Real Time with Bill Maher returns with a stacked lineup

Real Time with Bill Maher kicks off season 17 tonight with an impressive list of guests.

Things are finally starting to get back to normal. Well, when it comes to late night television at least. The nightly shows are back to their regular schedules and Saturday Night Live has ended it’s holiday hiatus. And to top it all off, Real Time with Bill Maher is back with an all new episode.

We haven’t heard from Bill Maher on HBO since November when he closed out his 16th season of Real Time. Since then, Last Night On has done its part to keep providing some content. If you haven’t yet, take some time to check out our posts on the best moments from season 16.

But things move pretty fast in the world of political news. They seem to move especially fast in the era of President Trump and the Mueller investigation. So fans have been looking to get Maher’s take on the headlines and hear the conversation from his panels.

Those people are in luck tonight because there is a solid list of guest stopping by Real Time to help Bill Maher kick of season 17. Check out the breakdown below:

Top-of-Show

The lead interview for tonight’s episode is with former Ohio governor John Kasich. The Republican recently ended his time in office and has taken on a role as a commentator for CNN. Kasich received increased national attention thanks to his unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Since then he has been a vocal critic of President Trump.

This will be Kasich’s second appearance on Real Time. He was also on a May 2017 episode. Expect Maher to ask for Kasich’s perspective on the state of the Republican Party and forecast the future with or without Trump leading the way.

Mid-show interview

The mid-show interview will see Maher sit down with professional football player Marshawn Lynch. The Oakland Raiders’ running back has had a successful NFL career with the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks.

Off the field, Lynch is one of the more unique personalities in the league. He’s known for shying away from the media, only speaking when obligated to do so. But if you’ve seen him in situations where he’s comfortable then you know he can be funny and insightful.

Lynch is also very active in his community. He’s done a lot of charity work for Oakland including organizing food drives.

The panel

The Real Time panel will feature three very different individuals. Each one makes their name as a political analyst or commentator these days so expect an intense discussion to start the season.

Erick Erickson, making his third visit to the show, is a conservative blogger and radio host based in Atlanta, Georgia. He had a brief back and forth with President Trump when he criticized then candidate Trump for remarks about Megyn Kelly. Trump dismissed Erickson as too controversial. That is a fair assessment considering Erickson has been involved in scandals involving the Parkland shooting, LGBT rights, and gun control.

Barney Frank served as a U.S. representative from Massachusetts between 1981 and 2013. Since leaving politics, Frank has been appointed to the board of directors of Signature Bank. His time in Congress was marked by his commitment to financial industry reform. Frank is a frequent guest of Real Time and is usually a highlight of any panel he joins.

Catherine Rampell is a journalist and opinion columnist. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post and you’ve probably seen her on CBS, CNN, or PBS. Lately she has been covering the government shutdown and the ongoing Mueller investigation. Tonight marks Rampell’s third visit to Real Time.

Real Time with Bill Maher airs tonight, Jan. 18 at 10:00 PM ET on HBO. You can pretty much guarantee that Bill Maher will be fired up and ready to go after his long time away from the desk. He has a lot of ground to cover and time to make up for, so make sure you tune in and enjoy the ride. Last Night On will have the entire season covered so check back in often!