Bill Maher and Tucker Carlson Planning Podcast Sit-Down

Bill Maher wants to have people he knows he'll disagree with on his podcast Club Random, which is why he's planning an interview with Tucker Carlson.

The comedian-turned-political commentator and HBO host was speaking to Newsweek about his new podcast series when he revealed how close a sit-down between him and the Fox News host is.

Maher opened Club Random in March 2022 and has welcomed the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Jay Leno, Lisa Kudrow, Nikki Glaser, Piers Morgan, Bella Thorne and Quentin Tarantino.

He told Newsweek what he didn't like about the old podcast format and why he wanted to change it, who he wouldn't have on his podcast, and why Donald Trump is always welcome.

Planning an Interview With Tucker Carlson

Even though the doors of Club Random have only been open for six months, Maher has welcomed an array of guests in. The Real Time host has always welcomed differing points of view, and he wants to maintain that tradition on his podcast too.

"I'm one of the only ones in entertainment who does that regularly, invites people on with an opposing point of view. Every show on MSNBC should be called 'You're So Right, Chris' or whatever those dudes are. It's just people talking to the amen corner." Maher continued, "And that's fine, I know a lot of people who watch. It's comforting, and we live in a very tribal society."

Maher explains what has always set him apart from other hosts. "I like to hear people's different point of views, and we don't always agree. And I will say to people, 'I think you're crazy about that, but let's just talk about it.' I'll have almost anybody on. I mean, Tucker Carlson and I are trying to work out a mutual interview schedule. It's very difficult because apparently he tapes in an undisclosed location and I can't find him. We're never in the same city, but we want to do it. "

While he'll talk to almost anybody, Maher does say he'd draw the line at "Klansmen, Nazis and cannibals."

Creating a New Podcast Environment

While HBO's Real Time With Bill Maher has a political skew, Club Random focuses more on the personal, and entertainment. His celebrity guests talk about a wide range of topics with him, which can but don't always get political.

Maher's gone the extra mile when creating his studio for Club Random. There are no visible cameras, no producers and PR experts in site. It's just Maher and his guest in a cocktail bar environment. Maher's also developed a technique to get his guests to open up.

"I've always said when I've had parties here or elsewhere, the secret to a great party, and it's not that big a secret—get them high. Have drinks readily available."

Maher says he had considered podcasting a decade ago, but decided against it since he already had a TV show. When he finally decided to take the leap, he chose to set his apart from critiquing other existing podcasts.

"They look horrible. Most of them, some have gotten a little better, but it's still a studio. There's other people there so you're not alone with your guest. So I wanted to combine podcasting with the Big Brother house. I mean, it cost me a fortune to build the cameras into the walls in this place." He also wanted to do away with the headphones, the "giant penis mic in your face" and all of the other people.

Maher paid a reality television crew to install the equipment which "wasn't cheap" apparently. Ultimately he got the result he wanted. "You're just at a nightclub with me having a drink and smoking and chewing the fat. And it's amazing how much people forget they're doing a podcast."

Welcoming Donald Trump to Club Random

Although he doesn't drink, Donald Trump would also be welcomed into Club Random as a guest that Maher doesn't necessarily agree with.

"I'd love it. Are you kidding? That would be amazing. More than anyone else. Who's more important in the world right now? I mean, not in a good way in my view. Certainly no one has been harder on Donald Trump than me."

Trump and Maher have publicly exchanged harsh words toward each other for years. Maher commented how he'd been predicting for years that Trump 'won't just go away' and while he was initially dismissed, Maher says he's been proven right.

"I would like to talk to him about that, but I don't think that's going to happen, but who knows? He's crazy enough to do it. I think we could have a great discussion."

Maher continued, "Even Donald Trump, we could get to a place where we had a bonding moment, but he would have to submit to my understanding of him that he is a malignant narcissist."

New episodes of Maher's podcast Club Random drops every Sunday evening on streaming platforms, with the video footage of the podcast posted on YouTube.

The next guest on Maher's podcast will be Woody Harrelson. "That should be a lot of fun because there's one guy who I did not have to twist his arm to smoke with me, as you can imagine."