The WORST episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher
Every episode of Real Time with Bill Maher ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher!
Each week Bill Maher surrounds himself with a panel of guests which include politicians, actors, comedians, musicians and the like to discuss what's going on in the world.
#1 - Episode 706
Season 23 - Episode 26 - Aired 9/12/2025
Guests: An interview with Charlie Sheen, actor and subject of the new two-part documentary "aka Charlie Sheen" on Netflix, and author of the new book "The Book of Sheen: A Memoir." This week's panel discussion includes Tim Alberta, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism"; and Ben Shapiro, co-founder of The Daily Wire and author of "Lions and Scavengers: The True History of America (and Her Critics)."
#2 - Episode 703
Season 23 - Episode 23 - Aired 8/15/2025
Guests: An interview with Thomas Chatterton Williams, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of "Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse." This week's panel discussion includes Walter Kirn, best-selling author and editor-at-large of County Highway; and Molly Jong-Fast, host of the podcast "Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast" and author of "How to Lose Your Mother: A Daughter's Memoir."
Watch Now:Apple TV
#3 - Episode 695
Season 23 - Episode 15 - Aired 5/9/2025
Guests: An interview with David Hogg, vice chair of the Democratic National Committee and co-founder of the Leaders We Deserve PAC. This week's panel discussion includes Donna Brazile, political strategist, ABC News contributor, and former DNC chair; and Rep. Mike Lawler, Republican congressman representing New York's 17th district.
#4 - Episode 649
Season 22 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/16/2024
Guests: An interview with Dr. Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University and author of "Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents―and What They Mean for America's Future." This week's panel discussion includes Van Jones,CNN political commentator and host of the podcast "Uncommon Ground with Van Jones" and Ann Coulter, conservative political commentator, author of 13 New York Times bestselling books, who now writes the column "Unsafe" on Substack.
#5 - Episode 648
Season 22 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/9/2024
Guests: An interview with Coleman Hughes, host of the "Conversations With Coleman" podcast, contributor to The Free Press, and author of the new book "The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America," available this week. This week's panel discussion includes Bob Costas, CNN contributor and 29-time Emmy®-winning broadcaster; and Caitlin Flanagan, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the new collection of essays titled "On Thinking for Yourself: Instinct, Education, Dissension."
#6 - Episode 647
Season 22 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/2/2024
Guests: An interview with Michael Render (a.k.a Killer Mike), entrepreneur, musician, and one-half of the group "Run the Jewels," whose self-titled solo album "Michael" was recently released across digital platforms. This week's panel discussion includes Gov. Chris Sununu,Republican Governor of New Hampshire; and Jessica Tarlov, co-host of "The Five" on Fox News and Head of Research for Bustle.
#7 - May 15, 2009
Season 7 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/15/2009
Guests: Creator of The Wire David Simon, economist Elizabeth Warren, conservative commentator Amy Holmes, National Review's Richard Brookhiser, columnist Dan Savage Topics: Torture, climate change, gay marriage, War on Drugs
#8 - April 03, 2009
Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/3/2009
Guests: Joe the Plumber, Journalist David Frum, comedian Carol Leifer, writer Reihan Salam, reporter Sam Donaldson Topics: 2009 G-20 London summit, tax cut, health care, Carbon tax, nuclear energy
#9 - February 18, 2005
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/18/2005
Guests: Correspondent Lesley Stahl, actor Robin Williams, former HHS Sec. Tommy Thompson, Sen. Joe Biden, actor Don Cheadle Topics: On protecting sources, Jeff Gannon, on interrogating prisoners, Iraq elections, Darfur
#10 - February 28, 2003
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/28/2003
Guests: Actor Larry Miller, conservative commentator Monica Crowley, comedian Eric Idle, musician Dave Matthews, author David Horowitz, columnist Ted Rall Topics: Possibility of war with Iraq, selection of the new World Trade Center designs
#11 - May 08, 2009
Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/8/2009
