Real Time with Bill Maher: Season 12
Season 12 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Real Time with Bill Maher Season 11.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 12 Progress Shield
January 17, 2014
Jan 17, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewee: Glenn Greenwald Panelists: Steve Schmidt, Jennifer Granholm, James Carville Panel Guest: (a very stoned) Mary Matalin Topics: Obama's speech on NSA reform, Chri
January 24, 2014
Jan 24, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewee: Erin Brockovich Panelists: Josh Barro, Howard Dean, Carly Fiorina Panel Guest: Willie Nelson Topics: 2014 Elk River chemical spill and coal mining, Republicans
January 31, 2014
Jan 31, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewee: John Ridley ("12 Years a Slave" screenwriter) Panelists: Chrystia Freeland (Canadian Member of Parliament), Ronan Farrow (MSNBC host), Darrell Issa (R-CA) Panel G
February 7, 2014
Feb 7, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewee: Charlie Crist Panelists: Tom Colicchio, Alicia Menendez, S. E. Cupp Panel Guest: P. J. O'Rourke Topics: Independents in US politics, Cuban embargo, immigration
February 14, 2014
Feb 14, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewee: Jeremy Scahill ("Dirty Wars" Docu-maker) Panelists: Andrew Sullivan ("Daily Dish" blogger), Mayim Bialik ("Big Bang Theory" star and vegan author), Eric Klinenberg
February 21, 2014
Feb 21, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewee: Michelle Alexander Panelists: Charles Cooke, Jane Harman, Rachel Maddow Panel Guest: Steve Coogan Topics: The New Jim Crow, incarceration in the US, human righ
February 28, 2014
Feb 28, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewee: Christopher Leonard (author "The Meat Racket") Panelists: Austan Goolsbee, Margaret Hoover, William Kristol Panel Guest: Bruce Dern Topics: The Meat industry's
March 14, 2014
Mar 14, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewee: Alan Weisman (author of "Countdown") Panelists: Andrew Sullivan, Salman Rushdie, Amy Chua Panel Guest: Seth MacFarlane Topics: Environmentalism and overpopulati
March 21, 2014
Mar 21, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewee: Errol Morris (author of "The Unknown Known") Panelists: Keith Ellison, Sheila Bair, Simon Schama Panel Guest: Shane Smith (host of Vice) Topics: The Unknown Kno
March 28, 2014
Mar 28, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewee: Jimmy Carter (former U.S. President) Panelists: W. Kamau Bell, Neera Tanden, Rick Lazio Panel Guest: Josh Gad Topics: A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence
April 4, 2014
Apr 4, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewees: Paul Watson (Captain) Panelists: Alex Wagner (MSNBC host), Tom Davis (R-VA), and Carrie Sheffield (Forbes columnist) Panel Guest: Nas (Hip Hop icon) Topics: Mar
April 11, 2014
Apr 11, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewees: Maria Alyokhina & Nadezhda Tolokonnikova (members of Pussy Riot) Panelists: Rob Lowe, Duncan D. Hunter, Ana Marie Cox Panel Guest: Matt Taibbi Topics:
April 25, 2014
Apr 25, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewee: Tom Steyer (Hedge Fund Manager & Philanthropist) Panelists: John Avlon ("Daily Beast" Editor), Charles Murray ("Curmudgeon" author), and Christine Quinn (Ex-NYC Cou
May 2, 2014
May 2, 2014 · 60 min
Musician Ziggy Marley, Ex-NBA Player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA), "Blood Will Out" Author Walter Kirn, and Financial Consultant Monica Mehta.
May 9, 2014
May 9, 2014 · 60 min
Interviewee: Sister Simone Campbell ("Nun on a Bus") Panelists: Matt Welch ("Reason" magazine Editor-in-Chief), Baratunde Thurston (Author and Comic), Arianna Huffington ("Thriv
May 16, 2014
May 16, 2014 · 60 min
Comedian and Actor Kevin Nealon, Ex-Governor Brian Schweitzer (D-MN), from "Fed Up" Dr. Robert Lustig, GOP Pollster Kellyanne Conway and Author of "Every Nation for Itself" Ian Bre
May 23, 2014
May 23, 2014 · 60 min
Jose Antonio Vargas, Anna Deavere Smith, Michael Smerconish, David Frum and Sarah Silverman.
