'Real Time with Bill Maher' returning to HBO without writers amid WGA strike
Bill Maher's political talk show will return to the HBO lineup for new episodes without writers amid the dual Hollywood strikes, the host said Wednesday.
Bill Maher's political talk show will return to the HBO lineup for new episodes without writers amid the dual Hollywood strikes, he said on social media Wednesday night.
"Real Time is coming back, unfortunately, sans writers or writing," Maher said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "It has been five months, and it is time to bring people back to work."
He continued: "The writers have important issues that I sympathize with, and hope they are addressed to their satisfaction, but they are not the only people with issues, problems, and concerns. Despite some assistance from me, much of the staff is struggling mightily."
Real Time with Bill Maher.Janet Van Ham / HBOMaher is the first late-night host to say his program would return to the airwaves since Writers Guild of America members headed to the picket lines May 2, effectively shutting down the majority of the industry's television and film projects. The writers in the union are demanding higher base compensation, improved working conditions and stricter protections against the use of artificial intelligence.
He said his team had been "hopeful" the WGA strike would be resolved after Labor Day, "but that day has come and gone, and there still seems to be nothing happening."
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