Bill Maher isn’t going anywhere with realtime.
During a recent interview with CNNthe comedian and political pundit addressed rumors swirling about his retirement from his long-running HBO show. real time Bill with seal.
At 68, Maher made it clear that he was not leaving, and that any decision to leave would not be voluntary.
“I don’t know where it started that I’m getting rid of. real time” said the seal CNN Anchor Jack Tapper on Friday, January 10th. “They’re going to have to drag me off the show.”
Maher who is hosting. real time Since 2003, has been preparing for the show’s 23rd season, which will premiere on Friday, January 17.
His comments came in response to speculation stemming from his previous comments on his December 2024 episode. Club Random podcast, where he told guest Jane Fonda that he “could quit” real time.
The proposal stems from his reluctance to focus on another presidential term under Donald Trump.
“I might quit because I don’t want to do another job. I trumped,” Maher told Fonda.
“I did all the Trump stuff before anybody. I called him a man before anybody. I did. He’s a mafia boss. I was the one who said he wouldn’t accept the election. I did. is.”
When Tapper revisited those comments, Maher quickly interjected to clarify his position.
“No,” he said, denying any plans to leave the HBO show. He explained his earlier remarks as possibly frustration about seeing Trump-centric material again.
However, Maher confirmed his decision to step back from his stand-up comedy routine after four decades.
“I’m giving up doing stand-up, just because I’m tired of touring, just because I’ve been doing it for 40 years,” he explained, noting the demands of the craft. “You can’t do it bit by bit. Stand-up is like being a boxer. You have to be in training.”
Despite his love for stand-up, Maher expressed the need for a break, especially from the grueling travel and workload that comes with stand-up and balance. real time.
He emphasized that his exit from stand-up does not mean leaving his television career behind.
Elaborating on his podcast comments, Maher reiterated, “What I was saying was that I didn’t want to do another Trump term … because I’ve already done all the jokes about Donald Trump. have done.” Still, he acknowledged that a Trump presidency would inevitably provide new material.
Ultimately, Maher expressed his hope for a fresh political narrative in America’s future. “I was hoping for some new characters,” he said, referring to his desire for a change in the political landscape that could inspire new comic material.