"Real Time with Bill Maher" (2003) TV series 2003-

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | unknown

Release Date:

21 February 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Talk-Show

Tagline:

Inconveniently telling the truth. (season 4)

Plot Keywords:

Performer Name In Title | Talk Show Host | Politics | Live Broadcast | Name In Title

Awards:

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

Cast

Bill Maher

...

Himself - Host / ... (281 episodes, 2003-2013)

Series Directed by
Hal Grant		(48 episodes, 2006-2010)
Keith Truesdell		(23 episodes, 2003-2004)

Series Writing credits
Bill Maher		(205 episodes, 2003-2011)
Brian Jacobsmeyer		(204 episodes, 2003-2011)
Jay Jaroch		(204 episodes, 2003-2011)
Chris Kelly		(204 episodes, 2003-2011)
Scott Carter		(203 episodes, 2003-2011)
Billy Martin		(203 episodes, 2003-2011)
David Feldman		(117 episodes, 2003-2009)
Danny Vermont		(114 episodes, 2005-2009)
Matt Gunn		(100 episodes, 2006-2010)
Adam Felber		(55 episodes, 2007-2010)
Lance Crouther		(48 episodes, 2006-2007)
Ned Rice		(46 episodes, 2003-2009)
Paul F. Tompkins		(23 episodes, 2003-2009)
Ross Abrash		(23 episodes, 2005)
Jonathan Schmock		(16 episodes, 2007-2009)
Mike Larsen		(13 episodes, 2011-2012)
Amani Redd		(9 episodes, 2011)

Series Produced by
Bill Maher	....	executive producer (204 episodes, 2003-2011)
Billy Martin	....	executive producer / co-executive producer / ... (204 episodes, 2003-2011)
Matt Wood	....	co-producer / associate producer (204 episodes, 2003-2011)
Sheila Griffiths	....	executive producer (88 episodes, 2006-2011)
Dean E. Johnsen	....	co-executive producer / producer (88 episodes, 2006-2011)
Scott Carter	....	executive producer (68 episodes, 2006-2010)
Brad Grey	....	executive producer (41 episodes, 2006-2010)
Marc Gurvitz	....	executive producer (41 episodes, 2006-2010)
Sue Bennett	....	segment producer (40 episodes, 2006-2010)
Mary Knowles	....	segment producer (40 episodes, 2006-2010)
Deena Katz	....	segment producer (39 episodes, 2006-2010)
Vanessa Gedney	....	segment producer (27 episodes, 2009-2010)
Kelly D. Hommon	....	segment producer (15 episodes, 2008)

Series Film Editing by
Craig Kellerman		(1 episode, 2012)

Series Casting by
Judy Orbach		(5 episodes, 2009-2011)

Series Production Design by
John Yeck		(2 episodes, 2009-2010)

Series Makeup Department
Brenda Rippee	....	makeup artist / key makeup artist / ... (203 episodes, 2003-2012)
Michelle Daurio	....	makeup department head / hair stylist / ... (169 episodes, 2003-2009)
Tracey L. Miller-Smith	....	makeup artist (10 episodes, 2003)

Series Production Management
T.J. Baldino	....	production manager (27 episodes, 2009-2010)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bob Staley	....	associate director (3 episodes, 2009-2010)

Series Art Department
Anton Goss	....	scenic designer / scenic artist (5 episodes, 2006-2010)
John Yeck	....	scenic designer (3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Linda Lawrence	....	electronic graphics (2 episodes, 2009-2010)

