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Granholm, Moyers, Roemer among 'Real Time' Maher's guest line up, preview

By April MacIntyre Jan 19, 2012, 13:26 GMT

HBO personality Bill Maher - Back Friday night. © Claudio Uema / PR Photos

Pundit and comic Bill Maher is back again Friday night on HBO.

Tune in alert for "real Time with Bill Maher" as the roundtable guests this week are former Mich. Gov. Jennifer Granholm, reporter Matt Lewis and former La. Gov. Buddy Roemer; commentator Bill Moyers and Vt. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Granholm, a Current TV pundit and show host, appeared Tuesday on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," and described Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney's job-creation credentials as "totally ridiculous."

She praised the Obama administration's bailout of the auto industry, which she called "smart government assistance to save the backbone of the manufacturing sector of this country."

Granholm is promoting her book "A Governor's Story," and her upcoming Current TV program, "The War Room with Jennifer Granholm."

Real Time with Bill Maher continues its tenth season Friday, JAN. 20 (10:00-11:00 p.m. live ET/tape-delayed PT), exclusively on HBO, with an instant replay at 11:00 p.m. following the live presentation.  Allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues, the show includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with in-studio and satellite guests.

Other HBO playdates:  Jan. 22 (12:30 p.m., 1:50 a.m.), 23 (8:00 p.m.) and 25 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  Jan. 20 (2:05 a.m.), 21 (9:30 a.m., midnight), 22 (7:00 p.m.) and 24 (10:00 p.m.)

A favorite of subscribers since his first special on the network in 1989, Maher has starred in nine solo specials on HBO, including the hour-long presentations “Bill Maher…But I’m Not Wrong,” “The Decider” and “I’m Swiss” (both nominated for an Emmy® in the Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special category), “Victory Begins at Home,” “Be More Cynical,” “The Golden Goose Special” and “Stuff That Struck Me Funny,” and two half-hour stand-up specials, plus the HBO specials “30 Seconds Over Washington” and “Comic Relief VI™.”

Maher was the creator and host of “Politically Incorrect,” which was produced by HBO Downtown Productions and debuted on Comedy Central in 1993.  The series moved to ABC in 1997 and ran through 2002.

His latest book, “The New New Rules:  A Funny Look at How Everybody but Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass,” was published in November and made the New York Times bestseller list. 

Maher’s 2006 book, “New Rules:  Polite Musings from a Timid Observer,” also made the New York Times bestseller list, as well as bestseller lists across the country.  He is also author of the books “When You Ride Alone You Ride with Bin Laden:  What the 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 produced and starred in the 2008 feature film “Religulous,” the seventh most successful documentary of all time.