Real Time with Bill Maher

Watch Real Time with Bill Maher

  • TV-MA
  • 2003
  • 21 Seasons
  • 7.4  (13,972)

Many people believe that comedy and politics should not mix, but Bill Maher does not agree. Maher is well-known to comedy audiences as a stand-up comic who has been performing for several years, but he is also an outspoken advocate for a number of political issues. This makes him the ideal host for a show like Real Time with Bill Maher. Airing weekly on HBO, Real Time with Bill Maher is a program that revolves around its host and his political leanings, but it also includes discussion and debate from a panel of guests, many of whom come from different sides of the ideological divide. It is this mix of conservatives and liberals along with politicians and comedians that gives the show its spark, and Maher acts as the perfect moderator and ringleader. Real Time with Bill Maher is an hour-long program that airs each Friday on HBO. One of the most interesting aspects of the program is that it airs live, meaning that anything can happen. This provides for some spirited debates given the show's unrehearsed and mostly unscripted nature. A typical episode will begin with a sketch or a satirical bit involving events which are currently in the news. This is followed by a monologue delivered by the host. Before the panel comes out to have its discussion, Maher usually interviews an important political or social figure either in the studio or via satellite. After the one-on-one interview, Maher introduces the three guests who will appear on that episode's panel. The panel segment of the program is the centerpiece of each show, and it typically produces the most noteworthy segments. This is because the guests often enter into fiery arguments with one another. However, things are not allowed to spin out of control thanks to Maher's ability to reign discussions back in to the topics at hand. Maher is a master of this, and he does so with agile humor and charm. The panel discussion is usually followed by another comedy bit, another one-on-one interview with a guest and the famous New Rules segment in which Maher goes through a list of humorous suggestions for rules that society should follow. Real Time with Bill Maher is a comedy show, but it also adds important discussions to the arena of politics. This makes the show very rare, and it is why so many people tune in each week. The show is live and includes language that is meant for adults, so it is not for everyone. However, people who want to laugh while staying engaged in the political discussion love receiving their weekly dose of Maher and his program.

Real Time with Bill Maher
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Seasons
Elon Musk, Ian Bremmer, Konstantin Kisin
13. Elon Musk, Ian Bremmer, Konstantin Kisin
April 28, 2023
Elon Musk, co-founder/CEO and product architect of Tesla and owner/CEO of Twitter will be the top-of-show interview guest followed by a discussion with panelists Ian Bremmer, founder and president of Eurasia Group and author of "The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats – And Our Response – Will Change The World"; and Konstantin Kisin, co-host of the YouTube show and podcast "TRIGGERnometry" and author of "An Immigrant's Love Letter to the West."
Esther Perel, Glenn Loury, Daniel Bessner
12. Esther Perel, Glenn Loury, Daniel Bessner
April 21, 2023
Guests: Esther Perel, Glenn Loury, Daniel Bessner.
Ben McKenzie, Rep. Katie Porter, Piers Morgan
11. Ben McKenzie, Rep. Katie Porter, Piers Morgan
April 14, 2023
This week features a one-on-one interview with Ben McKenzie, actor and co-author of the forthcoming book, "Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud."This week's panel discussion includes Democratic Congresswoman from California, Rep. Katie Porter; and host of "Piers Morgan Uncensored," Piers Morgan.
Chris Sununu , Winsome Sears, James Kirchick
10. Chris Sununu , Winsome Sears, James Kirchick
March 31, 2023
Guests: Chris Sununu, James Kirchick, Winsome Sears.
David Sedaris, Scott Galloway, Annie Lowrey
9. David Sedaris, Scott Galloway, Annie Lowrey
March 24, 2023
This week features a one-on-one interview with bestselling author and humorist, David Sedaris. This week's panel discussion includes co-host of "Pivot Podcast," host of "The Prof G Show with Scott Galloway" podcast and author of "Adrift: America in 100 Charts," Scott Galloway; and staff writer for The Atlantic and author of "Give People Money: How a Universal Basic Income Would End Poverty, Revolutionize Work, and Remake the World," Annie Lowrey.
Noa Tishby, Andrew Yang, Rep. Elissa Slotkin
8. Noa Tishby, Andrew Yang, Rep. Elissa Slotkin
March 17, 2023
Guests: Noa Tishby, Andrew Yang, Rep. Elissa Slotkin.
David Byrne, John McWhorter, Josh Tyrangiel
7. David Byrne, John McWhorter, Josh Tyrangiel
March 10, 2023
Guests: David Byrne, John McWhorter, Josh Tyrangiel.
Bernie Sanders, John Heilemann, Russell Brand.
6. Bernie Sanders, John Heilemann, Russell Brand.
March 3, 2023
Guests: Bernie Sanders, John Heilemann, Russell Brand.
Christoph Waltz, Ari Melber, Sarah Isgur
5. Christoph Waltz, Ari Melber, Sarah Isgur
February 17, 2023
This week features a one-on-one interview with two-time Academy Award®-winning actor and star of new series "The Consultant" on Amazon Prime, Christoph Waltz. This week's panel discussion includes Ari Melber,host of MSNBC's "The Beat With Ari Melber" and staff writer for The Dispatch, host of "The Dispatch Podcast,"and contributor and political analyst for ABC News, Sarah Isgur.
Guests: Malcolm Nance, Kristen Soltis Anderson, Paul Begala.
4. Guests: Malcolm Nance, Kristen Soltis Anderson, Paul Begala.
February 10, 2023
Guests: Malcolm Nance, Kristen Soltis Anderson, Paul Begala.
Medaria Arrandondo, Brett Stephens, Rep. Ruben Gallego
3. Medaria Arrandondo, Brett Stephens, Rep. Ruben Gallego
February 3, 2023
This week features a one-on-one interview with Medaria "Rondo" Arradondo, former Minneapolis police chief who served from 2017-2022. This week's panel discussion includes New York Times columnist Brett Stephens and Democratic congressman from Arizona, Representative Ruben Gallego.
Frances Haugen, Bari Weiss, Tim Ryan
2. Frances Haugen, Bari Weiss, Tim Ryan
January 27, 2023
This week features a one-on-one interview with Frances Haugen, social media activist and author of the forthcoming book "The Power of One: How I Found the Strength to Tell the Truth and Why I Blew the Whistle on Facebook." This week's panel discussion includes founder and editor of The Free Press, Bari Weiss; and former Ohio Congressman, Tim Ryan.
William
1. William "Bill" Barr, Nancy Mace, Andrew Sullivan
January 20, 2023
William Barr is a former Attorney General under Presidents George H. W. Bush and Donald Trump whose NYT bestselling book is ONE DAMN THING AFTER ANOTHER: Memoirs of An Attorney General.
Description

