in 1992, his reign as the King of Late Night was celebrated with an Emmy win for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series. Granted, the competition that year was sparse: Fox's sketch-comedy show In Living Color and NBC's Late Night with David Letterman were the only others nominated. This year, as newly retired Tonight Show host Jay Leno attempts to secure one final nomination in the category now known as...

Wed, May 21, 2014

Emmy Watch: How the Late Night Upheaval Could Shake Up the Variety Series Competition

John Oliver to Host Weekly Comedy Show on HBO

John Oliver is moving on up! Just a few months after successfully taking over for Jon Stewart as the host of The Daily Show, the comedian is getting his chance to shine again as the host of a new weekly comedy show on...

Thu, Nov 14, 2013

John Oliver to Host Weekly Comedy Show on HBO

The Weekend Playlist: Ripper Street, Fringe Finale, SNL's Silver Lining

Evil casts a long shadow over BBC America's promising new thriller Ripper Street (Saturday, 9/8c). Set amid the grimy slums of London's Whitechapel district in the immediate wake of Jack the Ripper's reign of slaughter, this absorbing 19th-century procedural depicts police work complicated by widespread public panic that each new murder might herald the return of the phantom fiend.

Fri, Jan 18, 2013

The Weekend Playlist: Ripper Street, Fringe Finale, SNL's Silver Lining

Bill Maher Heads to The Good Wife

Bill Maher has landed a familiar Good Wife role. The Real Time with Bill Maher host will play...

Wed, Sep 12, 2012

Real Time with Bill Maher Renewed for Seasons 11 and 12

Real Time with Bill Maher has been renewed for two more seasons, HBO announced on Tuesday. "Bill Maher's irreverent wit and fearless insights make him the perfect observer for these unpredictable times," HBO president Michael Lombardo said in a statement. "I'm delighted that we can continue to offer an uncensored forum for his original and thoughtful humor."

Tue, Apr 24, 2012

Judy Greer Gets Married

Actress Judy Greer has tied the knot, People reports. Greer, 36, wed Real Time with Bill Maher producer Dean Johnson on Saturday night at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. About 200 guests attended the ceremony, including Bill Maher, Rashida Jones, Jason Biggs, Sarah Chalke and Tyler Labine.

Mon, Dec 19, 2011

Homeland, Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones Top WGA and PGA Nods

Homeland, Breaking Bad, Boardwalk Empire and Modern Family topped the Writers Guild of America nominations Wednesday with three apiece.Homeland, Breaking Bad and Boardwalk will duke it out for drama series honors with Game of Thrones and The Good Wife, the only network representative in the lineup. Homeland and Game of Thrones are also ...

Wed, Dec 7, 2011

Homeland, Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones Top WGA and PGA Nods

VIDEO: Bill Maher, Jane Lynch Do a Dramatic Reading of Anthony Weiner's Sex Messages

Bill Maher knows the advantages of being on HBO.The Real Time host welcomed Glee star and upcoming Emmys host Jane Lynch Friday night, and the two performed a dramatic reading of the sexual messages exchanged between Congressman Anthony Weiner and a Las Vegas blackjack dealer. (Weiner held a press conference earlier this week, apologizing for his actions, which included sending lewd photos of himself to women on Twitter.)VIDEO: Jon Stewart goes easy on old pal Anthony Weiner"Here at Real Time, we do take our responsibility very seriously as the one show, because we're on pay cable, where we can say anything and quote anything," Maher said....

Sat, Jun 11, 2011

VIDEO: Bill Maher, Jane Lynch Do a Dramatic Reading of Anthony Weiner's Sex Messages

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, Jan. 28, 2011

Working Class8/7c CMT CMT rolls out its first scripted series: this good-natured sitcom starring Reba alum Melissa Peterman as a single mom who moves her three kids (and her slacker younger brother) into a wealthy suburb to give the kids a better life, and takes a job in a supermarket. That won't make her wealthy herself, of course, and there are plenty of poverty jokes (this is a comedy) in the back-to-back opening episodes. Peterman enhances them with her physical-comedy talents. Ed Asner plays her curmudgeonly neighbor and coworker. — Paul DroeschRead on for previews of SpongeBob SquarePants, Track and Field, Your OWN Show: Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star, Four Biggest Wedding Blunders and Real Time with Bill Maher.

