Bill Maher Denies He’s Leaving ‘Real Time’

Despite previous threats to quit, Bill Maher plans to stick by his HBO talk show until the bitter end.

The Real Time host addressed speculation that he’s stepping away from the show that launched in 2003 after he previously claimed in jest that he “may quit” following Donald Trump‘s election for a second presidential term.

“I don’t know where this started about I’m getting rid of Real Time. They’re going to have to drag me off of that show,” said Maher on CNN.

“What I was saying was that I didn’t want to do another Trump term,” he added. “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.”

Maher continued, “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.”

Last month, Maher said on the Club Random cast that he’s “s—ing his pants” after Trump won his re-election, adding: “It’s hard to believe. I mean, I may quit because I do’’t want to do another. 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.”

HBO exec Nina Rosenstein has since told Deadline about the potential of Maher’s resignation, “He recorded that podcast right after the election and he was honestly joking around. He’ll always say his first love is Real Time.”