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Bill Maher gets 11th season on HBO, hosts Jesse Ventura April 16

By April MacIntyre Apr 16, 2010, 6:57 GMT

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HBO's Friday night political and social salon "Real Time with Bill Maher" has been re-upped for a ninth season.

Maher’s new two-year deal with the network was announced today by Nancy Geller, senior vice president, HBO Entertainment. 

Slated for 35 hour-long episodes, the season will launch in early 2011.

“Bill Maher is one of the most sought-after opinion makers on TV,” noted Geller.  “I’m delighted that this fearless and provocative observer will return to HBO next year.  By presenting an increased number of episodes in 2011, we’ll be able bring this live, topical show to our subscribers almost year-round.”

Maher continues its eighth season Friday, April 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m. live ET/tape-delayed PT), on HBO, with an instant replay at 11:00 p.m., following the live presentation, allowing Maher to begin the show with his monologue, the segue to roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with in-studio and satellite guests.

The roundtable guests this week are journalist Laura Flanders, economist Simon Johnson and New Yorker editor David Remnick; movie producer Lawrence Bender and former Minn. Gov. Jesse Ventura are interview guests.

His most recent book, “New Rules:  Polite Musings from a Timid Observer,” made the New York Times best seller list, as well as best seller lists across the country.  He is also author of the books “When You Ride Alone You Ride with Bin Laden:  What Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism,” “Does Anybody Have a Problem with That?  The Best of Politically Incorrect” and the novel “True Story.”  Maher also starred in the 2008 feature film “Religulous,” the seventh most successful documentary of all time.

Other HBO playdates:  April 18 (12:45 p.m., 3:50 a.m.), 19 (8:00 p.m.) and 21 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  April 16 (2:30 a.m.), 17 (10:30 a.m., midnight), 18 (7:00 p.m.) and 20 (10:00 p.m.)