Fri, Jan 28, 2011

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, Jan. 28, 2011

VIDEO: Zach Galifianakis Lights Up a Joint on Real Time with Bill Maher

Zach Galifianakis will apparently go to great lengths to prove a point. In a heated discussion on Real Time with Bill Maher about California Proposition 19, which would legalize marijuana if passed, the 41-year-old Hangover star lit a joint on air...

Sat, Oct 30, 2010

VIDEO: Zach Galifianakis Lights Up a Joint on Real Time with Bill Maher

Senate Candidate Cancels Weekend TV Appearances After Bill Maher Zing

Delaware's Republican senatorial candidate, Christine O'Donnell, canceled two TV appearances over the weekend after clips of her discussing a past brush with witchcraft on Politically Incorrect turned up on YouTube — and on Bill Maher's new show. The atheist-libertarian kicked off the new season of his HBO political talk/comedy show Real Time by noting ...

Mon, Sep 20, 2010

Senate Candidate Cancels Weekend TV Appearances After Bill Maher Zing

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, Sept. 17, 2010

Real Time with Bill Maher10/9c HBO Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, but it signals the beginning of the political season leading up to the midterm elections. And right on cue, Bill Maher returns from his annual summer hiatus, just in time to discuss what figure to be a number of hotly contested congressional races. Joining Maher on the panel as Real Time continues its eighth season are Mad Men star Jon Hamm, ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz and Republican political strategist Mark McKinnon.Read on for previews of As the World Turns, Haven, Beyond Survival with Les Stroud, Friday Night Alright, College Football and Boxing.

Fri, Sep 17, 2010

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, Sept. 17, 2010

Bill Maher Explains Emmy Shutout: People Won’t Vote For an Atheist

As host of ABC's Politically Incorrect and HBO's Real Time, Bill Maher has accumulated 22 Emmy nominations — the record for most nods without a win. The 54-year-old political commentator/comedian attributes his losing streak to something other than a Susan Lucci-esque curse. HBO renews Real Time with Bill Maher for Season 9 "A panel of like 10 people watches one tape. If half of those people are...

Wed, Sep 15, 2010

Bill Maher Explains Emmy Shutout: People Won’t Vote For an Atheist

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, May 28, 2010

Ghost Whisperer8/7c CBS The argument could be made that every episode of the series is a Halloween episode, but some episodes are more so than others. This episode from October is classically frightful as it borrows heavily from a horror classic — Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The book's famous Headless Horseman comes to life to haunt Melinda, and it's safe to say he's not going to want to cross over into the light. Adding more drama to the story is Melinda's fear when the book shows up at Aiden's school.Read on for previews of Friday Night Lights, Past Life, Real Time with Bill Maher, The Lost Patrol, Whale Wars: The Aftermath and Party Down.

Fri, May 28, 2010

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, May 28, 2010

HBO Renews Real Time with Bill Maher

HBO has renewed Real Time with Bill Maher for a ninth season The premium-cable network announced Thursday that the political talk show, which includes roundtable discussions with panelists from show business and politics, was picked up for...

Thu, Apr 15, 2010

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, April 9, 2010

Smallville8/7c CW Oliver has an identity crisis when Tess captures the Green Arrow for Amanda Waller (Pam Grier), but he manages to preserve his secret by escaping. Waller, who doesn't give up easily, continues her pursuit of the "Watchtower," and she's not above threatening Chloe's life to get the answers to some pressing questions (such as the names and last known addresses of the Justice League members). Meanwhile, John Jones (Phil Morris) is caught poking his nose into the Green Arrow kidnapping.Read on for previews of Stargate Universe, Garage Mahal, Medium, Real Time with Bill Maher and Private Chefs of Beverly Hills.

Fri, Apr 9, 2010

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, April 9, 2010

Larry David Producing Exclusive Extras for Curb Your Enthusiasm on TV Guide Network

TV Guide Network will team with Larry David to create exclusive, never-before-seen extras that will air in conjunction with Curb Your Enthusiasm's run on the network starting this summer. Hosted by comedienne and series regular Susie Essman (Susie Greene), Curb Your Enthusiam: The Discussion will feature a panel of high-profile guest stars, pundits and prominent social figures who will debate the moral implications of the behavior in each episode. "Finally, thanks to the TV Guide Network, I'll get a chance to watch actual, intelligent people discuss and debate the issues addressed on Curb," David said. "Now if only someone could tell me ...

