Rachel Maddow, Michael Ware join Bill Maher on HBO, Friday, July 31

By April MacIntyre Jul 31, 2009, 4:52 GMT

Bill Maher. Serving as moderator, commentator and satirist, Maher doles out his unique perspective on contemporary issues via an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, "New Rules" and interviews with in-studio and satellite guests. EPA/Darren Decker / AMPAS

Michael Ware, Rachel Maddow, Joe Queenan and Niall Ferguson will ring in Friday night with robust chat about every hot topical subject with host Bill Maher, for thre HBO Emmy nominated series, "Real Time With Bill Maher."

The series continues its seventh season in prime time Friday, July 31 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), on HBO, with an instant replay at 11:00 p.m.

Host Maher takes on each subject with a perspective that is not defined by left, right, liberal or conservative.  He has called out President Obama for not doing enough for health care reform, and reiterates his beliefs that Big Agra and Big Pharma are in a collusion of sorts, having the American people existing on a diet of misinformation, toxic food and suffering the consequences of ill health.

The show features an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with in-studio and satellite guests.

The roundtable guests this week include historian Niall Ferguson, news anchor Rachel Maddow and humorist Joe Queenan; the interview guests are journalist Jeff Sharlet and correspondent Michael Ware.

Maher was the creator and host of “Politically Incorrect,” which was produced by 28 Downtown Productions and debuted on Comedy Central in 1993.  The series moved to ABC in 1997, where Brad Grey Television joined HBO Downtown Productions as producers, and ended its run in 2002.

Other HBO playdates:  Aug. 2 (1:30 p.m., 2:55 a.m.), 3 (8:00 p.m.) and 5 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  July 31 (2:15 a.m.) and Aug. 1 (9:00 a.m., midnight), 2 (7:00 p.m.) and 4 (10:00 p.m.)