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The Best Episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher

Every episode of Real Time with Bill Maher ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher!

Binge this in 30d 16h•Peaking at 7.8/10

Each week Bill Maher surrounds himself with a panel of guests which include politicians, actors, comedians, musicians and the like to discuss what's going on in the world.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Real Time with Bill Maher Season 9 Episode 26 - August 05, 2011
    7.8/10(31 votes)

    S9:E26

    Guests: Ex-Obama economy adviser Christina Romer, Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Salon editor-at-large Joan Walsh, Palin biography filmmaker Stephen K Bannon and chef Anthony Bourdain. Topics: US credit downgrade, debt ceiling deal, failure of the stimulus package, inability of Democrats to negotiate, 'job creators', defunding of science in America, Rick Perry's prayer festival, escaping poverty, would Hillary Clinton have been better, need for a left-wing tea party equivalent.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 3 Episode 16 - September 09, 2005
    7.7/10(27 votes)

    S3:E16

    Guests: Walter Maestri, Joe Scarborough, comedian George Carlin, Cynthia Tucker, conservative editorialist James K. Glassman, writer Kurt Vonnegut Topics: Michael D. Brown, US political system, on race, on the Administration

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 20 Episode 10 - April 1, 2022: Nicole Perlroth, Laura Coates, Andrew Yang
    7.7/10(52 votes)

    S20:E10

    Kicking off this week's episode, Bill interviews Nicole Perlroth, former lead cybersecurity and digital espionage reporter for The New York Times. On the panel, he is joined by Laura Coates, a CNN Senior Legal Analyst, and Andrew Yang, former Democratic Presidential candidate and founder of the new political third party, Forward.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 9 Episode 2 - January 21, 2011
    7.6/10(29 votes)

    S9:E2

    Guests: Journalist Michael Hastings, politician/businessman David Stockman, political commentator Rachel Maddow, economist Stephen Moore, entrepreneur Russell Simmons Topics: Keith Olbermann, Tunisian protests, health care, Ronald Reagan's legacy, gun control, Tucson shooting

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 10 Episode 8 - March 09, 2012
    7.6/10(32 votes)

    S10:E8

    Guests: Israeli ambassador Michael Oren, Ex SEIU head Andrew Stern, author Catherine Crier, Ex, RNC chair Michael Steele, "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm. Topics: Iran's nuclear program, Israel's conservative government, Super Tuesday results, a third political party in America, the price of freedom of speech, contraception and abortion, prejudice and voting against economic interest, home schooling.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 17 Episode 20 - Episode 500
    7.6/10(43 votes)

    S17:E20

    Guests: Allan Lichtman, Dr. Debra Soh, Thom Hartmann, Liz Mair, Dan Savage.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher

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  7. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 19 Episode 8 - Episode 558
    7.6/10(58 votes)

    S19:E8

    This week, Bill sits down with New York Times bestselling-author Annabelle Gurwitch. For the panel, he is joined by Scott Galloway, Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern, and comedian Larry Wilmore.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 19 Episode 23 - Episode 573
    7.6/10(51 votes)

    S19:E23

    Screen legends Martin Short and Steve Martin join Bill for the opening interview, while journalist Michael Moynihan and former DNC chair Donna Brazile join him for the panel discussion.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 20 Episode 35 - November 18, 2022: Matthew Perry, Laura Coates, Jonathan Haidt
    7.6/10(41 votes)

    S20:E35

    For the last show of the season, Bill interviews actor Matthew Perry about his new book. On the panel, he is joined by CNN anchor Laura Coates and Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at NYU’s Stern School of Business.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 4 Episode 20 - October 20, 2006
    7.5/10(32 votes)

    S4:E20

    Guests: Gov. Bill Richardson, Rep. Barney Frank, actor Jason Alexander, Stephen Moore of The Wall Street Journal; via satellite, author David Kuo Topics: North Korea policy, Congressional scandals, gay marriage, Military Commissions Act

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 7 Episode 1 - February 20, 2009
    7.5/10(29 votes)

    S7:E1

    Guests: Financial Times editor Chrystia Freeland, journalist Tina Brown, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA); via satellite, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), journalist Brigitte Gabriel Topics: The economy, President Obama's first month in office

    Director:Hal Grant
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 7 Episode 15 - June 05, 2009
    7.5/10(25 votes)

    S7:E15

    Guests: Actor and comedian D. L. Hughley, Council of Foreign Relations president Richard Haass, novelist Paula Froelich, journalist Jeremy Scahill, Fortune editor Matt Miller Topics: Obama's visit to the Middle East, terrorism, abortion debate and the murder of Dr. George Tiller, gay marriage, health care reform in the United States

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 7 Episode 31 - October 16, 2009
    7.5/10(27 votes)

    S7:E31

    Guests: Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) , Actor Alec Baldwin, comedian and actor Garry Shandling, Hardball host Chris Matthews, Maryland governor Martin O'Malley Topics: Balloon Boy incident, Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, health care reform, H1N1 vaccination concerns, ongoing efforts to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell, sexual harassment in the military, Rush Limbaugh's failed bid to buy the St. Louis Rams, steroid use in professional sports

