Bill Maher Makes a Comeback on HBO's Real Time, Offers Thanks to Writers

These remarks were delivered right before the show transitioned into a panel discussion featuring Sam Harris.

Transcript

00:00 Bill Maher has made his return to HBO's real time following recent controversy.

00:07 Although he didn't directly address the backlash he faced, he took a moment to express

00:11 his gratitude for his staff, including both writers and non-writers, as well as the Writers

00:17 Guild of America, during the Friday episode of his political talk show.

00:21 Maher began by saying, "First of all, I want to thank everybody who made this possible

00:26 to be back.

00:27 You know, I am talking about my brilliant staff, writers and non-writers, who scrambled

00:33 the jets so we could be on in two days, and the union folks who expedited the paperwork

00:39 so we could get back so quickly.

00:41 So thank you."

00:42 These comments were made just before the show transitioned into a panel discussion, featuring

00:47 Sam Harris, host of the Making Sense podcast, and Mary Katherine Hamm, author and co-host

00:53 of the Getting Hammered podcast.

00:55 The current 21st season of Real Time premiered in January but went on eight years after the

01:01 Writers Guild of America's strike began in May.

01:04 Typically, the show airs 35 weekly episodes and runs through the end of November.

01:09 However, in September, the 67-year-old host announced his decision to return to work and

01:15 ceased participating in the strike, stating, "Real Time is coming back."

01:20 Unfortunately, sans writers or writing, he expressed his concern for the writers' issues

01:26 and hopes they are addressed satisfactorily, and emphasized that other individuals working

01:32 on the show also have their own problems and concerns.

01:35 Mayer stated, "I am not prepared to lose an entire year and see so many below-the-line

01:49 people suffer so much."

01:51 (dramatic music)