Real Time with Bill Maher (2003– )

Stars:

Bill Maher, Arianna Huffington, Andrew Sullivan

Nominated for 15 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 17 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Bill Maher	...	Himself - Host (285 episodes, 2003-2013)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

performer name in title | talk show host | politics | live broadcast | name in title | 

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Taglines:

He does ask. He does tell. (season 9)

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Genres:

Comedy | Talk-Show

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Details

Official Sites:

HBO

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 February 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Real Time with Bill Maher: Electile Dysfunction '08

Filming Locations:

CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bill Maher Productions, Brad Grey Television, Home Box Office (HBO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

An episode scheduled for November 9, 2007 was canceled due to the 2007 Writers Strike. The scheduled guests were Ben Affleck, George Carlin, and Tom Brokaw.

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Quotes

[opening theme]
Male voice: Start the clock.
Female speaking clock: Good afternoon. At the tone the time will be...
Distorted male voice: Real time.
Male voice: Real time. Real time. Do you know what time it is? Time it is?
Distorted male voice: R-E-A-L T-I-M-E, 1 2 3 4 5 6...
Child's voice: Seven, eight...

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Connections

Referenced in Bill Maher: I'm Swiss (2005)

User Reviews

From well outside the bubble

Bill Maher is an annoying character. You can appreciate his humour, his political views and his humanity but his smirk irks. That smart ass grin he gets when he tells a gag, especially a controversial one, takes the shine off an otherwise great performance. Maybe it's just me.

I'm an Australian. I live in Australia and visit the US about once a year for business. I find watching Real Time and Jon Stewart's The Daily Show all I need to keep up with what is happening in that country. I get that education in an entertaining way. I don't agree with everything Maher espouses (smoking pot is dumb - period) his views sit well with a right wing Aussie. It amazes me that a right wing Aussie is about level with an extreme left wing American. Our countries are similar but so different.

The show starts with a short Johnny Carson style monologue - and Maher should either refresh his writers or look at his delivery style as it isn't as great as it could or should be. A few chuckles on the events of the week but nothing you want to remember for the water cooler Monday.

We then go into an interview with a weekly guest. Maher brings in some interesting guests, some of which I would normally go out of my way to avoid, but he manages to extrude interesting television from each and every one of them. I remember he once brought in a rapper I'd never heard of and had my finger poised on the fast forward button. To my amazement the interview finished before it got pressed.

We then get into the panel where three guests discuss and debate issues. This is where the show gets into its own space. The conversation bubbles along with a rapid pace and humorous tone. Maher chips in with his two cents worth which is normally death to a chat show host - there's an unwritten rule that the moderator sits in the middle and steer the conversation, not get involved in it. Maher somehow gets away with it most of the time.

We wrap up with New Rules where his writers earn the money. This is regularly the funniest part of the show making fun of everything from teenagers cell phone addiction to the president. New Rules finishes with a semi-serious dig and social commentary which proves to be Maher's issue of the week.

All in all, a reasonably entertaining show considering it's subject matter. Not as funny as Jon Stewart but Maher goes a bit deeper in his hour than Stewart can.