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Bill's back! 'Real Time with Bill Maher' new season starts Friday

By April MacIntyre Jan 15, 2013, 21:19 GMT

Martin Short - Beverly Hills, CA, USA © Emiley Schweich / PR Photos

Friday nights are back in big style on HBO as M&C's favorite salon of modern thinkers ramps up with returning moderator and host Bill Maher of "Real Time with Bill Maher."

This January 18, the 11th season of "Real Time" commences with guests Martin Short, Bob Kerrey, Rula Jebreal, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, and Steve LaTourette.

Mr. Maher returns Friday, Jan. 18 (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.

This format allows Mr. Maher to offer his un-PC and non-conforming perspective on contemporary issues as he courts both sides of the political divide for their input.  From actors to activists, show percolates with an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with in-studio and satellite guests.

From HBO

The roundtable guests this week are reporter Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, former Ohio Rep. Steve LaTourette and comedian-actor Martin Short; former Neb. Sen. Bob Kerrey and journalist Rula Jebreal are interview guests.

Other HBO playdates:  Jan. 20 (noon, 1:55 a.m.), 21 (8:00 p.m.) and 23 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates:  Jan. 18 (2:15 a.m.), 19 (9:45 a.m., 12:15 a.m.), 20 (7:00 p.m.) and 22 (10:00 p.m.)

Bill Maher has been favorite of subscribers since his first special on the network in 1989, starring in nine solo specials, 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 specials “30 Seconds Over Washington” and “Comic Relief VI™.”

He 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 2011 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 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.

            For more information on REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER, please visit www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher. Facebook page: facebook.com/Maher. Twitter: @Realtimers.