REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER KICKS OFF ITS 12TH SEASON JAN. 17, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO; GLENN GREENWALD IS THE TOP-OF-SHOW INTERVIEW GUEST; MARY MATALIN IS THE MID-SHOW INTERVIEW GUEST; JAMES CARVILLE, JENNIFER GRANHOLM AND STEVE SCHMIDT ARE THE ROUNDTABLE GUESTS

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER returns for its 12th season FRIDAY, JAN. 17 (10:00-11:00 p.m. live ET/tape-delayed PT), with a replay at 11:00 p.m., exclusively on HBO. Allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues, the show includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists, and interviews with in-studio and satellite guests. Journalist Glenn Greenwald is the top-of-show interview guest. Political consultant Mary Matalin is the mid-show interview guest. The roundtable guests are political commentator James Carville, former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm and political analyst Steve Schmidt.

Other HBO playdates: Jan. 19 (1:00 p.m.), 20 (1:15 a.m.), 21 (7:00 p.m.) and 22 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Jan. 17 (2:20 a.m.), 18 (9:15 a.m., midnight), 19 (7:00 p.m.), 20 (8:00 p.m.) and 21 (10:00 p.m.)

Bill Maher has been a favorite of subscribers since his first special on the network in 1989, starring in nine solo specials, including the hour-long presentations "Bill Maher�But I'm Not Wrong," "The Decider" and "I'm Swiss" (both nominated for an Emmy(R) in the Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special category), "Victory Begins at Home," "Be More Cynical," "The Golden Goose Special" and "Stuff That Struck Me Funny," and two half-hour stand-up specials, plus the specials "30 Seconds Over Washington" and "Comic Relief VI(TM)." Maher is also an executive producer of the innovative news magazine show "VICE," which returns for its second season March 14 on HBO.

He was the creator and host of "Politically Incorrect," which was produced by HBO Downtown Productions and debuted on Comedy Central in 1993. The series moved to ABC in 1997 and ran through 2002.

His latest book, "The New New Rules: A Funny Look at How Everybody but Me Has Their Head Up Their Ass," was published in November 2011 and made the New York Times bestseller list. Maher's 2006 book, "New Rules: Polite Musings from a Timid Observer," also made the New York Times list, as well as bestseller lists across the country. He is also author of the books "When You Ride Alone You Ride with Bin Laden: What the Government Should Be Telling Us to Help Fight the War on Terrorism," "Does Anybody Have a Problem with That? The Best of Politically Incorrect" and the novel "True Story." Maher produced and starred in the 2008 feature film "Religulous," the seventh most successful documentary of all time.

For more information on REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER, visit www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher. Facebook page: facebook.com/Maher. Twitter: @Realtimers.

The executive producers of REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER are Bill Maher, Scott Carter, Sheila Griffiths, Brad Grey, Marc Gurvitz and Billy Martin; produced by Dean E. Johnsen; director, Paul Casey.