Screenwriters return to work for first time in nearly five months while actor await new negotiations

Hours after Hollywood's writers strike ended, Bill Maher led the charge back to work by announcing early Wednesday that his HBO show “Real Time with Bill Maher” would be back on the air Friday. Maher announced his return on social media less than eight hours after the nearly five month strike ended. On Tuesday night, board members from the writers union approved a contract agreement with studios, bringing the industry at least partly back from a historic halt in production that stretched nearly five months. Maher had delayed returning to his talk show during the ongoing strike by writers and actors. Actors remain on strike with no new negotiations yet planned.