Is Real Time with Bill Maher new for September 15?

It has been another interesting week, to say the least. So should Real Time with Bill Maher fans expect a brand new episode?

Several politicians had their personal lives become headlines this week. It’s the kind of material that Bill Maher typically sinks his teeth into during an opening monologue. Unlike some other late-night hosts, Maher has the ability to take things right up to, and sometimes over, the line.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to hear what Maher has to say on Friday. There was not a new episode of Real Time with Bill Maher for September 15

Instead, HBO aired The Flash and The Bourne Ultimatum during Real Time with Bill Maher‘s normal 10:00 p.m. ET timeslot.

Why isn’t Real Time with Bill Maher new?

No, Real Time with Bill Maher wasn’t canceled. And even if the host thinks that late-night TV is a dying genre, he still has his HBO show.

But there won’t be a new episode tonight due to the ongoing writers’ strike. It was back in May that the Writers Guild of America walked off while demanding better pay and a new contract.

So like the rest of late-night TV, Real Time went dark without a writing staff. There haven’t been many positive signs to suggest that the WGA is nearing an agreement and will be back to work.

However, Real Time with Bill Maher will be back regardless of the contract negotiations. On Twitter, Maher announced the show will be back soon … just without a writing staff. The host promised to go without a monologue, desk piece, New Rule segment, or anything else that is typically prewritten.

Instead, the show will just feature the panel discussion. So while it won’t exactly be Real Time, it will still be Bill Maher facilitating a discussion on the biggest political and social topics of the week. An exact start date has not been announced.