Bill Maher dismisses rumors of quitting HBO’s ‘Real Time’: ‘They have to drag me off’

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Comedian Bill Maher clarified he was not quitting his HBO talk show 'Real Time With Bill Maher' during an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN on Friday, January 10, reported the New York Post.

Speculations of Maher leaving the network show were fuelled by the host himself, as he shared during an episode of his 'Club Random' podcast last December that he did not want to cover issues related to President-elect Donald Trump over his second term.

"I may quit because I don’t want to do another," Maher told his guest Jane Fonda at the time.

"I did Trump. I did all the Trump stuff before anybody. I called him a con man before anybody. I did. He’s a mafia boss. I was the one who said he wasn’t going to concede the election. I’ve done it," he railed.

Bill Maher says he's not leaving HBO

When asked about speculations that he was leaving HBO, Bill Maher told CNN host Jake Taper on 'The Lead with Jake Tapper' on Friday, January 10, "I don’t know where this started about I’m getting rid of ‘Real Time.’ I — they’re going to have to drag me off of that show."

Hosting 'Real Time' since 2003, Maher reportedly makes $10 million per year from the show.

“But there’s talk promulgated by you about maybe you quitting the HBO show," inquired Tapper.

"Well, you said something to Jane Fonda about — about thinking about that. Where are you in your career? You still got a lot of good stand-up, a lot of good jokes in you, right? Like what — tell us what — what’s next?” he further asked.

Maher went on to explain that he was not quitting HBO but was planning to retire from stand-up comedy.

“OK. I am stopping doing stand-up, just because I’m tired of touring, just because I’ve been doing it for 40 years. I love it,” he said.

He compared preparing a stand-up routine to training for a boxing match.

"I’ve been in training for 40 years. I need a break. And I’m tired of the travel. I’m tired of dragging my a** out of bed on Saturday morning to go to someplace after I worked so hard on ‘Real Time’ all week," Maher added.

As for his comments on the podcast episode with Fonda, Maher clarified, "What I was saying was that I didn’t want to do another Trump term. Not just because I don’t think it’s going to be possibly a great time for America. Maybe again, not going to pre-hate anything, but because I’ve already done all the jokes about Donald Trump.”

"I don’t know what else to say about the guy. But of course, he will provide us with a lot of new material. And I’ll get into it, but I was hoping that in the episodic television show that is America, I was hoping for some new characters," he added.

Internet believes Bill Maher is 'not going anywhere'

Netizens accepted Bill Maher's clarification and feel he will not give up his hosting duties on HBO anytime soon. The following tweets demonstrate their takes.

"Doubt he'll voluntarily go anywhere any time soon," wrote a user.

"Maher’s not going anywhere. He thrives on controversy. wouldn’t be the same without him," shared another.

"Bill’s not going anywhere. He’s built too much of a legacy to just walk away," claimed a third.

However, another user jibed, "Lol. That's what Biden said!"

"Never, that's where he goes to stroke is ego," remarked one user.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.