Hollywood writers have been on strike since May.
The strike paralyzed the television industry, especially late-night TV shows.
But all hell broke loose after liberal comedian Bill Maher made this one defiant move against Hollywood.
On July 14, Hollywood actors joined the writers in the first dual strike across the industry since 1960.
After four months of negotiations, an agreement has not been reached and there is no foreseeable end to the strike in the near future.
But some in the entertainment industry have had enough of sitting around and doing nothing because of a strike.
Drew Barrymore previously set off a firestorm when she announced she will relaunch her show on September 18 without the writers.
Left-wing activists on strike picketed outside of Barrymore’s studio in protest of her relaunching the show.
But Drew Barrymore is no longer the only one defying Hollywood’s strike.
Liberal comedian and host of the popular show Real Time on HBO, Bill Maher, is set to relaunch his program in the near future.
Maher announced his decision on social media.
“Real Time is coming back, unfortunately, sans writers or writing,” Maher wrote in a post on X announcing the decision. “It has been five months, and it is time to bring people back to work.”
Maher said he understands there are “important issues” the writers would like to see addressed that “I sympathize with” and hopes they get resolved.
However, Maher pointed out that writers “are not the only people with issues, problems, and concerns.”
“Despite some assistance from me, much of the staff is struggling mightily,” Maher wrote. “We all were hopeful this would come to an end after Labor Day, but that day has come and gone, and there still seems to be nothing happening.”
Maher admitted that the show will not be as “good as our normal show, full stop.”
Even though he is relaunching his show, Maher promised to “honor the spirit of the strike by not doing a monologue, desk piece, New Rules or editorial, the written pieces that I am so proud of on Real Time.”
“The show will not disappoint,” he concluded.
Real Time is coming back, unfortunately, sans writers or writing. It has been five months, and it is time to bring people back to work. The writers have important issues that I sympathize with, and hope they are addressed to their satisfaction, but they are not the only people…
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) September 14, 2023
