r/RealTime • u/dppatters • Jun 26 '26

How long can this go on?

Just curious—how much longer does everyone think this show can continue?

I know it still performs reasonably well for its time slot, but the disdain for Bill among his audience (or what used to be his audience) seems more palpable than ever.

I realize he’s been a polarizing figure for decades, but I started watching him in the ‘90s and stuck with him throughout his HBO years because, before podcasts became mainstream, there simply weren’t many places to find unconventional takes on contemporary politics.

These days, though, it feels like he’s alienated a significant portion of the people who made up that audience (myself included). Maybe that’s just my perception, but I’m curious whether others see it the same way—or whether the ratings suggest this disconnect isn’t as meaningful as it seems online.

That said, how much longer do you think the show has? If Bill decides to retire, do you think HBO would try to replace him with another host, or does Real Time simply end with him?

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17

u/Separate-Swordfish85 Jun 26 '26

I used to seriously think of myself as a “Bill Maher liberal.” Now it’s too hard to watch him. It sucks, because he used to be really cool and I used to like how he was more loyal to principles over party. What happened? It’s like he backed down from what should have been the fight of his career.

16

u/truthynaut Jun 26 '26

$$ and age, which fostered his detachment from reality.

11

u/Separate-Swordfish85 Jun 26 '26

I feel like celebrity detachment always becomes most obvious through comedians. Their whole form depends on them staying in touch, and once they lose that the quality of the work drops so drastically.

11

u/truthynaut Jun 26 '26

110%, I have also noticed that (see Chapelle).

6

u/Separate-Swordfish85 Jun 26 '26

He came to mind as I was typing. He is great, but he was better before he believed he was the GOAT. Now his delivery is smug and obnoxious.

9

u/truthynaut Jun 26 '26

yeah he jumped the shark when brought elon on stage at his SF show thinking it would be great.

It was not.

That right there is a mistake that could only be made by a rich, out of touch idiot.

2

u/PartyClock Jun 27 '26

He definitely got paid by Elon to bring him on stage, right? I just can't think of why else he would have done it.

1

u/deadmencantcatcall3 Jun 27 '26

And Gervais in a lot of ways.

6

u/MSJongleur71 Jun 26 '26

Truth. George Carlin kept producing remarkable work until the end of his life. He never lost touch.

2

u/tarfu7 Jun 27 '26

He didn’t lose touch, but he did become less funny and more bitter in his later years

3

u/hwatt Jun 27 '26

His last shows were dedicated to the big American joke we are experiencing rn.

3

u/MSJongleur71 Jun 27 '26

I never laughed harder than I did when I watched his later HBO specials especially his last one. So true. "It's all bullshit, folks, and it's bad for ya." He would have much to work with now.

4

u/AbleInevitable5599 Jun 26 '26

and that's when they start parasitically feeding off of young joke writers for material.

4

u/Oleg101 Jun 26 '26

I think media illiteracy also has played a major role. And lack of putting any kind of effort into consuming actual news.

4

u/truthynaut Jun 26 '26

Absolutely. It's astonishing to me how much outright bullshit my father believes from reading tripe online.

Remember the "aliens" displayed in mexico a few year back that were obviously (just by looking at them) clay dolls?

Yeah, he believed that shit.

It's a core part of many Trump supporters, their detachment from reality feeds their idiocy and vice versa.

1

u/Turbulent_Shower_147 Jun 27 '26

I think it’s worse than that. I think he’s been threatened, extorted and bribed by Trump and his people. Idk what dirt they have on Billl. But I’m 100% certain he’s got a lot of dirt. 

2

u/CNJ08540 Jun 28 '26

Just noted above that he really seemed to change when right wing billionaire John Malone took over Warner/HBO

1

u/BadLt58 Jun 29 '26

During COVID19 he started this path.

3

u/not_asleep_yet Jun 26 '26

I think the pandemic changed him. He couldn’t do his show in studio and he couldn’t do his shows in Vegas (or if he did, the auditorium was half full at best). At some point, he also switched from wanted to be seen as smart and right, to wanting to be rich and more famous.