Series Sound Department
Mark Radulovich	....	sound (3 episodes, 2006-2009)
Michael Dooley	....	house p.a. mixer (3 episodes, 2012)
Maryann Jorgenson	....	sound (2 episodes, 2009-2010)
Nancy Perry	....	sound (2 episodes, 2009-2010)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Callan	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 2006-2010)
Mark Gonzales	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 2006-2010)
Jim Velarde	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 2006-2010)
Thomas Luth	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 2006-2010)
Brad Zerbst	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 2006-2010)
Gene Beben	....	video tape operator (3 episodes, 2006-2009)
Terry Clark	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 2006-2009)
Bart Ping	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 2007-2010)
Bob Berkowitz	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 2006-2007)
S.M. Linenberger	....	lighting designer (2 episodes, 2006-2007)
Eddie Burgess	....	electric swing (2 episodes, 2009-2010)
Edward Clark	....	electric swing (2 episodes, 2009-2010)
Mike Nawroth	....	head grip (2 episodes, 2009-2010)

Series Casting Department
Ashley Schiller	....	casting / casting supervisor (8 episodes, 2009-2010)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kelly Smith	....	wardrobe stylist / wardrobe (55 episodes, 2010-2011)

Series Editorial Department
David Crowther	....	editor: segment (9 episodes, 2008)

Series Music Department
Christopher Reid	....	performer: theme song (2 episodes, 2009-2010)

Series Other crew
Marc Comstock	....	stand-in (142 episodes, 2006-2011)
Fred Smilow	....	live audience coordinator / production staff (104 episodes, 2003-2010)
Miles Leicher	....	writers assistant / executive assistant / ... (93 episodes, 2008-2011)
Bryan Branly	....	writing assistant (46 episodes, 2004-2005)
Charles Chen	....	audience page (38 episodes, 2006-2008)
David Adam Ettedgui	....	page (36 episodes, 2007-2008)
Bob Claster	....	teleprompter operator (31 episodes, 2006-2012)
Natalie Barbrie	....	executive assistant (31 episodes, 2008-2010)
Anders Holm	....	production staff (30 episodes, 2009)
Mark Cartwright	....	projectionist (26 episodes, 2007-2011)
Laura Stover	....	script coordinator (20 episodes, 2003)
Jennifer Parris	....	executive assistant (16 episodes, 2008-2009)
Kevin Schini	....	researcher (12 episodes, 2008)
Allison MacDonald	....	production staff / production team (11 episodes, 2010)
Brian Anderson	....	stage manager (6 episodes, 2006-2010)
Joaquín Torres	....	script coordinator (6 episodes, 2006-2010)
Patrick Whitney	....	stage manager (6 episodes, 2006-2010)
Shauna Meiri	....	production accountant (5 episodes, 2006-2010)
Stacy Talbot	....	booth production assistant (5 episodes, 2006-2010)
Lauren Katz	....	production staff (5 episodes, 2009)
Nick Licare	....	production staff / production team (5 episodes, 2010)
Ashley Schiller	....	talent coordinator / talent supervisor (4 episodes, 2006-2009)
Courtney Boches	....	audience page (4 episodes, 2007)
David Taylor	....	researcher (4 episodes, 2009-2010)
David Hill	....	audience page (4 episodes, 2011)
Vanessa Gedney	....	talent supervisor (3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Tom Ong	....	studio manager (3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Bob Staley	....	associate director (3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Shiran Stotland	....	technical director (3 episodes, 2009-2010)
Scott Wyhns	....	production staff (3 episodes, 2009-2010)
David Hallmark	....	technical director (2 episodes, 2006-2007)
Rick Labgold	....	video (2 episodes, 2006-2007)
Lisa Rudin	....	production assistant / production staff (2 episodes, 2006)
Mark Sinacori	....	audience page (2 episodes, 2007)
Kevin J. Belliotti	....	production team (2 episodes, 2009-2010)
Oleg Sekulovski	....	technical director (2 episodes, 2009-2010)
Joshua P. Silverman	....	production team (2 episodes, 2009-2010)
Warren Wendt	....	other crew (2 episodes, 2009-2010)
Kim Wood	....	production staff (2 episodes, 2009)
Jordan M. Sloane	....	audience page (2 episodes, 2012)

Series Thanks
Stephen Anderson	....	acknowledgment (1 episode, 2010)
Dara Tallon	....	thanks (1 episode, 2010)

Production Companies

• Bill Maher Productions (2008-)
• Brad Grey Television
• Home Box Office (HBO)
• Kid Love Productions (2003-2007)

Distributors

• Home Box Office (HBO)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies

Also Known As:

"Real Time with Bill Maher: Electile Dysfunction '08" - USA (promotional title)

Runtime:

USA:60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Bill Maher Productions

Trivia:

Maher originally wanted the series to be titled "True Dat" but HBO rejected it. Maher settled for "Real Time" but does not like the title.

