Johnny Carson retired at 66. David Letterman stepped away at 68. But at 70, Bill Maher says he has no intention of leaving his long-running HBO late-night series.
“People are basically retired at this point anyway,” the host told Byron Allen during a wide-ranging conversation on Maher’s Club Random podcast. “But I don’t want to retire, and nobody who was my fan wants me to.”
Maher said reaching 70 has felt considerably different from the version of old age he once imagined.
“I don’t feel any f**king different really, or quite frankly act different…than when I was 40,” he said. “I’m not married. I don’t have kids. I still drink and smoke pot and blah, blah, blah. When my life changes, maybe the show or my career will change, but until it does…”
The remarks come after HBO renewed Real Time for two additional seasons earlier this year. The deal will take the series through its 26th season and the end of 2028.
Maher is already the longest-tenured host of a late-night show currently on the air. Real Time, which premiered in 2003, is also now HBO’s second-longest-running series, behind only Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel, which concluded in 2023 after 29 seasons.
The extension gave Real Time the longest current lease on life among late-night’s remaining major players. Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers are signed to their respective NBC shows through mid-2028, while Jimmy Kimmel’s latest ABC extension takes Jimmy Kimmel Live! through May 2027.
Maher has already stepped away from one major part of his career. He stopped touring at the end of 2024 after more than four decades on the stand-up circuit, telling Allen that he believed he quit “at just the right time.”
“I don’t tour anymore,” Maher said. “I stopped.”
He explained that the travel had become increasingly burdensome, but the weekly Real Time monologue continues to satisfy the part of him that might otherwise miss performing on the road.
“There is not a time I am standing right backstage before the show starts when I don’t think to myself, enjoy this, because this is kind of what you live for,” he said.
Maher described the pleasure of working with the show’s writers, arranging the jokes precisely as he wants them and then walking out to deliver material he has never performed before.
“This is as much fun as you’re going to have with your pants on ever,” he said.
That does not mean Maher believes the show will continue forever. He said he reminds himself before each taping that the ritual will eventually end—unless, as he joked, he dies immediately after his final episode.
“That’s not going to be there in my life forever,” Maher said. “At one point, it’s going to be the last one. So enjoy this one, too.”
“And you don’t know when the last one is,” Allen replied.
“You don’t,” Maher said. “You have to enjoy it.”
Bunghole Bill’s show will cease to be after he does something fucking stupid and offensive, like calling a black person the N-word, or getting into a fight with one of his guests or an audience member that boos at his ignorant ‘jokes!’ Bunghole Bill is too obnoxious and full of himself to walk away with class and grace!
Oh, the fictional “racism” speak. Yawn. Bill does not play that way and YOU KNOW this.
Remember when Bunghole Bill blurted the N-word to Bill Sassee? That was him using his private voice to speak, instead of his public voice! Imagine what other offensive shit that ignorant fuck uses behind the cameras?
Bunghole Bill is full of hate, and YOU FUCKING KNOW this, bitch hole!
You remember how Maher, Rapoport and the rest of the Jews were fire breathing Never Trumpers just a few years ago and now they are all pro-Trump?
Weird huh?
No protests, books or investigations this time.
Weird huh?
I swear white Democrats are dumber and more incurious and conformists than blacks.
Anti-Semitism rants are a turn off. This is NOT a political website. Do better a– clown.
And so are you
Brilliance and Success are a threat to mediocre group “thinkers.”
No one is impressed with your anti Semitism and your all around bigotry?
And you think you’re a beloved figure around here!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
May Bill reign on HBO for as long as he wants and is able to. Bill Rocks!
Oh wait, you’re being serious!
Lemme laugh even harder at you!
BWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HAAAA!!!
Bill rocks. You have rocks in your head in thinking Bunghole Bill is awesome!
Maybe he should, to preserve his legacy. It’s easy to forget how older Real Time or Politically Incorrect could be really good. It’s easy for people to forget that with Bill going past Social Security eligibility age.
Bunghole Bill’s legacy is already damaged, due to his overinflated ego and hate of others!
There comes a time when a late night talk show needs a fresh perspective at the helm— whether it’s someone of a newer generation of talent or an underrepresented viewpoint— in order to maintain relevancy. I’m not even talking about someone like me. I’m a few years away from 50. I’m even too old.
It happened when Carson, Leno, and Letterman all got into their 60s, and Bill just turned 70.
Dennis Miller stepped down from his HBO show which gave Bill his shot. It’s time to pay it forward.
Bunghole Bill Maher is a toxic narcissist who believes his shit don’t stink, and who has an over inflated opinion about himself, which comes out every time he faces rightful criticism of his ‘humor!’
He’s gonna leave after he does something offensive, like say the N-word again or punch out one of his guests for challenging him, because HBO will fire his loser ass!
I used to live watching Real Time but now find it unwatchable. During COVID Bill’s schtick and unhinged rants about masked and hanging with the cool young kids was cringe. Then his fawning over Bob rock and the fealty visit to tRump made me give up all together. it was fun while it lasted, but all good things come to an end. Even Billaher.