Mon, Mar 22, 2010

Larry David Producing Exclusive Extras for Curb Your Enthusiasm on TV Guide Network

Arianna Huffington's New Post: A Guest Role on How I Met Your Mother

Arianna Huffington will take up a new post when she guest-stars on How I Met Your Mother, TVGuide.com has confirmed. Wait for it! Neil Patrick Harris to guest on Glee The co-founder of The Huffington Post will play herself in an episode in which Ted (Josh Radnor) heads to a high-class party. Though he's torn between the snooty guests and his pals, Barney...

Thu, Mar 11, 2010

Arianna Huffington's New Post: A Guest Role on How I Met Your Mother

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, Feb. 19, 2010

Winter Olympics8/7c NBC "We have to do something new every year," says U.S. ice dancer Tanith Belbin. "Ice dancing has been changing." The biggest change for Belbin and partner Ben Agosto may have been friends and rivals Meryl Davis and Charlie White defeating them for the first time at the U.S. Nationals, giving the U.S. two teams capable of medaling. Tonight is the compulsory dance. Also on tap is the men's Super G, which should bring out all the top names in Alpine skiing. "The Austrians and the Swiss are the powerhouses," says U.S. veteran Marco Sullivan, "but you can gauge yourself off [Norway's] Aksel Lund Svindal." For those who have enjoyed any neighborhood sledding this winter, tonight's men's and women's skeleton finals may be appealing, but going headfirst at 80 mph may cause second thoughts. And veteran Olympic viewers may remember Harry Potter-lookalike Simon Ammann (Switzerland) from 2002 and 2006. He's back to take on Austrian sensation Gregor Schlierenzauer on ski jumping's large hill.Read on for previews of Smallville, Ricky Gervais Show, Real Time with Bill Maher and American Loggers.

Fri, Feb 19, 2010

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, Feb. 19, 2010

Real Time with Bill Maher Renewed

HBO has renewed Real Time with Bill Maher for an eighth season. The political talk show will return Friday, Feb. 19, at its new earlier time...

Thu, Nov 19, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, July 31, 2009

Good Morning America7/6 CT ABC Kelly Clarkson, the first American Idol winner and, many say, the best, doesn't have a new album coming out this week (her latest, All I Ever Wanted, has been a fixture on the Billboard 200 since its release in March), but the third single from it, "Already Gone," has already established its own Billboard beachhead. You can expect that she'll perform the new single this morning when she headlines GMA's Central Park summer concert.Read on for previews of Southland, Real Time with Bill Maher, Degrassi: The Next Generation and Dog Whisperer.

Fri, Jul 31, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, July 31, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, July 17, 2009

Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana8 pm/ET Disney Three of Disney's biggest hits (Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, The Suite Life on Deck) cross over in this 90-minute laughfest that is sure to please fans of all three shows. The fun begins when Justin, Alex and Max Russo join a teen cruise on the SS Tipton, which is, of course, the home of Zack and Cody Martin... and London Tipton. Justin is crazy about London and pretends he is a doctor to get a date with her. Later, it's a fan-feeding frenzy when Hannah Montana arrives on the ship for a concert.Read on for previews of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, SpongeBob SquarePants, Eureka and Real Time with Bill Maher.

Fri, Jul 17, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, July 17, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, June 19, 2009

Good Morning America7 am/ET ABC Is it just our intuition or does Jamie Foxx have an upcoming tour to promote? As it happens, his Intuition (that's his latest CD) Tour kicks off July 3 in Las Vegas. He'll be busy before that, too: Spike's Guys Choice awards on Sunday and The BET Awards (which he'll host) on June 28. Maybe there'll be an Obama impression someplace, but Foxx's focus this morning on GMA's Central Park concert will be on keeping up the momentum from "Blame It," his platinum single from Intuition.Read on for previews of Mr. Troop Mom, Don't Forget the Lyrics!, Real Time with Bill Maher and Whale Wars.

Fri, Jun 19, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, June 19, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, May 22, 2009

Good Morning America7 am/ET ABC GMA kicks off its annual Summer Concert Series at a new Big Apple venue: Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, the home of the Central Park SummerStage. First up: Green Day, whose new CD, 21st Century Breakdown, is the veteran punk band's first studio release since the 2004 rock opera American Idiot. Like Idiot, Breakdown is both narrative (it follows a young couple through this decade) and political (as both titles suggest). Read on for previews of Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Real Time with Bill Maher, Hollywood Sings Country and Wolverine and the X-Men.

