Here’s the Real Time with Bill Maher lineup for Feb. 15

All five guests on this week’s Real Time with Bill Maher are returning guests but have a fresh take on the news.

Sometimes it can be a good thing to turn on the television and see a familiar face. That will be the case this Friday on Real Time with Bill Maher. No, we’re not talking about the host who you’ve seen for the past 15 years. It’s all five of his guests that viewers have seen on the show before.

And just because they are repeat visitors to Real Time doesn’t mean you should expect a stale retread of the conversation. Maher knows what makes for good television and good discussion so he certainly won’t allow that to happen.

Also helping things to that end is the week’s headlines. Debates are still ongoing about how to avoid another government shutdown. President Donald Trump held a wild rally in El Paso, Texas that had a competing event nearby hosted by Beto O’Rourke. Paul Manfort was just confirmed to have been lying to investigators as part of Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian election interference.

So it’s safe to say that there will be plenty of new things to talk about on this week’s Real Time. Here’s the breakdown of all the night’s guests.

Top-of-show

Bill Maher will kick things off by interviewing Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel. This will be his fourth visit to Real Time but his first since 2007.

Prior to being Chicago’s mayor, Emanuel was the White House Chief of Staff for a year under President Barack Obama. He has held the mayor’s office in Chicago since 2011 but announced he will not seek reelection in 2019 amid declining approval ratings.

Emanuel has published a few interesting articles recently. He called for free community college in The Atlantic. In that same publication, he expressed his changing views on education reform.

On Real Time, Emanuel should be able to give a unique view on both local and national political issues. His experience leading Chicago and his insight on the inner workings of the White House mean that he comment on a wide range of issues. His political future beyond 2019 could also be a topic of discussion.

Mid-show interview

Musician John Legend has been appearing on Real Time with Bill Maher since 2006. Friday will mark his seventh stop on the show.

It’s not really fair to call Legend just a musician. We’re talking about an EGOT winner after all. Legend is still getting accolades for his role in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.

Legend is also one of the producers of the documentary United Skates that will debut on HBO on Feb. 18. The film examines the social and cultural significance of roller skating rinks for African-American communities. It will also cover efforts to preserve the subculture of roller skating and promote the music associated with the pastime.

John Legend will surely be on the show tonight to help promote his documentary. He is also an incredibly thoughtful individual who has shown in previous Real Time interviews and panel talks that he has a lot to say.

The panel

Paul Begala is a political consultant and commentator who was last seen on Real Time in 2018. Friday night’s show will make it a dozen appearances for Begala.

Begala made his career as a strategist for Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. On television, he hosted Equal Time and Crossover before most recently becoming a CNN commentator. He has been a frequent critic of President Donald Trump and weighed in on the Russia investigation.

David Frum is a political commentator and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. He can also be read in The Atlantic. Safe to say he enjoys his time with Bill Maher considering he has been on 18 times prior to Friday.

Despite calling himself a conservative Republican, Frum revealed he voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. His book Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic further illustrated his opposition to President Trump.

Maya Wiley is a civil rights activist who has held positions with social justice organizations and has counseled New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. This will be her fourth appearance with Bill Maher.

Wiley can be currently seen as a legal analyst on MSNBC. Her legal experience means she has been providing informative analysis of the Mueller investigation. Wiley’s civil rights and social justice work should also be highlighted during the conversation.

Real Time with Bill Maher airs Friday, Feb. 15 on HBO at 10: PM ET. You can follow along on Twitter by following Maher (@billmaher) and contribute to the conversation with fans. Check back in with us here at Last Night On for a recap of all the night’s highlights.