HBO Renews ‘Real Time With Bill Maher’ for Two Additional Seasons

HBO has issued a two-season renewal to weekly late night political talker “Real Time With Bill Maher,” taking it through 2022. “For 18 seasons, Bill Maher and the talented team at ‘Real Time’ have given audiences an unparalleled platform for debate, comedy, and social discourse,” said Nina Rosenstein, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming. “We’re so happy to continue this partnership.”

Allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues, “Real Time With Bill Maher” includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with guests. The format of the show usually features an opening current events or political skit, followed by the credits and a comedy monologue. Maher then interviews an important figure via satellite or in-studio before sitting down with the panel guests for an extensive debate. Halfway through the panel session, Maher does a comedy skit that usually satirizes current news items. Following the comedy bit, Maher interviews another figure via satellite or in-studio. The format varies, with two or three people on the panel

Maher headlined his first special on the network in 1989 and has starred in eleven solo specials to date, including the hour-long presentations “Bill Maher: Live From Oklahoma,” “Bill Maher: Live from D.C.,” “Bill Maher… But I’m Not Wrong,” “The Decider” and “I’m Swiss” (both nominated for Emmys(R) for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special), “Victory Begins at Home,” “Be More Cynical,” “The Golden Goose Special” and “Stuff That Struck Me Funny,” and two half-hour stand-up specials, plus the specials “30 Seconds Over Washington” and “Comic Relief VI(TM).”