Real Time with Bill Maher poster
7.5/10 (26 votes)
#1

October 01, 2004

S2:E18

Guests: Comedian George Carlin, correspondent Katty Kay, economist Stephen Moore, The Dixie Chicks, talk show host Tucker Carlson Topics: Presidential election debates, religion

7.3/10 (21 votes)
#2

March 12, 2004

S2:E9

Guests: Author John McWhorter, comedian George Carlin, former Canadian PM Kim Campbell, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, NPR radio host Sandra Tsing Loh Topics: Religion, indecency in media, Madrid bombings

6.4/10 (41 votes)
#3

February 27, 2004

S2:E7

Guests: Actor Ian McKellen, politician Christine Todd Whitman, Sandy Rios, Kwame Kilpatrick, Ralph Nader Topics: The Passion of the Christ, gay marriage, environment

5.4/10 (25 votes)
#4

November 05, 2004

S2:E23

Guests: Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson, actress Susan Sarandon, linguist and political analyst Noam Chomsky, comedian D. L. Hughley, columnist Andrew Sullivan, and former U.S. Representative Pat Schroeder Topics: Presidential elections

4.8/10 (18 votes)
#5

February 13, 2004

S2:E5

Guests: Actor Jason Alexander, writer Deborah Simmons, actor William Baldwin, Bill Burkett (II), James Moore[ (II), Heather Wilson Topics: Bush military service, The Passion of the Christ, pornography

4.8/10 (16 votes)
#6

September 03, 2004

S2:E15

Guests: Actor Jason Alexander, Andrew Sullivan, Arianna Huffington, Howard Dean and Pat Buchanan Topics: Republican National Convention, Iraq

4.6/10 (16 votes)
#7

October 29, 2004

S2:E22

Guests: Actor Richard Belzer, General Wesley Clark, actor Kevin Costner, columnist Thomas Friedman, commentator Ann Coulter Topics: Osama bin Laden, missing ammunition in Iraq, elections

4.4/10 (16 votes)
#8

September 24, 2004

S2:E17

Guests: Screenwriter Larry Gelbart, columnist Maureen Dowd, comic strip artist Aaron McGruder, Rep. Charles Rangel, actress Drew Barrymore Topics: Dan Rather, Kerry campaign, tobacco lawsuit settlements

4.2/10 (16 votes)
#9

January 16, 2004

S2:E1

Guests: Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark, musician Moby, Rev. Al Sharpton, actor Ron Silver, congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) Topics: American values, Iraq, MoveOn.org, environment

4.2/10 (25 votes)
#10

October 08, 2004

S2:E19

Guests: Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, comedian David Cross, commentator Tony Snow, filmmaker Michael Moore, columnist Frank Rich Topics: Presidential election debates, terrorism, religion in politics

4.1/10 (29 votes)
#11

July 30, 2004

S2:E11

Guests: Rep. David Dreier, former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell, filmmaker Michael Moore, musician Andre 3000, Gov. Bill Owens, Ralph Nader Topics: Iraq, 7 minutes of silence, Nader's candidacy

3.9/10 (14 votes)
#12

September 17, 2004

S2:E16

Guests: Author P.J. O'Rourke, philosopher Cornel West, actress Julie Delpy, journalist Kitty Kelley, correspondent Christiane Amanpour Topics: Bush family, assault weapons ban lifted, antidepressant drugs

3.7/10 (27 votes)
#13

January 30, 2004

S2:E3

Guests: Actor Larry Miller, actor Sean Astin, former Bush-Cheney 2000 press secretary Mindy Tucker-Fletcher; on satellite Max Cleland and Michael Moore Topics: Democratic presidential candidates, gay marriage, Israel

3.7/10 (16 votes)
#14

February 20, 2004

S2:E6

Guests: Comedian D. L. Hughley, writer Debra Dickerson, actor Jon Favreau, George Allen, Rep. Dennis Kucinich Topics: John Kerry, John Edwards, outsourcing, black culture

3.7/10 (14 votes)
#15

March 19, 2004

S2:E10

Guests: Journalist David Frum, comedian Eddie Izzard, author Gore Vidal, former governor of Vermont Howard Dean, businessman Russell Simmons Topics: Madrid bombings, renewal of the Patriot Act, young voters, voting machines

3.7/10 (15 votes)
#16

August 13, 2004

S2:E13

Guests: Comedian D. L. Hughley, former Sen. Gary Hart, writer Michelle Malkin, Rep. Rahm Emanuel, and columnist Maureen Dowd Topics: Muhammad Khan, president Bush, racial profiling, Jim McGreevey