Fri, May 22, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, May 22, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, May 8, 2009

Dollhouse 9:01 pm/ET FoxIs this it? After a rocky early going, the Joss Whedon series hit its stride mid-season — storywise, that is. Ratings, unfortunately, are another story, which may make tonight's first-season finale the finale, period. The episode continues Alpha's Echo obsession, wraps up Ballard's Dollhouse search and finds an Active being permanently disabled — let's just hope the same isn't so for the show itself.Read on for previews of Dog Whisperer, Numbers, Real Time with Bill Maher, Ghost Whisperer and Christian Finnegan: Au Contraire.

Fri, May 8, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, May 8, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List for Friday, Feb. 20, 2009

Monk9 pm/ET USAThe seventh season wraps up tonight with a case that has special significance to Monk. He's investigating the disappearance of a city official who was lobbying to preserve a parking garage. But what's so personal about that? Well, it's the garage where Monk's wife was killed by a car bomb that he believes was intended for him. The series is scheduled to return for its eighth and final season this summer.Read on for previews of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Psych, Real Time with Bill Maher and Battlestar Galactica.

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List for Friday, Feb. 20, 2009

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, Nov. 7, 2008

Real Time with Bill Maher11 pm/ET HBO Since this show began in 2003, it's hard to recall many genuinely happy moments for the left-leaning Maher. Read on for previews of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Crossroads, Sanctuary and Don't Forget the Lyrics!.

Fri, Nov 7, 2008

Tonight's TV Hot List: Friday, Nov. 7, 2008

Bill Maher Is Still Keeping It Real

Just in time for the election, Emmy-nominated firebrand Bill Maher is back with 13 new weekly attacks on the right, left and everything in between on Real Time with Bill Maher. God bless America. TV Guide: Are you bummed you're premiering after the Olympics and the whole John Edwards scandal? Bill Maher: Who knows what's next…it could be even better. [Laughs] TV Guide: Do you have an election-day ritual? Do you start drinking early?Maher: [Laughs] Depends on who's winning! What are your thoughts on the media coverage of the campaigns?Maher: I'm amused when pundits say that McCain has to pick a running mate who's younger than he is. You think? Who's older?! TV Guide: Your new documentary Religulous sounds like something all faiths can hate.

Fri, Aug 29, 2008

Bill Maher Marred by Strike

HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher  which had its previous season cut short by the onset of the WGA strike  returns Friday with new episodes but minus two of its regular features. According to the Reporter, as peers Jay Leno and David Letterman did upon their own returns, Maher will replace his opening monologue with some audience interaction, playing off his experiences as a stand-up comedian.Also gone is the scripted closing segment "New Rules." To fill the time, Real Time will feature an extended version of its roundtable discussion with guests. Me, I'd be enthralled to simply have Bill explain how he has hooked up with such a litany of fabulous ladies. Must be the "funny" thing. Women dig funny.

Mon, Jan 7, 2008

Little Britain and a Lotta Sex on Tap at HBO

HBO's development slate, as spelled out at the TCA summer press tour, includes the following: From American Idol creator Simon Fuller, an American adaptation of the hit BBC comedy Little Britain. Season 7 of Curb Your Enthusiasm premieres Sunday, Sept. 9, at 10 pm/ET. Leading into Curb is Tell Me You Love Me, a racy drama that has come under fire for seemingly  seemingly  depicting actual sex among its actors. (Responds the series' creator, "They are actors first and they will not ask anything of themselves, nor will I ask anything of them, that they are uncomfortable doing.") Real Time with Bill Maher, which resumes its fifth season on Aug. 24, got a Season 6 pickup, while The Wire will launch its final season in 1Q 2008. The WWII miniseries The Pacific is slated for a 3Q 2009 bow.

Sat, Jul 14, 2007

Little Britain and a Lotta Sex on Tap at HBO

Bill Maher Is the Real Deal

As HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher debates the issues for one last time (Friday at 11 pm/ET) before going on hiatus — fret not, the series is expected to return in late summer — we asked host Bill Maher about his show and the state of the union. TV Guide: You're so informed. How do you prepare for a show?Bill Maher: Well, I spend all week preparing. People are always surprised to hear that I work a lot harder on this show than when I had an everyday show [Politically Incorrect]. When you do an everyday show, you

Thu, May 11, 2006