Real Time with Bill Maher: Season 5
Season five of Real Time with Bill Maher, the political talk series that debuted in 2003, proceeds with its established format across twenty‑four episodes. Host Bill Maher continues to steer nightly discussions that blend news analysis, satire, and debate. Consistent with the series’ evolution, the program emphasizes guests who are well‑versed in current affairs—journalists, professors, and politicians—while limiting
Season 5 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Real Time with Bill Maher is a weekly political talk show that began airing in 2003.
- Bill Maher serves as the host, guiding discussions that blend news analysis with satire.
- The show’s panel typically includes journalists, professors, and politicians rather than actors or celebrities.
- Season five continues this format, delivering twenty‑four episodes of real‑time commentary on current events.
Season overview
Season five of Real Time with Bill Maher, the political talk series that debuted in 2003, proceeds with its established format across twenty‑four episodes. Host Bill Maher continues to steer nightly discussions that blend news analysis, satire, and debate. Consistent with the series’ evolution, the program emphasizes guests who are well‑versed in current affairs—journalists, professors, and politicians—while limiting the presence of actors and other entertainers. Each episode features a panel that examines the week’s most pressing political and cultural issues, offering Maher’s commentary alongside the perspectives of the expert contributors. The season maintains the show’s reputation for candid, often provocative dialogue, reflecting ongoing national and international events without deviating from its core premise of real‑time commentary. By sustaining this structure, season five reinforces the series’ role as a forum for informed yet irreverent discourse on contemporary topics.
Episode Guide
Season 5 Progress Shield
February 16, 2007
Feb 16, 2007
Guests: Fmr Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, fmr Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, TV host Craig Ferguson; via satellite, fmr Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) and basketball player John Amaechi
February 23, 2007
Feb 23, 2007
Guests: Rep. Darrell Issa, author Ayaan Hirsi Ali, actor Steven Weber; via satellite, Sen. Joe Biden and filmmaker David Mamet Topics: Guantanamo Bay detention camp, clash of civi
March 02, 2007
Mar 2, 2007
Guests: Author/commentator John Ridley, MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, Rep. Barney Frank; via satellite, journalist Seymour Hersh and actress Mia Farrow Topics: Middle East dynamics, wa
March 09, 2007
Mar 9, 2007
Guests: Author David Kuo, Washington Post reporter Dana Milbank, comedienne Roseanne Barr, author Deepak Chopra; via satellite, Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton (ret.) Topics: Walter Reed con
March 16, 2007
Mar 16, 2007
Guests: Actor Jason Alexander, Martha Raddatz of ABC News, journalist Dan Rather; via satellite, comedian Chris Rock and fmr Gov. Mike Huckabee Topics: Dismissal of U.S. attorneys
March 23, 2007
Mar 28, 2007
Guests: Fmr Bush speechwriter David Frum, Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin, musician John Legend; via satellite, fmr Natl Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski and Sen. Bernie Sanders
March 30, 2007
Mar 30, 2007
Guests: Radio host Michael Smerconish, comedian D. L. Hughley, Court TV's Catherine Crier; via satellite, Fmr Sec'y of State Madeleine Albright and Rep. Ron Paul Topics: Funding o
April 13, 2007
Apr 13, 2007
Guests: Fmr Sen Bill Bradley, comedian Dana Carvey, Fmr White House Press Sec'y Scott McClellan; via satellite, Rev. Al Sharpton, activist Laurie David, musician Sheryl Crow Topic
April 20, 2007
Apr 20, 2007
Guests: Author John O'Sullivan, commentator Amy Holmes, Gov. Brian Schweitzer (Mont.); via satellite, journalist Bill Moyers Topics: Virginia Tech shooting, gun control, Alberto G
April 27, 2007
Apr 27, 2007
Guests: Actor Richard Belzer, NPR correspondent Jamie Tarabay, commentator Lisa Schiffren, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, fmr US Attorney David Iglesias Topics: Pat Tillman controversy, U.
May 04, 2007
May 4, 2007
Guests: Fmr Rep Harold Ford, Jr., actor/activist Sean Penn, comedian Garry Shandling; via satellite, fmr Gov Tommy Thompson and CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta Topics: Republican president
May 11, 2007
May 11, 2007
Guests: Columnist Arianna Huffington, comic Paula Poundstone, pollster Frank Luntz; via satellite, NBC News correspondent Richard Engel and columnist Christopher Hitchens Topics:
May 18, 2007
May 18, 2007
Guests: Actor Bradley Whitford, Rep Loretta Sanchez (Calif.), columnist John Fund, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons; via satellite, Sen Christopher Dodd (Conn.) Topics: Congressional
May 25, 2007
May 25, 2007
Guests: Humorist P. J. O'Rourke, actor Ben Affleck, Rep Ron Paul (Texas); via satellite, filmmaker Michael Moore Topics: Health-care crisis, world opinion of the United States, Ir
August 24, 2007
Aug 24, 2007
Guests: Actor Tim Robbins, journalist Michel Martin, writer Stephen Hayes; via satellite, Fmr Gov Mike Huckabee (Ark.) and New York Times correspondent Damien Cave Topics: Status
August 31, 2007
Aug 31, 2007
Guests: Fmr Sen Mike Gravel (Alaska), diplomat Barbara Bodine, musician John Mellencamp; via satellite, entertainer Harry Shearer and PETA president Ingrid Newkirk Topics: Hurrica
September 07, 2007
Sep 7, 2007
Guests: Prof Cornel West, rapper/actor Mos Def; via satellite, Army Col Larry Wilkerson (ret.) and consumer advocate Ralph Nader Topics: Iraq troop surge and upcoming Petraeus rep
September 14, 2007
Sep 14, 2007
Guests: Journalist Carl Bernstein, Rep Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), comedian Drew Carey; via satellite, Sen Chuck Hagel (Neb.) and author Robert Draper Topics: Petraeus report and Middl
September 21, 2007
Sep 21, 2007
Guests: Musician Rob Thomas, comedian/actress Janeane Garofalo, author Salman Rushdie; via satellite, fmr CIA agent Michael Scheuer and author Bjørn Lomborg Topics: Israel and Mid
September 28, 2007
Sep 28, 2007
Guests: Rep Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), Prof Michael Eric Dyson, writer Pete Hamill; via satellite, filmmaker Ken Burns and CNBC's Maria Bartiromo Topics: Ahmadinejad's visit and U.S./Ir
October 12, 2007
Oct 12, 2007
Guests: Columnist Paul Krugman, MSNBC host Tucker Carlson, The View co-host Joy Behar; via satellite, fmr Pres Vicente Fox (Mexico) and author/activist Naomi Klein Topics: U.S./Me
October 19, 2007
Oct 19, 2007
Guests: Fmr Sen John Edwards (N.C.), journalist Joel Stein, Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee (Texas), MSNBC host Chris Matthews; via satellite, chess master Garry Kasparov Topics: Environme
October 26, 2007
Oct 26, 2007
Guests: Commentator Andrew Sullivan, tennis pro Martina Navratilova, Gen Wesley Clark (ret.); via satellite, Sen Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) and author Sir David Frost Topics: Ca
November 02, 2007
Nov 2, 2007
Guests: Fmr CIA operative Valerie Plame and her husband, fmr Amb Joe Wilson; political blogger Markos Moulitsas; NPR host Alison Stewart (radio); actor/comedian Martin Short ; via