3.6/10 (14 votes)
#17

March 05, 2004

S2:E8

Guests: Comedian Martin Short, talk show host Tavis Smiley, economist Stephen Moore, Sen. Barbara Boxer, sportscaster Bob Costas Topics: Bush's new ads, Kerry, Haiti, steroid scandal in baseball, Super Size Me and fast food, Martha Stewart found guilty

3.6/10 (16 votes)
#18

August 06, 2004

S2:E12

Guests: Comedian Steve Harvey, Rep. Kay Granger, former Rep. Bob Barr, and reporter Cokie Roberts Topics: Terrorism, Kerry's war record, corn farming, Ricky Williams, gay marriage

3.6/10 (14 votes)
#19

August 27, 2004

S2:E14

Guests: Author Michael Eric Dyson, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, reporter Ashleigh Banfield, author and Vietnam veteran John E. O'Neill, Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, talk show host Chris Matthews Topics: McCain–Feingold Act, Iraq, environment

3.6/10 (14 votes)
#20

October 15, 2004

S2:E20

Guests: Singer Alanis Morissette, former Rep. Jim Rogan, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Dr. Howard Dean, radio show host Garrison Keillor Topics: Election debates, media in politics, Iraq

3.6/10 (13 votes)
#21

October 22, 2004

S2:E21

Guests: Former CIA director James Woolsey, former Asst. Sec. of State James Rubin, actor Bradley Whitford, environmentalist Robert Kennedy, Jr. and White House advisor Dr. Bernadine Healy Topics: Iraq, flu vaccinations, Bill O'Reilly lawsuit

3.1/10 (15 votes)
#22

February 06, 2004

S2:E4

Guests: Author Andrew Sullivan, journalist Ron Suskind, actor Rob Schneider, politician Carol Moseley Braun, politician Jennifer Granholm Topics: Janet Jackson's Super Bowl stunt, Martha Stewart, special interests' power over politicians

3.0/10 (16 votes)
#23

January 23, 2004

S2:E2

Guests: Actor Richard Belzer, novelist Farai Chideya, senator John Edwards, David Frum, Ralph Nader Topics: Iowa caucus, The Apprentice, Olivia Goldsmith, sexuality in islamic countries

3.0/10 (16 votes)
#1

January 23, 2004

S2:E2

Guests: Actor Richard Belzer, novelist Farai Chideya, senator John Edwards, David Frum, Ralph Nader Topics: Iowa caucus, The Apprentice, Olivia Goldsmith, sexuality in islamic countries

3.1/10 (15 votes)
#2

February 06, 2004

S2:E4

Guests: Author Andrew Sullivan, journalist Ron Suskind, actor Rob Schneider, politician Carol Moseley Braun, politician Jennifer Granholm Topics: Janet Jackson's Super Bowl stunt, Martha Stewart, special interests' power over politicians

3.6/10 (14 votes)
#3

March 05, 2004

S2:E8

Guests: Comedian Martin Short, talk show host Tavis Smiley, economist Stephen Moore, Sen. Barbara Boxer, sportscaster Bob Costas Topics: Bush's new ads, Kerry, Haiti, steroid scandal in baseball, Super Size Me and fast food, Martha Stewart found guilty

3.6/10 (16 votes)
#4

August 06, 2004

S2:E12

Guests: Comedian Steve Harvey, Rep. Kay Granger, former Rep. Bob Barr, and reporter Cokie Roberts Topics: Terrorism, Kerry's war record, corn farming, Ricky Williams, gay marriage

3.6/10 (14 votes)
#5

August 27, 2004

S2:E14

Guests: Author Michael Eric Dyson, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, reporter Ashleigh Banfield, author and Vietnam veteran John E. O'Neill, Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, talk show host Chris Matthews Topics: McCain–Feingold Act, Iraq, environment

3.6/10 (14 votes)
#6

October 15, 2004

S2:E20

Guests: Singer Alanis Morissette, former Rep. Jim Rogan, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Dr. Howard Dean, radio show host Garrison Keillor Topics: Election debates, media in politics, Iraq

3.6/10 (13 votes)
#7

October 22, 2004

S2:E21

Guests: Former CIA director James Woolsey, former Asst. Sec. of State James Rubin, actor Bradley Whitford, environmentalist Robert Kennedy, Jr. and White House advisor Dr. Bernadine Healy Topics: Iraq, flu vaccinations, Bill O'Reilly lawsuit

