The essential episodes of Real Time with Bill Maher

Watch these 15 in order and you've got Real Time with Bill Maher — each pick states its reason.

1. 01S01E01

   S01E01 · Pilot · February 21, 2003 · 1h

   February 21, 2003

2. 02S11E16

   S11E16 · Season 11 peak · May 17, 2013 · 1h

   Richard N. Haass; S.E. Cupp, Michael Moore and Andrew Ross Sorkin; Zach Galifianakis7.3

3. 03S12E34

   S12E34 · Season 12 peak · November 14, 2014 · 1h

   Rand Paul; Margaret Hoover, Andrew Sullivan And Jeremy Scahill; Martin Short7.7

4. 04S13E33

   S13E33 · Season 13 peak · November 6, 2015 · 1h

   Keith Olbermann; David Frum, Jillian Melchior And Anthony Weiner; Quentin Tarantino7.8

   Bill's special guests tonight on the show are Anthony Weiner, David Frum, Jillian Melchior, Keith Olbermann and Quentin Tarantino.

5. 05S14E05

   S14E05 · Season 14 peak · February 12, 2016 · 1h

   Richard Engel; Margaret Cho; Joshua Green; Ana Navarro; Killer Mike7.7

   Journalist Richard Engel and comedian Margaret Cho are the interview guests. The Panelists are journalist Joshua Green, political analyst Ana Navarro and rapper Killer Mike.

6. 06S15E32

   S15E32 · Season 15 peak · October 27, 2017 · 1h

   Woody Harrelson; David French, Van Jones and Betsy Woodruff; Joy Behar9.0

   Actor Woody Harrelson; comic Joy Behar; journalist David French; political commentator Van Jones; reporter Betsy Woodruff.

7. 07

   S16E22 · Season 16 peak · August 3, 2018 · 1h

   Malcolm Nance; Steve Schmidt, Kristen Soltis Anderson, Charles Blow and Nancy MacLean9.5

8. 08

   S17E14 · Season 17 peak · May 3, 2019 · 1h

   Jay Inslee; Bakari Sellers, Bret Stephens And Kara Swisher; Moby10.0

9. 09S18E30

   S18E30 · Season 18 peak · October 16, 2020 · 1h

   Fareed Zakaria and John Leguizamo; Noah Rothman and John Avlon8.5

   This week features one-on-one virtual interviews with host of CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" and author of the new book Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World, Fareed Zakaria; and Emmy® and Tony Award-winning actor, comedian and director of "Critical Thinking," John Leguizamo. This week's in-studio panel discussion will include associate editor of Commentary Magazine and author of Unjust: Social Justice and the Unmaking of America, Noah Rothman; and CNN senior political analyst and author of Washington's Farewell: The Founding Father's Warning to Future Generations, John Avlon.

10. 10S19E30

    S19E30 · Season 19 peak · October 8, 2021 · 1h

    Steven Pinker; Robert Costa; Michael Render ("Killer Mike")8.9

    This week features a one-on-one, in-studio interview with professor of psychology at Harvard and author of the book "Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters," Steven Pinker. This week's in-studio panel discussion will include Washington Post reporter and co-author of the new book, "PERIL," Robert Costa; and Michael Render ("Killer Mike"), activist and musician who's one half of the group, Run The Jewels.

11. 11

    S20E22 · Season 20 peak · August 5, 2022 · 1h

    David Duchovny, Matt Taibbi, Lis Smith8.8

    This week features a one-on-one interview withaward-winning actor, director, musician, and bestselling author of "The Reservoir: A Novella," David Duchovny. This week's panel discussion will include Matt Taibbi, author of TK News on Substack and host of the podcast, "Useful Idiots with Matt Taibbi and Katie Halper"; and Lis Smith, political strategist and author of the new book, "Any Given Tuesday: A Political Love Story."

12. 12

    S21E19 · Season 21 peak · November 3, 2023 · 1h

    Rep. Dean Phillips, Fareed Zakaria, Ian Bremmer9.3

    This week features a one-on-one interview with Rep. Dean Phillips, Democratic Congressman from Minnesota's 3rd district who recently announced his campaign to primary Biden for the 2024 Presidential nomination. This week's panel discussion includes Fareed Zakaria, host of CNN's "Fareed Zakaria GPS" and columnist for the Washington Post, and Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media.

13. 13

    S22E29 · Season 22 peak · September 27, 2024 · 1h

    Fran Lebowitz, Yuval Noah Harari, Ian Bremmer9.2

    This week features a one-on-one interview with Fran Lebowitz, author and social commentator who is on tour for "An Evening With Fran Lebowitz." This week's panel discussion includes Yuval Noah Harari, historian, philosopher, and bestselling author of "Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI"; and Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media.

14. 14S23E28

    S23E28 · Season 23 peak · September 26, 2025 · 1h

    Aiden Walker, Michael Smerconish, Rep. Nancy Mace9.3

    This week features a one-on-one interview with Aiden Walker, content creator, internet culture researcher, and author of the Substack newsletter "How To Do Things With Memes." This week's panel discussion includes Michael Smerconish, host of "Smerconish" on CNN and "The Michael Smerconish Program" on SiriusXM; and Rep. Nancy Mace, Republican congresswoman from South Carolina's 1st district who also sits on the Armed Services, Veterans' Affairs, and Oversight committees.

15. 15S24E02

    S24E02 · Season 24 peak · January 30, 2026 · 1h

    Nate Bargatze, Joe Scarborough, Marjorie Taylor Greene7.3

    This week features a one-on-one interview with Nate Bargatze, comedian, actor, and host of the new game show "The Greatest Average American" and star of the upcoming film "The Breadwinner." This week's panel discussion includes Joe Scarborough, co-host of MS NOW's "Morning Joe" and author of the daily newsletter "The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe"; and former Republican congresswoman from Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene.