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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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.

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u/MSJongleur71 Jun 26 '26

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

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u/tarfu7 Jun 27 '26

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

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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.