3.7/10 (27 votes)
#8

January 30, 2004

S2:E3

Guests: Actor Larry Miller, actor Sean Astin, former Bush-Cheney 2000 press secretary Mindy Tucker-Fletcher; on satellite Max Cleland and Michael Moore Topics: Democratic presidential candidates, gay marriage, Israel

3.7/10 (16 votes)
#9

February 20, 2004

S2:E6

Guests: Comedian D. L. Hughley, writer Debra Dickerson, actor Jon Favreau, George Allen, Rep. Dennis Kucinich Topics: John Kerry, John Edwards, outsourcing, black culture

3.7/10 (14 votes)
#10

March 19, 2004

S2:E10

Guests: Journalist David Frum, comedian Eddie Izzard, author Gore Vidal, former governor of Vermont Howard Dean, businessman Russell Simmons Topics: Madrid bombings, renewal of the Patriot Act, young voters, voting machines

3.7/10 (15 votes)
#11

August 13, 2004

S2:E13

Guests: Comedian D. L. Hughley, former Sen. Gary Hart, writer Michelle Malkin, Rep. Rahm Emanuel, and columnist Maureen Dowd Topics: Muhammad Khan, president Bush, racial profiling, Jim McGreevey

3.9/10 (14 votes)
#12

September 17, 2004

S2:E16

Guests: Author P.J. O'Rourke, philosopher Cornel West, actress Julie Delpy, journalist Kitty Kelley, correspondent Christiane Amanpour Topics: Bush family, assault weapons ban lifted, antidepressant drugs

4.1/10 (29 votes)
#13

July 30, 2004

S2:E11

Guests: Rep. David Dreier, former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell, filmmaker Michael Moore, musician Andre 3000, Gov. Bill Owens, Ralph Nader Topics: Iraq, 7 minutes of silence, Nader's candidacy

4.2/10 (16 votes)
#14

January 16, 2004

S2:E1

Guests: Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark, musician Moby, Rev. Al Sharpton, actor Ron Silver, congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) Topics: American values, Iraq, MoveOn.org, environment

4.2/10 (25 votes)
#15

October 08, 2004

S2:E19

Guests: Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, comedian David Cross, commentator Tony Snow, filmmaker Michael Moore, columnist Frank Rich Topics: Presidential election debates, terrorism, religion in politics

4.4/10 (16 votes)
#16

September 24, 2004

S2:E17

Guests: Screenwriter Larry Gelbart, columnist Maureen Dowd, comic strip artist Aaron McGruder, Rep. Charles Rangel, actress Drew Barrymore Topics: Dan Rather, Kerry campaign, tobacco lawsuit settlements

4.6/10 (16 votes)
#17

October 29, 2004

S2:E22

Guests: Actor Richard Belzer, General Wesley Clark, actor Kevin Costner, columnist Thomas Friedman, commentator Ann Coulter Topics: Osama bin Laden, missing ammunition in Iraq, elections

4.8/10 (18 votes)
#18

February 13, 2004

S2:E5

Guests: Actor Jason Alexander, writer Deborah Simmons, actor William Baldwin, Bill Burkett (II), James Moore[ (II), Heather Wilson Topics: Bush military service, The Passion of the Christ, pornography

4.8/10 (16 votes)
#19

September 03, 2004

S2:E15

Guests: Actor Jason Alexander, Andrew Sullivan, Arianna Huffington, Howard Dean and Pat Buchanan Topics: Republican National Convention, Iraq

5.4/10 (25 votes)
#20

November 05, 2004

S2:E23

Guests: Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson, actress Susan Sarandon, linguist and political analyst Noam Chomsky, comedian D. L. Hughley, columnist Andrew Sullivan, and former U.S. Representative Pat Schroeder Topics: Presidential elections

6.4/10 (41 votes)
#21

February 27, 2004

S2:E7

Guests: Actor Ian McKellen, politician Christine Todd Whitman, Sandy Rios, Kwame Kilpatrick, Ralph Nader Topics: The Passion of the Christ, gay marriage, environment

7.3/10 (21 votes)
#22

March 12, 2004

S2:E9

Guests: Author John McWhorter, comedian George Carlin, former Canadian PM Kim Campbell, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, NPR radio host Sandra Tsing Loh Topics: Religion, indecency in media, Madrid bombings

