By Peter White, Erik Pedersen
\nDEADLINE<\/p>\n
EXCLUSIVE<\/strong>:\u00a0HBO<\/a>\u00a0has scrapped this week\u2019s episode of\u00a0Real Time with\u00a0Bill Maher<\/a><\/em>\u00a0after the comedian tested positive for\u00a0Covid<\/a>-19. Maher, who is vaccinated and asymptomatic, tested positive during the premium cable network\u2019s weekly PCR testing ahead of the show.<\/p>\n It is a blow for the late-night show, which was set to entertain astrophysicist and\u00a0StarTalk<\/em>\u00a0podcaster Neil deGrasse Tyson as the top-of-show interview guest, and\u00a0World War Z\u00a0<\/em>author Max Brooks and\u00a0Hardcore History<\/em>\u00a0podcast host Dan Carlin as panelists.<\/p>\n \u201cThe\u00a0Friday, May 14th\u00a0taping of\u00a0Real Time with Bill Maher<\/a><\/em>\u00a0has been cancelled. Bill tested positive during weekly staff PCR testing for COVID. He is fully vaccinated and as a result is asymptomatic and feels fine. Real Time production has taken every precaution following COVID CDC guidelines. No other staff or crew members have tested positive at this time. The show will be rescheduled at a later date,\u201d an HBO spokeswoman told Deadline.<\/p>\n