Many people believe that comedy and politics should not mix, but Bill Maher does not agree. Maher is well-known to comedy audiences as a stand-up comic who has been performing for several years, but he is also an outspoken advocate for a number of political issues. This makes him the ideal host for a show like Real Time with Bill Maher. Airing weekly on HBO, Real Time with Bill Maher is a program that revolves around its host and his political leanings, but it also includes discussion and debate from a panel of guests, many of whom come from different sides of the ideological divide. It is this mix of conservatives and liberals along with politicians and comedians that gives the show its spark, and Maher acts as the perfect moderator and ringleader.

Real Time with Bill Maher is an hour-long program that airs each Friday on HBO. One of the most interesting aspects of the program is that it airs live, meaning that anything can happen. This provides for some spirited debates given the show's unrehearsed and mostly unscripted nature. A typical episode will begin with a sketch or a satirical bit involving events which are currently in the news. This is followed by a monologue delivered by the host. Before the panel comes out to have its discussion, Maher usually interviews an important political or social figure either in the studio or via satellite.

After the one-on-one interview, Maher introduces the three guests who will appear on that episode's panel. The panel segment of the program is the centerpiece of each show, and it typically produces the most noteworthy segments. This is because the guests often enter into fiery arguments with one another. However, things are not allowed to spin out of control thanks to Maher's ability to reign discussions back in to the topics at hand. Maher is a master of this, and he does so with agile humor and charm. The panel discussion is usually followed by another comedy bit, another one-on-one interview with a guest and the famous New Rules segment in which Maher goes through a list of humorous suggestions for rules that society should follow.

Real Time with Bill Maher is a comedy show, but it also adds important discussions to the arena of politics. This makes the show very rare, and it is why so many people tune in each week. The show is live and includes language that is meant for adults, so it is not for everyone. However, people who want to laugh while staying engaged in the political discussion love receiving their weekly dose of Maher and his program.

Real Time with Bill Maher is a series that is currently running and has 21 seasons (637 episodes). The series first aired on February 21, 2003.

Where to Watch Real Time with Bill Maher

Real Time with Bill Maher is available for streaming on the HBO website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Real Time with Bill Maher on demand at Apple TV.

  • Premiere Date
    February 21, 2003
  • IMDB Rating
    7.4  (13,972)