Quotes:

Bill Maher:I want to see riots! I want to see the kind of riots where cab drivers are afraid to pick up white people! I want to see this guy!
[he gives the finger]
Bill Maher:You stayed up all night making that papier mache mask of Dick Cheney! Good! Now light it on fire and torch the nearest Gap! You're not going to make the evening news with candle light vigils. Pick up a trash can and throw it through the window of a Starbucks!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in In Focus: Shedding Light on Vampires in America (2008) (TV)

Engaging and funny for those on the left but even then Maher himself can be extreme and disruptive at times

This political comedy and discussion show has run on HBO for the many years now but it is only last year that I started getting into it because my brother, who lives in North America, mentioned he prefers it to The Daily Show. This was enough to make it catch my eye shortly after when I was surfing iTunes and saw that this was available as a free podcast. As a result I'm afraid I cannot comment on the design and appearance of this as a television show, but if I had to guess I'd say its layout is pretty much the same as Leno etc but with some of it spent at an oval shaped table. That's a guess and really it doesn't matter so much because what makes me keep coming back to this is the audio.

OK so we have the odd visual gag but mostly the podcast is just as good as it would be if it was on television – perhaps better because the lack of images means you end up focusing on the words. Each week I find the panel discussion mostly lively and engaging, the stand-up routine funny and the interview sections interesting. However I am a liberal and as such I am the choir for the majority of the comments made in this show and I totally understand why, given the partisan nature of US politics, that as many people hate it as love it. The reason for this is Maher himself and ironically he is a weakness to the show.

This is the first time I really have had a lot of experience with him and it says a lot that, even as a left-leaner, I find him very extreme at times. I'm not saying that I am right but I think that it does help to step back and look at the media in the US. As was recently discussed on this show, the Right clearly have the talk-radio sown up and this is where the "nuts" (from a Left point of view) reside, spitting out far-right opinions unchallenged. To me Maher is on the other extreme even if the show itself offers a bit of balance by having a mix of political views represented. However while others get their say, the show is ultimately Maher's and he does tend to dominate. Although it is unlikely that even-handed discussion will ever come out when opposites sides of the spectrum are together, it does often happen that both sides make good points in their favour – only for Maher to steam across the conservative view with his opinion. Of course the audience applauds but it takes away from the balanced and intellectual appeal of parts of the show and does make it feel a bit like a show for liberal "nuts".

I'm not aligning the two extremes though because the show does at least have a bit of balance in there and, with Maher a bit more restrained in the panel bits, it could be a lot more valuable as a political discussion show. I have no issue with him in the intro or the "new rules" because this is all him and he can lean heavily to the left without harm; it is just the panel where he needs to lean back more, focus on being a bit less involved and just prevent things getting out of control. Instead he tends to let it get out of control and then boom across everyone with his view, take the applause and then move on. Indeed it was only a few weeks ago that one of his guests did say to him "you always have to be one step away from madness don't you?".

Real Time is good though, don't get me wrong, if it wasn't I would not keep coming back to it. It is not as funny as The Daily Show but it is funny. It is not as balanced and interesting as the This Week with George Stephanopoulos discussions but yet it is still engaging as a political discussion show. I suppose it works somewhere in the middle of the two although even liberals will find Maher's inability to hold back a bit grating and disruptive at times – those on the right probably don't need to be told that they'll be upset!