Screenshot: HBO
Real Time with Bill Maher is taking a break this week, with no new episode airing this Friday Oct. 10 on HBO or Saturday Oct. 11 on CNN.
HBO will be airing the movie War for the Planet of the Apes during Maher’s usual 10om time slot, while CNN is moving a new episode of The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper to Maher’s 8 p.m. Saturday slot.
Premiering in February 2003, Real Time evolved from Maher’s earlier series Politically Incorrect, which ran for nine seasons. The move to HBO gave Maher more creative freedom and a loyal Friday-night audience for his signature mix of topical monologue, one-on-one interviews, roundtable debates, and the “New Rules” segment that closes each episode.
Now in its 22nd year, Real Time is HBO’s longest-running current series and the third-longest overall, behind Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel (which ended in 2023 after 29 seasons) and Inside the NFL (31 seasons from 1977–2008). The show has earned twelve Emmy nominations and spawned two books based on Maher’s “New Rules,” which debuted in the very first episode.
Maher and team are scheduled to return with a new episode next Friday, Oct. 17.
Visit our lineups area for updated guest listings for all the late-night shows and subscribe to our daily newsletter to receive stories like this in your inbox.