Bill Maher postpones HBO 'Real Time' return during writers' strike following backlash
Bill Maher has postponed his return to HBO's "Real Time" during the ongoing writers' strike following pushback from Writers Guild of America members.
After announcing on Sept. 13 that he planned to bring "Real Time" back without writers, Maher, 67, wrote on X , formerly Twitter, Monday that he had reversed his decision. The comedian and satirist will hold off production of the show until the strike ends.
"My decision to return to work was made when it seemed nothing was happening and there was no end in sight to this strike," Maher wrote Monday. "Now that both sides have agreed to go back to the negotiating table, I’m going to delay the return of 'Real Time,' for now, and hope they can finally get this done."
My decision to return to work was made when it seemed nothing was happening and there was no end in sight to this strike. Now that both sides have agreed to go back to the negotiating table I’m going to delay the return of Real Time, for now, and hope they can finally get this…
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) September 18, 2023
Last week, Maher argued that the "important" writers' strike, which started May 2, has gone on for too long to the detriment of his provocative current event show and its staff.
"I love my writers, I am one of them, but I’m not prepared to lose an entire year and see so many below-the-line people suffer so much," wrote Maher, who said he would "honor" the spirit of the strike by not using writers, or written segments such as a monologue. The first "Real Time" episode would have aired Sept. 22.
Maher would have been the first late-night host to return to air during the Writers Guild of America strike. Union representatives immediately vowed to picket the "Real Time" filming. Political commentator Keith Olbermann called the returning show "the new weekly SCAB edition" on his X account, and called Maher "selfish and unfunny."
Maher's reversal comes a day after Drew Barrymore announced on Sept. 17 that she was pausing the return of her namesake talk show following backlash and picketing at her New York City TV studio during filming.
“I have listened to everyone, and I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over,” Barrymore posted on Instagram on Sunday. “I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today.”
Hours after Barrymore's announcement, CBS' "The Talk" announced it would hold off airing new episodes until the strike ends. The syndicated "Jennifer Hudson Show" has also paused production and delayed its own Season 2 premiere.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill Maher delays HBO 'Real Time' return during writers' strike