Comedian Bill Maher postpones ‘Real Time’ show return as writer talks resume

By Danielle Broadway

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -American comedian Bill Maher said on Monday he was postponing the return to his HBO political show “Real Time,” becoming the second talk show host to reverse plans after an outcry from striking Hollywood writers and actors.

Drew Barrymore said on Sunday she had backed off plans to bring back her daytime talk show while strikes in Hollywood continue and apologized “to anyone I have hurt.”

Maher said he will delay the return to the show “for now,” he wrote on X, formerly know as Twitter, now that the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the studios have decided to return to the negotiating table.

The WGA, on strike since early May, said they will resume talks on Wednesday.

“My decision to return to work was made when it seemed nothing was happening and there was no end in sight to this strike,” said Maher, who is a WGA member. Maher said he hoped “they can finally get this done.”

The WGA said it was “difficult to imagine” how Maher could host the show and still comply with strike rules. The union said members would picket the filming of the show.

The proposed return of “The Drew Barrymore Show” to CBS drew picketers from the striking writers’ and actors’ unions as taping resumed last week.

Following Barrymore, other popular talk shows, including “The Talk” and “The Jennifer Hudson (NYSE:) Show” will not be returning during the WGA strike and the Screen Actors Guild strike.

“The Talk” is pausing its season premiere scheduled for Sept. 18.

“We will continue to evaluate plans for a new launch date,” a statement from CBS said.

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:) also confirmed “The Jennifer Hudson Show” has pushed back the planned premiere date.