Mike Pence to Make Late-Night Debut on Real Time with Bill Maher

First on LateNighter: After two decades in public office and countless monologue jokes at his expense, Mike Pence is finally entering the late-night arena himself, with the former vice president set to visit HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher this Friday, June 5.

It will mark Pence’s first-ever late-night appearance—a milestone for a politician who has spent years as a reliable source of late-night material.

Maher, in particular, has had plenty to say about Pence over the years. He’s mocked his strict religious conservatism and famously rigid personal rules, while also occasionally holding him up as a more traditional, norms-abiding Republican contrast to Donald Trump.

That Pence is appearing on Maher’s show rather than Jimmy Kimmel Live! or The Daily Show shouldn’t surprise. From its start in 2003, Real Time has featured a broader range of political viewpoints than most of its late-night brethren.

Pence will be appearing as he promotes his new book, What Conservatives Believe: Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience, and the work of his advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom.

For Maher, the booking brings one of his long-running political punchlines into the guest chair, with Pence’s Trump-era arc—from unlikely running mate, to obsequious sidekick, to walking cautionary tale for anyone tempted to hitch their wagon to Trump—promising to give the appearance an extra charge.

Also set to appear on Friday night’s Real Time are Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) and Ambassador Susan Rice, who served in the Obama and Biden administrations.

Visit our lineups area for updated guest listings for all the late-night shows, and subscribe to our daily newsletter to receive stories like this in your inbox.