Bill Maher delays return of HBO show over writers’ strikes ‘for now’

Comedian Bill Maher reversed course in returning to his HBO show Real Time amid the writers’ strike.

“My decision to return to work was made when it seemed nothing was happening and there was no end in sight to this strike,” he said in a statement on social media.

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Maher added, “Now that both sides have agreed to go back to the negotiating table I’m going to delay the return of ‘Real Time,’ for now, and hope they can finally get this done.”

The television host had previously insisted that because his show was a news-related show, he could continue on without writers even though he admitted it would “not be as good” without his monologue, “New Rules” segment, and other writer-required production on the show.

Writers Guild of America West President Meredith Stiehm recently took aim at Maher for suggesting he would move ahead with his show despite being a member of the WGA and for working without his writers amid the strike.

“There is a distinction between Bill Maher and the others because he is a Writers Guild member. The others, I believe, are SAG members, and they may have waivers to do the shows. I’m not sure, but he’s a Writers Guild member, and he’s going back to work. So yes, a lot of people are saying that’s scabbing,” Stiehm said on CNN.

Fellow late-night comedians Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver, whose shows also revolve around the news cycle and entertainment news, all vowed to join the strike and recently created a podcast to help raise funds for their staff. Fallon and Meyers pledged in May to pay their staff for several weeks during the strike.

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Maher’s reversal comes after talk show host Drew Barrymore apologized on Sunday for hurting any of her team by considering resuming her show.

“I am making the decision to pause the show’s premiere until the strike is over. I have no words to express my deepest apologies to anyone I have hurt and, of course, to our incredible team who works on the show and has made it what it is today. We really tried to find our way forward. And I truly hope for a resolution for the entire industry very soon,” she wrote on Instagram.