Bill Maher is following in Drew Barrymore’s footsteps and delaying the return of his talk show as the WGA strike continues.
In a statement shared on social media, the late-night host announced he will be delaying the season premiere of Real Time With Bill Maher “for now” after news broke that the WGA and the studios were resuming negotiations soon.
“My decision to return to work was made when it seemed nothing was happening and there was no end in sight to this strike,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, earlier today.
He continued, “Now that both sides have agreed to go back to the negotiating table I’m going to delay the return of Real Time, for now, and hope they can finally get this done.”
Maher announced just last week that the show would be returning “sans writers and writing” and would consist of just his regular panel discussions with guests. He was swiftly slammed online for his decision, with political commentator Keith Olbermann calling the comedian a “selfish and unfunny scumbag.”
Real Time has now become the fourth talk show to delay its return to air, following The Drew Barrymore Show, The Talk and The Jennifer Hudson Show.
Barrymore recently reversed her decision to continue with the show after initially doubling down. Unlike Maher, however, Barrymore vowed to keep her show off the air “until the strike is over.”
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the entity of streaming platforms and Hollywood studios that has been at odds with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA since May, released a statement that said they are “working to schedule a meeting next week,” per CBS News.
“Every member company of the AMPTP is committed and eager to reach a fair deal, and to working together with the WGA to end the strike,” the AMPTP’s statement noted.
The WGA similarly released a statement announcing they are “scheduling a time to get back in the room” with the alliance. CBS News reports they have not met at the negotiating table since mid-August.
Maher previously shared his skepticism regarding the WGA’s demands. Though he said on a recent podcast appearance that he “feels for” the writers, he added, “What I find objectionable about the philosophy of the strike [is] it seems to be, they have really morphed a long way from 2007’s strike, where they kind of believe that you’re owed a living as a writer, and you’re not. This is show business. This is the make-or-miss league.”
A new season of Real Time With Bill Maher was scheduled to premiere on Friday, Sept. 22. As of publication time, it’s unclear when it will return.