Real Time with Bill Maher

2003

Seasons & Episodes

  • 22
  • 21
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  • 19
  • 18
  • 17
  • 16
  • 15
  • 14
  • 13
  • 12
  • 11
  • 10
  • 9
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  • 1
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7.4| 0h30m| TV-MA| en
Synopsis

Each week Bill Maher surrounds himself with a panel of guests which include politicians, actors, comedians, musicians and the like to discuss what's going on in the world.

Cast

Bill Maher

Director

Producted By

Brillstein Entertainment Partners

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Trailers & Clips

Reviews

ThiefHott Too much of everything
Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.
AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.
Brainsbell The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.
Eric Stevenson Let me say outright that Bill Maher is not as informed as most people would think. I will admit that he really annoys me on numerous occasions. He thinks religion is stupid, but he said that vaccines cause Alzheimer's. The statement of how someone is either a rationalist or not is a hypocritical one in that aspect. There was the time he personally threw truthers out of his show. If religion is so awful, why has he never had to throw religious people out of his crowd? If it's so stupid, why don't they harass him personally like truthers did? Anyway, Bill Maher is still definitely funny and makes me laugh. If nothing else, I appreciate how he has a lot of guests on his show. I've certainly never seen a talk show that had so many people on at once.I guess that's a different kind of show entirely. He has critical errors in his research that come off as insulting. I would say he's great for mocking Donald Trump, but here's the thing. Everyone hates Donald Trump. Of course, he's still awesome for actively ridiculing him. I also like how the show is structured. There's the monologue, the single guest, the panel, and the new rules. It's just nice to have organization like that. It's generally a balanced show, but I don't think he's ever been convinced to change his mind from anyone there. Then again, most people are probably like that.It's hard to compliment someone who thinks Steve Irwin deserves death more than Osama bin Laden. I still find the show itself insightful, if only because of the wide variety of guests. That's probably what makes the show. I could constantly mock him, but for the most part, he's fine. My folks love his show even though they're extremely religious. This is certainly a show with style and significance, even if the well, actual politics aren't that good. I'm probably way too nice in giving this a perfect score, but I will anyway. ****.
dee.reid I'd like to first and foremost state that Bill Maher is a comedian/political satirist - and I realized this from the moment I first began watching his comedy act. I'd also like to state that I personally think he's a bit of an a**hole, albeit an a**hole with an occasional funny streak. I never watched his previous current-events TV show "Politically Incorrect" from 1997 (because I was only in my early teens at the time, yet I was able to watch "South Park" - go figure), but whenever I get the chance I've been watching his new current-events TV series "Real Time with Bill Maher."I got into this show fairly late in the game, only within the last three years or so. To avoid declaring any political allegiances here (as if I really have any), I will say that I do fall within this show's primary demographic. Although I agree with Maher on many points, there are some things where I feel he is blatantly wrong (especially regarding religion - though while I do believe in God, I don't really claim any specific religious order, despite my Christian upbringing), and I also don't care for his tendency sometimes to push his points as fact (at least, within the context of the many politically-charged discussions on his show). But because we must remember that Maher is first and foremost a comedian, we must also remember that we should not take anything he says seriously - whether it offends us or not; no one said that comedy - not to mention, good comedy - had to always be in good taste.And lastly, here is where I put the most praise on "Real Time with Bill Maher." Maher is not one to sugarcoat the insanity of modern politics (as of 2013); I personally thought his coverage of the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election was hilariously tasteless and informative. He is also not one to tread lightly on sensitive topics - he says it like it is, and he says what needs to be said, regardless of how PC or un-PC it may sound. It's harsh stuff, but again, it needs to be said, and plus he has free speech on his side.The other area I shower praise over is that Maher's show often touches on topics that are often under-reported - simply glossed over with little or no in-depth coverage or follow-up - or are ignored completely, by mainstream media. There have been times when I've watched "Real Time with Bill Maher" and he brings up current events that I was never even aware of. This one goes hand-in-hand with my comments that he does not need to tread lightly in sensitive areas (simply because the majority of mainstream media refuses to cover it for fear of offending, and turning off, viewers, which I personally find to be highly irresponsible of a supposedly "free" press).And Maher's "New Rules" segments are utterly hilarious!10/10
Catherine Giordano Last week Bill Maher said that if Obama is elected America wins and if Romney is elected comedy wins. Well Obama was elected and America won, but comedy is still alive and well on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher." The episode airing on 11/09/2012, episode 266, had lots of great comedy moments. I'm going to name this episode "It's Odd." Read on, and you'll see why.Bill began with a funny monologue. (Actually doesn't everything seem funnier now that the pall of a Republican win no longer hovers over us?) Bill said "Mormon has broken and we are black in the saddle again." Puns may be the lowest form of humor, but this one rocked. ...Buh Buh bye, Romney. I hope he finally disappears from public life--maybe goes to live with his money in the Cayman Islands--so I never have to look at his ugly face again. Yes, I know, he has movie-star good-looks, but he has an ugly soul. Somewhere, in an attic someplace, a Dorian Gray-like portrait shows him looking like something from "The Crypt." ...The above are excepts from my review of episode 266 of Real Time with Bill Maher on my blog "Premium Cable Reviews." Go to the blog for my recap, review and commentary.
chollins 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.