June 6, 2014
Jun 6, 2014 · 60 min
John Waters, Anthony Weiner, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Nicolle Wallace and Jim Geraghty
June 13, 2014
Jun 13, 2014 · 60 min
EPA Head Gina McCarthy, MSNBC Co-Host Krystal Ball, Novelist Richard Clarke, Comedian Carol Leifer and Conservative Blogger Tom Rogan.
June 20, 2014
Jun 20, 2014 · 60 min
"No Place to Hide" Author Glenn Greenwald, Linkin Park's Michael Shinoda, Atlantic Journalist Ta-Nehisa Coates, I.A.V.A. Founder Paul Rieckhoff, and Conservative Pollster Kristen S
June 27, 2014
Jun 27, 2014 · 60 min
Bill's guests are: Martin Blaser, Max Brooks, Bobby Ghosh, Andy Litinsky, and Joy-Ann Reid.
July 11, 2014
Jul 11, 2014 · 60 min
Author Sandra Tsing-Loh, Pulitzer prize-winner Ron Suskind, Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), and National Review's Reihan Salam.
July 18, 2014
Jul 18, 2014 · 60 min
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, president of North Carolina NAACP; actor George Takei; former Rep. Jane Harman (D- Calif.); statistician Nate Silver; editor Jamie Weinstein.
July 25, 2014
Jul 25, 2014 · 60 min
"Cosmos" star Neil deGrasse Tyson, Democracy Now's Amy Goodman, Freedomworks' Matt Kibbe, GOP Strategist Hogan Gidley.
August 1, 2014
Aug 1, 2014 · 60 min
Political activist Ralph Nader; author Douglas Brinkley; deputy chief of staff to the House Majority Leader, Doug Heye; Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.).
September 12, 2014
Sep 12, 2014 · 60 min
Live from Washington D.C. Guests include comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld, Ex-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) followed by a live stand-up special.
September 19, 2014
Sep 19, 2014 · 60 min
Former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell; political activist Matthew Segal; Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.); editor Katrina vanden Heuvel; actor Wendell Pierce.
September 26, 2014
Sep 26, 2014 · 60 min
Social activist Naomi Klein; filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi; journalist Charles M. Blow; journalist John Feehery; Gen. Anthony Zinni.
October 3, 2014
Oct 3, 2014 · 60 min
This weeks guests include Oscar winner Ben Affleck, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), New York Times Op-Editor Nicholas Kristoff, Ex-RNC Chair Michael Steele, and "Waking Up" author
October 17, 2014
Oct 17, 2014 · 60 min
This weeks guests include Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ex-British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, and "Atlantic" Senior Editor David Frum
October 24, 2014
Oct 24, 2014 · 60 min
"Black Prophetic Fire" Author Cornel West, Conservative Commentator Mary Matalin, "Daily Beast" Editor-In-Chief John Avlon.
October 31, 2014
Oct 31, 2014 · 60 min
Actress and "Food Chain" EP Eva Longoria, Author and General (Ret.) Wesley Clark, Senator Angus King (I-ME), and Journalist Rula Jebreal.
November 7, 2014
Nov 7, 2014 · 60 min
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), "Comeback" star Lisa Kudrow, Washington Post's Robert Costa, Daily Beast's Kristen Soltis Anderson.
November 14, 2014
Nov 14, 2014 · 60 min
Rep. Rand Paul (R-KY), Comedy Legend Martin Short, Founding Editor of "The Dish" Andrew Sullivan, CNN Political Contributor Margaret Hoover, and Investigative Journalist Jeremy Sca
November 21, 2014
Nov 21, 2014 · 60 min
Season Finale. "The Interview" star Seth Rogen, MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews, Monty Python Alum & "So Anyway..." author John Cleese, Canadian MP Chrystia Freeland and "New