Editing Real Time with Bill Maher (section)

=== Changes in 2008 ===
The show returned on January 11, 2008, and began broadcasting in [[High-definition television|high definition]], with updates to the set for HD display.

As a result of the [[2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike|writers' strike]], in [[Real Time with Bill Maher (season 6)|Season 6]], the opening skit, the "New Rules" segment, and the closing monologue were eliminated for five episodes at the beginning of the year. The ice breaker used in the middle of the show (normally a fake products sketch tying into a current event) was also eliminated due to the strike. The announcement that ''Real Time'' would return without writers indicated that the opening monologue would also be cut, but every episode included a full monologue.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 7, 2008 |title=New rules for 'Maher' return |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/new-rules-maher-return-101933/ |access-date=May 11, 2021 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> The initial season finale of [[Real Time with Bill Maher (season 5)|Season Five]] was to air on November 9, 2007, and was to feature [[Ben Affleck]], [[George Carlin]], and [[Tom Brokaw]] as guests, but was canceled due to the strike.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Remembering George Carlin |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0806/23/lkl.01.html |series=Larry King Live |network=CNN |airdate=June 23, 2008}}</ref>

During the strike, the "Overtime" concept became part of the live show itself, through a new segment called "Blogga, Please!". Using HBO's website, viewers were able to leave comments or questions during the live show. Maher and the panel then responded to selected postings at the end of the show. The "Blogga, Please!" segment was discontinued, and "New Rules" brought back, on February 15 following the resolution of the strike. Additionally, during the strike, Maher aired pre-recorded interviews by himself with everyday people about the election and other issues after the opening monologue.

Established early on, the final "New Rule" served as a segue into the closing monologue. On the March 7 episode, the closing monologue returned to the format of the show. The opening skits did not reappear, except for April 4 and 11, 2008.

Instead of doing a second satellite interview near the forty-minute mark, the January 11 episode also featured the debut of the "Real Time Real Reporter", a [[blog]]ger or political [[pundit (expert)|pundit]] who is brought on midway through the show as an extra panelist to offer opinions on the latest election campaign happenings. Such correspondents have included [[Matt Taibbi]], [[Frank Luntz]], [[Amy Holmes]], [[P.&nbsp;J. O'Rourke]], and [[Dan Savage]].