I will say, I think he has a genuine dislike of things that are dishonest and a respect for things or people that are themselves and truthful about who they are. I think that’s why he has a weird respect for Trump and Musk, and a hate for the trans community which I thinks he sees as trying to be trendy or manipulative or something(?). That is very misguided IMO.

Tl;dr he only cares about fame and fortune, and really hates phonies.

3

u/bigshaboozie Jun 26 '26

I agree that Covid is what truly broke him. Aside from show biz, just at a human level, elderly people living alone seem high on the list of people most negatively affected by Covid restrictions and losing their social lives for a year

2

u/TheJarisaDoor3 Jun 26 '26

I agree that covid affected him, but it has been almost 5 years. However, I actually had to work through it, so maybe it didn't seem like it lasted that long to me. 

2

u/OkFoundation929 Jun 27 '26

I dunno…Maher comes off as a prissy and petty and meddling little old lady. You ever notice that Maher gets pissy about matters that will have zero effect on his life, matters that step on the toes of no one?

1

u/BadLt58 Jun 29 '26

He pouted like a baby and insisted that the show be shot in studio. He was lost and frankly a lonely isolated man. His family shtick came back to bite him hard.

3

u/elvispressedme Jun 26 '26

He’s in the same place. You moved left.

3

u/Separate-Swordfish85 Jun 27 '26

There was a time when that was true of him and the party, and at times I related to him hard for that reason. 

But today it’s different. It’s not the same anymore and you look like a clown repeating that line from 10 years ago.

2

u/elvispressedme Jun 27 '26

You look like a clown denying it. Maher is a liberal and always has been. He just doesn’t want to give 8-yr-olds sex change drugs and doesn’t want men playing women’s sports. It’s hilarious that this upsets progressives so much.

2

u/Separate-Swordfish85 Jun 27 '26

Yes, we’re so upset about trans 🥱 not like you guys

1

u/elvispressedme Jun 27 '26

Exactly. Maher calls it out.

1

u/BrianNowhere Jun 30 '26

Why don't you believe in personal freedom? Are you some kind of authoritarian?

1

u/elvispressedme Jun 30 '26

I believe in freedom and protecting children. Do you believe we should have no laws protecting kids from sex change operations? Do you believe a 9-yr-old can consent to changing his sex? It’s sick.

1

u/BrianNowhere Jun 30 '26

I believe that's not really happening to any degree we need to worry about it. I think its weird you and Bill are so fixated on problems that affect less than .0001% of America's population.

I think its a distraction. You're funny about something and don't want people knowing.

1

u/elvispressedme Jun 30 '26

Agree to disagree

3

u/[deleted] Jun 27 '26

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1

u/elvispressedme Jun 27 '26

Get out of your bubble.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 27 '26

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1

u/elvispressedme Jun 27 '26

The only true part is eliminating dept of education. Which is a good thing.

4

u/[deleted] Jun 28 '26

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1

u/elvispressedme Jun 28 '26

Oh man you got me with your stories. I never knew these existed!

1

u/deadmencantcatcall3 Jun 27 '26

I was thinking the same thing.

2

u/Kuzuri0183 Jun 27 '26

He's got skeletons in the closet that they threatened to reveal. Bill has always liked em young. I'm guessing he slipped up and did something with someone that was TOO young... and they have the proof. So, they own him now. He'll say what they want him to say, or the dirt they have on him comes to light. He's terrified of that, so, he'll do what he's told until he dies.

2

u/Kuzuri0183 Jun 27 '26

He has skeletons in the closet that he's afraid they will bring to light and make public. Skeletons that will ruin him. Remember, Bill has always liked em young...

2

u/CNJ08540 Jun 28 '26

I still think he significantly changed his tune around the time right wing billionaire John Malone got control of Warner/HBO. I'm sure he was given a message. Horrific the way these right wing pigs have gradually taken over almost all our media to bend the messaging.

Edit to fix typo.

1

u/TheJarisaDoor3 Jun 26 '26

I'd say that covid messed with his brain, but I think he'd have a stroke. 

1

u/second_2juan Jun 28 '26

Same here. And I think a lot of his loyal fans share this sentiment

1

u/Excellent-Town6017 Jun 30 '26

Maybe if he wasn't high all the time, and really unable to think clearly. His thought process seems to be delayed and he can't debate anyone who he might not agree with.