7.5/10 (26 votes)
#23

October 01, 2004

S2:E18

Guests: Comedian George Carlin, correspondent Katty Kay, economist Stephen Moore, The Dixie Chicks, talk show host Tucker Carlson Topics: Presidential election debates, religion

4.2/10 (16 votes)

January 16, 2004

S2:E1

Guests: Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark, musician Moby, Rev. Al Sharpton, actor Ron Silver, congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) Topics: American values, Iraq, MoveOn.org, environment

3.0/10 (16 votes)

January 23, 2004

S2:E2

Guests: Actor Richard Belzer, novelist Farai Chideya, senator John Edwards, David Frum, Ralph Nader Topics: Iowa caucus, The Apprentice, Olivia Goldsmith, sexuality in islamic countries

3.7/10 (27 votes)

January 30, 2004

S2:E3

Guests: Actor Larry Miller, actor Sean Astin, former Bush-Cheney 2000 press secretary Mindy Tucker-Fletcher; on satellite Max Cleland and Michael Moore Topics: Democratic presidential candidates, gay marriage, Israel

3.1/10 (15 votes)

February 06, 2004

S2:E4

Guests: Author Andrew Sullivan, journalist Ron Suskind, actor Rob Schneider, politician Carol Moseley Braun, politician Jennifer Granholm Topics: Janet Jackson's Super Bowl stunt, Martha Stewart, special interests' power over politicians

4.8/10 (18 votes)

February 13, 2004

S2:E5

Guests: Actor Jason Alexander, writer Deborah Simmons, actor William Baldwin, Bill Burkett (II), James Moore[ (II), Heather Wilson Topics: Bush military service, The Passion of the Christ, pornography

3.7/10 (16 votes)

February 20, 2004

S2:E6

Guests: Comedian D. L. Hughley, writer Debra Dickerson, actor Jon Favreau, George Allen, Rep. Dennis Kucinich Topics: John Kerry, John Edwards, outsourcing, black culture

6.4/10 (41 votes)

February 27, 2004

S2:E7

Guests: Actor Ian McKellen, politician Christine Todd Whitman, Sandy Rios, Kwame Kilpatrick, Ralph Nader Topics: The Passion of the Christ, gay marriage, environment

3.6/10 (14 votes)

March 05, 2004

S2:E8

Guests: Comedian Martin Short, talk show host Tavis Smiley, economist Stephen Moore, Sen. Barbara Boxer, sportscaster Bob Costas Topics: Bush's new ads, Kerry, Haiti, steroid scandal in baseball, Super Size Me and fast food, Martha Stewart found guilty

7.3/10 (21 votes)

March 12, 2004

S2:E9

Guests: Author John McWhorter, comedian George Carlin, former Canadian PM Kim Campbell, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, NPR radio host Sandra Tsing Loh Topics: Religion, indecency in media, Madrid bombings

3.7/10 (14 votes)

March 19, 2004

S2:E10

Guests: Journalist David Frum, comedian Eddie Izzard, author Gore Vidal, former governor of Vermont Howard Dean, businessman Russell Simmons Topics: Madrid bombings, renewal of the Patriot Act, young voters, voting machines

4.1/10 (29 votes)

July 30, 2004

S2:E11

Guests: Rep. David Dreier, former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell, filmmaker Michael Moore, musician Andre 3000, Gov. Bill Owens, Ralph Nader Topics: Iraq, 7 minutes of silence, Nader's candidacy

3.6/10 (16 votes)

August 06, 2004

S2:E12

Guests: Comedian Steve Harvey, Rep. Kay Granger, former Rep. Bob Barr, and reporter Cokie Roberts Topics: Terrorism, Kerry's war record, corn farming, Ricky Williams, gay marriage

3.7/10 (15 votes)

August 13, 2004

S2:E13

Guests: Comedian D. L. Hughley, former Sen. Gary Hart, writer Michelle Malkin, Rep. Rahm Emanuel, and columnist Maureen Dowd Topics: Muhammad Khan, president Bush, racial profiling, Jim McGreevey

3.6/10 (14 votes)

August 27, 2004

S2:E14

Guests: Author Michael Eric Dyson, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, reporter Ashleigh Banfield, author and Vietnam veteran John E. O'Neill, Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, talk show host Chris Matthews Topics: McCain–Feingold Act, Iraq, environment

4.8/10 (16 votes)

September 03, 2004

S2:E15

Guests: Actor Jason Alexander, Andrew Sullivan, Arianna Huffington, Howard Dean and Pat Buchanan Topics: Republican National Convention, Iraq

3.9/10 (14 votes)