Guests: Democratic consultant James Carville, Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, author Naomi Klein, journalist Matt Taibbi, author Reza Aslan Topics: Tax evasion by big companies, torture, Pakistan & Taliban, US military handing out bibles, gay marriage
#14 - March 19, 2010
Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/19/2010
Guests: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (D), economist Stephen Moore, PoliticsDaily.com editor-in-chief Melinda Henneberger and actor Emile Hirsch Topics: Health care, the economy, regulation of banking and insurance industries, the Congo, blood diamonds, "blood minerals" from the Congo (tantalum, tungsten, and tin), Oxfam, access to clean water in developing countries, campaign finance reform
#15 - July 22, 2011
Season 9 - Episode 24 - Aired 7/22/2011
Guests: John Fetterman, DNC Vice-Chair Donna Brazile, Reason.com editor Nick Gillespie, actor John Turturro Topics: Republican strategy of no, the US budget, financial services industry, Marcus Bachmann, personal sacrifice in the US, independent voters, Michele Bachmann's migraines, political pledges
Watch Now:Apple TV
#16 - March 12, 2010
Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/12/2010
Guests: Senator Michael Bennet, actor Hill Harper, former Governor Gary Johnson, Amy Holmes, journalist John Heilemann Topics: Health care, deficit spending and the national debt, climate change, marijuana legalization, race relations, Mitt Romney, No Apology: The Case for American Greatness, Eric Massa, Game Change, Liz Cheney, education, Jihad Jane
#17 - March 05, 2010
Season 8 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/5/2010
Guests: Actor Sean Penn, journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin, co-founder of the Huffington Post Arianna Huffington, director Michael Moore Topics: Earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, Hugo Chávez, Economic activism, Health Care, the economy regulation of the financial industry, labor relations, the Oscars, Republican fundraising tactics, the Media
#18 - August 17, 2012
Season 10 - Episode 23 - Aired 8/17/2012
Documentary film maker Peter Byck, talk show host Chelsea Handler, owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks' Mark Cuban, columnist Reihan Salam, journalist Alex Wagner
#19 - September 05, 2003
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 9/5/2003
Guests: Comedian D. L. Hughley, Al Franken, William Kristol, Wolf Blitzer, Wesley Clark Topics: John Kerry, Osama Bin Laden, news media behaviour
#20 - August 08, 2003
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 8/8/2003
Guests: Actress Janeane Garofalo, Rep. David Dreier, political strategist Donna Brazile, Gov. Gray Davis Topics: California recall vote, Arnold Schwarzenegger, airport security, Homeland Security budget, Kobe Bryant
#21 - April 25, 2003
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/25/2003
Guests: Author Ann Coulter, author Clive Barker, actor D. L. Hughley, economist Stephen Moore, musical guests The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show Topics: Santorum controversy, Iraq, rights of the unborn child
#22 - July 25, 2003
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 7/25/2003
Guests: Actor D. L. Hughley, cartoonist Aaron McGruder, former US treasurer Bay Buchanan, Rev. Al Sharpton, senator (presidential candidate) Bob Graham Topics: Congressional report on 9/11, Liberia, Kobe Bryant, banning ephedra
#23 - May 05, 2006
Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/5/2006
Guests: Actor Bradley Whitford, Fmr. PM of Canada Kim Campbell, fmr. Gov. Jim Gilmore, Gen. Wesley Clark, and Sen. Mel Martinez Topics: Democrats, terrorism, Federal Emergency Management Agency, immigration
#24 - Episode 662
Season 22 - Episode 18 - Aired 6/7/2024
Guests: An interview with U.S. Democratic senator from Pennsylvania, Sen. John Fetterman. This week's panel discussion includes Matt Welch, editor-at-large of Reason Magazine and co-host of "The Fifth Column" podcast; and Abigail Shrier, journalist and author of the New York Times bestseller "Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up."
#25 - Episode 694
Season 23 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/2/2025
Guests: An interview with Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, actors and comedic duo who are the subjects of the documentary "Cheech & Chong's Last Movie." This week's panel discussion includes Kara Swisher, co-host of the "Pivot" podcast, host of "On with Kara Swisher" podcast, and author of "Burn Book: A Tech Love Story"; and Kevin McCarthy, former Republican congressman who represented California's 20th district and served as the 55th Speaker of the House.