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 8 Episode 1 - February 19, 2010
    7.5/10(29 votes)

    S8:E1

    Guests: Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel Elizabeth Warren, comedienne Wanda Sykes, Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane , former Governor Eliot Spitzer, and Norah O'Donnell Topics: Lack of action by government, bipartisanship, the filibuster, Obama's handling of terrorism, torture, controversy over Family Guy's Down's Syndrome episode, race and criticism of Obama, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Kevin Smith's airplane incident, obesity, Bill's tweet criticizing media coverage of Haiti

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 8 Episode 20 - October 08, 2010
    7.5/10(25 votes)

    S8:E20

    Guests: Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin, conservative commentator S. E. Cupp, comedian P. J. O'Rourke, journalist Joshua Green Topics: Gene Cranick, zero-sum economic theory, Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), Christine O'Donnell, Rich Iott, climate change, religion

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 9 Episode 12 - April 08, 2011
    7.5/10(25 votes)

    S9:E12

    Guests: Pilot Chesley Sullenberger, CNN host Eliot Spitzer, BBC anchor Katty Kay, Daily Beast blogger Andrew Sullivan, comedian Colin Quinn Topics: Government shutdown, Planned Parenthood, US Budget, Objectivism, Libya, reaction to Pastor Terry Jones, Donald Trump, Class conflict

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 9 Episode 14 - April 29, 2011
    7.5/10(26 votes)

    S9:E14

    Guests: Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA), journalist Laura Flanders, blogger Andrew Breitbart, author Mark McKinnon, director John Waters Topics: Birther and schooler conspiracy theories, labor union bill in Massachusetts, Romneycare, racism in the GOP, Donald Trump, gas prices, windfall profits tax, censorship on TV, Victory Day in Afghanistan, monarchy in the UK

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 9 Episode 18 - June 03, 2011
    7.5/10(29 votes)

    S9:E18

    Guests: U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, professor Melissa Harris-Perry, former New York Rep. Rick Lazio, journalist Larry King, writer/director Adam McKay Topics: Mitt Romney's Presidential campaign, Republican hyperbolic rhetoric about Obama, Sarah Palin's bus tour, Rep. Anthony Weiner scandal, Lee Atwater, John Edwards scandal, the US budget deficit, link between cell phones and cancer, businessmen as politicians

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 9 Episode 28 - September 23, 2011
    7.5/10(30 votes)

    S9:E28

    Guests: Journalist Ron Suskind, musician and activist Tom Morello, co-editor of Deadline Artists: America’s Greatest Newspaper Columns John Avlon, former Representative and Director, President, and CEO of The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Jane Harman (D-CA), filmmaker Michael Moore Topics: Obama's first term in office, Ricky Perry's campaign, unemployment, Bill O'Reilly threat to quote, wealthy people unwilling to accept higher taxes, Tony Bennett remarks, artist censorship, occupation of Wall Street, poor people voting against their economic interests

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 10 Episode 7 - March 02, 2012
    7.5/10(34 votes)

    S10:E7

    Guests: Former Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), former Vice Chairman of General Motors Bob Lutz, Democratic strategist James Carville, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, journalist John Heilemann. Topics: Rush Limbaugh's 'slut' comments, campaign finance and Super PACs, Rick Santorum self destructing, 'Blunt' healthcare amendment, the highjacking of the Republican establishment, the auto bailout, climate change, the space program, the importance of scientific advancement, the liberal bubble and the 'joke candidate'.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 11 Episode 2 - January 25, 2013
    7.5/10(30 votes)

    S11:E2

    GOPAC president David Avella; former Vt. Gov. Howard Dean; political strategist Kristen Soltis; House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi; Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont).

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 11 Episode 6 - March 1, 2013
    7.5/10(31 votes)

    S11:E6

    Cybersecurity expert James Lyne; musician Snoop Lion (formerly Snoop Dogg); finance expert Monica Mehta; Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA); political strategist Steve Schmidt.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 11 Episode 16 - May 17, 2013
    7.5/10(29 votes)

    S11:E16

    Guests: Oscar winning director Michael Moore; from "The Hangover Part III", actor/comedian Zach Galifianakis; from "The Cycle", co-host S.E. Cupp; from "Foreign Policy Begins at Home", author Richard Haas; NYT Finance columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 11 Episode 18 - June 7, 2013
    7.5/10(32 votes)

    S11:E18

    Guests: Filmmaker & author Tom Shadyac; journalist & author George Packer; GOP strategist Ana Navarro; comedian Dana Gould; author Kevin Williamson.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Real Time with Bill Maher Season 11 Episode 26 - September 13, 2013
    7.5/10(33 votes)

    S11:E26

    Panellists: Zanny Minton Beddoes, Edwin Lyman, Bill Nye, Michael Steele, Matt Taibbi.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"August 05, 2011" is the best rated episode of "Real Time with Bill Maher". It scored 7.8/10 based on 31 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 8/5/2011. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "September 09, 2005".