September 17, 2004

S2:E16

Guests: Author P.J. O'Rourke, philosopher Cornel West, actress Julie Delpy, journalist Kitty Kelley, correspondent Christiane Amanpour Topics: Bush family, assault weapons ban lifted, antidepressant drugs

4.4/10 (16 votes)

September 24, 2004

S2:E17

Guests: Screenwriter Larry Gelbart, columnist Maureen Dowd, comic strip artist Aaron McGruder, Rep. Charles Rangel, actress Drew Barrymore Topics: Dan Rather, Kerry campaign, tobacco lawsuit settlements

7.5/10 (26 votes)

October 01, 2004

S2:E18

Guests: Comedian George Carlin, correspondent Katty Kay, economist Stephen Moore, The Dixie Chicks, talk show host Tucker Carlson Topics: Presidential election debates, religion

4.2/10 (25 votes)

October 08, 2004

S2:E19

Guests: Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, comedian David Cross, commentator Tony Snow, filmmaker Michael Moore, columnist Frank Rich Topics: Presidential election debates, terrorism, religion in politics

3.6/10 (14 votes)

October 15, 2004

S2:E20

Guests: Singer Alanis Morissette, former Rep. Jim Rogan, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Dr. Howard Dean, radio show host Garrison Keillor Topics: Election debates, media in politics, Iraq

3.6/10 (13 votes)

October 22, 2004

S2:E21

Guests: Former CIA director James Woolsey, former Asst. Sec. of State James Rubin, actor Bradley Whitford, environmentalist Robert Kennedy, Jr. and White House advisor Dr. Bernadine Healy Topics: Iraq, flu vaccinations, Bill O'Reilly lawsuit

4.6/10 (16 votes)

October 29, 2004

S2:E22

Guests: Actor Richard Belzer, General Wesley Clark, actor Kevin Costner, columnist Thomas Friedman, commentator Ann Coulter Topics: Osama bin Laden, missing ammunition in Iraq, elections

5.4/10 (25 votes)

November 05, 2004

S2:E23

Guests: Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson, actress Susan Sarandon, linguist and political analyst Noam Chomsky, comedian D. L. Hughley, columnist Andrew Sullivan, and former U.S. Representative Pat Schroeder Topics: Presidential elections

Season Average Rating Episodes Best Episode Worst Episode
18 ★ 7.2 4
★ 7.4 Episode 522
★ 7.0 Episode 524
17 ★ 7.2 24
★ 7.6 Episode 500
★ 6.6 Episode 482
9 ★ 7.1 25
★ 7.6 January 21, 2011
★ 6.3 March 25,2011
11 ★ 7.0 25
★ 7.5 March 1, 2013
★ 6.3 June 21, 2013
7 ★ 6.9 25
★ 7.5 February 20, 2009
★ 5.8 August 28, 2009
10 ★ 6.9 25
★ 7.6 March 02, 2012
★ 6.2 August 31, 2012
12 ★ 6.9 22
★ 7.3 July 25, 2014
★ 6.1 July 18, 2014
21 ★ 6.7 13
★ 7.3 March 10, 2023: David Byrne, John McWhorter, Josh Tyrangiel
★ 5.6 April 28, 2023: Elon Musk, Michael Moynihan, Konstantin Kisin
15 ★ 6.7 25
★ 7.5 Roger Stone; Jose Antonio Vargas; Michael Hayden; Rick Santorum; Neera Tanden
★ 6.0 Elizabeth Warren; Ernest Moniz; Nick Hanauer; Rob Reiner; Tara Setmayer
8 ★ 6.6 24
★ 7.6 February 19, 2010
★ 5.6 November 05, 2010
14 ★ 6.5 25
★ 7.3 Episode 377
★ 5.9 Episode 387
13 ★ 6.5 25
★ 7.1 Episode 360
★ 5.4 Episode 339
6 ★ 5.9 25
★ 6.7 September 12, 2008
★ 5.2 October 31, 2008
1 ★ 5.5 20
★ 6.6 February 21, 2003
★ 4.5 September 19, 2003
4 ★ 5.0 24
★ 7.5 October 20, 2006
★ 3.8 March 17, 2006
5 ★ 4.8 24
★ 6.3 May 04, 2007
★ 3.1 May 25, 2007
2 ★ 4.4 23
★ 7.5 October 01, 2004
★ 3.0 January 23, 2004
3 ★ 4.3 23
★ 7.7 September 09, 2005
★ 3.3 August 26, 2005