Editing Real Time with Bill Maher (section)

===Changes between 2020 and 2025===
During the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]], ''Real Time'' moved from Studio 33 to being taped from Maher's home in [[Beverly Hills, California|Beverly Hills]] with guests appearing remotely from the April 3, 2020, episode to August 23, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ivie |first=Devon |date=April 4, 2020 |title=Bill Maher Returns to Real Time With a Real Fake Laugh Track |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/04/bill-maher-coronavirus-and-donald-trump-on-real-time-watch.html |access-date=April 16, 2020 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref> Bill Maher and his production team returned to their usual studio on August 28, 2020, their first show produced back in studio since March 2020. Changes to production were made for the return to the studio, with no live studio audience, the continuation of using a fake laugh track and archive clips of audiences applauding and laughing during Maher's opening monologue, along with social distancing of the crew and interviews with guests via the internet/satellite connections.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2020 |title='Real Time with Bill Maher' Will Return to the Studio Aug. 28 |url=https://www.thewrap.com/real-time-with-bill-maher-will-return-to-the-studio-aug-28/ |website=TheWrap}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.real-time-with-bill-maher-blog.com/ |title=Home |website=real-time-with-bill-maher-blog.com}}</ref> Since February 5, 2021, the show has allowed regular audience attendees in the studio who have tested negative for COVID-19.

Beginning with the April 3, 2020, episode of [[Real Time with Bill Maher (season 18)|Season 18]], until the August 21, 2020, episode, ''Real Time with Bill Maher'' had temporarily adjusted its format. All the episodes from this period were filmed from Maher's home starting with a monologue either from Maher's garden, elsewhere on the grounds of his property, or the living room. The duration of the show consisted of three to four in-depth guest interviews instead of the long-form panel discussion as guests appeared remotely while Maher recorded the discussion from his "man cave" or his garden. The show ended with "New Rules" from Maher's garden. There was no "Overtime" segment.

On August 28, 2020, Bill Maher returned to the studio, but with no audience and guests appearing remotely over a video screen. From September 11, 2020, to October 30, 2020, and November 13, 2020, a limited audience was brought in with some guests appearing remotely while others are in studio. November 6, 2020, featured the first show with a limited audience, mainly the staff writers, and all guests appearing in the studio. A format that has been done consistently since the Season 18 finale on November 20, 2020, into [[Real Time with Bill Maher (season 19)|Season 19]]. Since February 5, 2021, of Season 19, the show has allowed regular audience attendees in the studio who have tested negative for COVID-19. After the monologue, Maher speaks with the first guest appearing in the studio sitting in the armchairs moved six feet apart across from another. The panel discussion involves two guests sitting six feet apart from one another across from Maher at the discussion table. And no "Overtime" segment.

The season 19 episode scheduled for May 14, 2021, was canceled after Maher tested positive for [[COVID-19]] during the show's weekly testing for COVID. The episode was to feature [[Neil deGrasse Tyson]], [[Max Brooks]], and [[Dan Carlin]] as guests.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 14, 2021 |title='Real Time With Bill Maher' Cancels This Week's Show After HBO Host Tests Positive For Covid-19 |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/real-time-with-bill-maher-cancelled-this-week-tests-positive-covid-19-1234755973/ |access-date=May 14, 2021 |website=Deadline}}</ref> The following May 21 show was canceled as a precaution.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2021 |title=Bill Maher Cancels 'Real Time' Again This Week After Positive Coronavirus Test |url=https://www.thewrap.com/bill-maher-cancels-real-time-again-positive-covid-test/ |access-date=May 21, 2021 |website=TheWrap}}</ref>
 
For [[Real Time with Bill Maher (season 20)|season 20]], the show does not air live, rather it is pre-recorded at 7:00 pm ET with the 10:00 pm ET airing unchanged with the same three-guest format from the previous season. "Overtime" returned on January 21, 2022, following the season premiere. Instead of the usual four guests format, it is the three guests, the first guest interviewed after the monologue, and the two guests who sit with Maher at the discussion table during the rest of the show. This format has continued into [[Real Time with Bill Maher (season 21)|season 21]] and [[Real Time with Bill Maher (season 22)|season 22]].

Episode 11 of [[Real Time with Bill Maher (season 23)|season 23]], which aired April 11, 2025, was controversial for Maher describing his positive experience when talking with US President [[Donald Trump]]. Maher's guest [[Josh Rogin]] pointed out after Maher's monologue that Maher had been "used as a prop" by Trump to play the media and that Maher had been swayed by the "[[Proximity principle|proximity as principle]]". Political YouTube commentator Adam Mockler echoed this sentiment.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohqPAhwy3eI |title=bill maher's trump moment just leaked… and it's BAD |date=2025-04-12 |last=Adam Mockler |access-date=2025-04-14 |via=YouTube}}</ref>