00:00Real Time with Bill Maher is returning to the air without its writers amid the Writers Guild of America strike.
00:05Host Bill Maher announced the news on social media on Wednesday.
00:08He wrote,
00:09Real Time is coming back. Unfortunately, sans writers or writing.
00:13It has been five months and it is time to bring people back to work.
00:16The writers have important issues that I sympathize with and hope they are addressed to their satisfaction.
00:21But they are not the only people with issues, problems and concerns.
00:25Maher went on to say,
00:25Much of the staff is struggling mightily and that though he appreciates his writers,
00:29I'm not prepared to lose an entire year and see so many below the line people suffer so much.
00:34The host said he will, quote,
00:35Honor the spirit of the strike by not doing a pre-written monologue, desk piece, new rules segment or editorial segments.
00:41Maher continued,
00:42And I'll say it up front to the audience.
00:44The show I will be doing without my writers will not be as good as our normal show. Full stop.
00:48The WGA said in a statement,
00:50The Guild has and will continue to picket struck shows that are in production during the strike.
00:54The union also shared a lengthier statement on social media that read,
00:57Bill Maher's decision to go back on the air while his guild is on strike is disappointing.
01:01If he goes forward with his plan, he needs to honor more than the spirit of the strike.
01:05As a WGA member, Bill Maher is obligated to follow the strike rules and not perform any writing services.
01:10It is difficult to imagine how real time can go forward without a violation of WGA strike rules taking place.
01:16For more on this story, go to THR.com.
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