What To Know
- Bill Maher talks about when he will retire from his long-running HBO show Real Time.
- The comedian said he still enjoys his work and doesn’t feel any different than when he was younger.
- Maher acknowledged that his show will eventually end, but he is focused on enjoying each episode.
Bill Maher has provided an update on his late-night career and whether or not he’s considering retirement since turning 70 back in January.
The Real Time host opened up on the latest episode of his Club Random podcast while speaking to comedian Byron Allen, whose show Comics Unleashed replaced The Late Show on CBS in May. Despite reaching retirement age, Maher said he has no intention of walking away.
“At 70, it’s different because now, I’ve done everything I ever wanted to do. So now I’m playing with the house money,” he said, per The Daily Beast. “I mean, if it all ends tomorrow, well, you know, it was a good ride.”
“People are basically retired at this point anyway,” he continued. “But I don’t want to retire, and nobody who was my fan wants me to.”
Maher celebrated his 70th birthday on January 20 but said he doesn’t “feel any f****** different” than when he was younger. “I’m not married, I don’t have kids, I still drink and smoke pot, and blah, blah, blah,” he added. “It’s like, when my life changes, maybe the show or my career will change, but until it does…”
Real Time has been airing on HBO since 2003 and is the cable network’s second-longest-running series behind Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel, which ended in 2023 after 29 seasons. The show was renewed through 2028 earlier this year, meaning it will at least reach its 28th season.
Many of Maher’s peers stepped away long before turning 70, including legendary Tonight Show host Johnny Carson, who retired at 66. The Late Show‘s David Letterman retired at 68, while Jay Leno was 59 when he first stepped down from The Tonight Show (and 63 the second time).
Maher said he is still having way too much fun, telling Allen, “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. This is as much fun as you’re going to have with your pants on ever.”
However, he did acknowledge that his show will eventually come to an end. “That’s not going to be there in my life forever,” he stated. “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.”
Real Time With Bill Maher, Fridays at 10/9c, HBO