Actor, comedian, and North Carolina native Zach Galifianakis appeared on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" Friday night, and his discussion with the show's host briefly touched on his uncle's 1972 U.S. Senate race versus Jesse Helms.

Maher began by teasing Zach about living in the North Carolina mountains ("You look like you live out in the woods in North Carolina," Maher joked, referring to Zach's scruffy beard). Maher teased him further: "You live out there with the abortion bombers and the like, crazy people." Zach: "Yeah, I think politically I don't probably fit in with the people, but they're very nice people." Zach then gave a frightened glance toward the camera, for a laugh.

Maher then segued into the Helms race. . . .

Wall Street Journal automotive critic Dan Neil, who won a Pulitzer for his writing at the Los Angeles Times, will be a guest tonight on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher."

Neil worked as a critic for the Auto section of The News & Observer back in the early-to-mid 1990s. In fact, one of his more adult-oriented columns caused a bit of controversy here. That was not the last time Neil would create controversy with his writing. Or with his emails. Or with his spoken words. It's safe to predict he'll be a colorful interview subject for Maher.

Bill Maher fans love the New Rules segment of his HBO show, "Real Time with Bill Maher." It's the part of the show where he basically rants about people and policies that irritate him.

Maher gave The Hollywood Reporter a list of New Rules for people attending this Sunday's Emmy Awards show.

An example: New Rule: Please spare me the 40-minute dissertation on how fabulous "Glee" is. It's 2010. You can just come right out and say you're gay.

Maher has been nominated for 26 Emmys, including four this year for "Real Time."

Read more of Maher's New Rules at The Hollywood Reporter website.

Winter Olympics (NBC) - Figure skating, alpine skiing, ski jumping, and skeleton (left), which I have never seen. That will change tonight. Full schedule.

Bang For Your Buck (9:30pm, HGTV) -  Designer Vern Yip evaluates three kitchen remodels in Raleigh.

Ricky Gervais Show (9pm, HBO) - The series opener of a podcast-turned-animated series featuring Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington, who discuss a variety of topics.

The Life and Times of Tim (9:30pm, HBO) -  In the season 2 premiere of another HBO animated series, Tim's post-breakup beard interferes with his job. Guest voices tonight include Will Forte and Tony Hale.

Real Time with Bill Maher (10pm, HBO) - Fresh off his big HBO special (filmed in Raleigh), Maher opens season 8 of his political affairs enntertainment show with guests Wanda Sykes, Eliot Spitzer, Seth McFarland, Norah O'Donnell, and Elizabeth Warren.

20/20 (10pm, ABC) - Actor/comedian Jeff Garlin ("Curb Your Enthusiasm") talks about his new book, "My Footprint: Saving the Planet One Pound at a Time." 

Bill Maher brought his stand-up show to a nearly-packed house at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium last night, and while he was sharp and on his game, he was also embraced in the welcoming arms of "his people."

That's not to say everyone was pleased with every joke. During his bit on religion, a couple of stern-faced people did walk out, which begs the question: Did those people not know who Bill Maher was when they got tickets to the show?

This is a guy who made a whole documentary about his problems with religion. Maher had just commented on the possibility of abrupt exits, noting that it sometimes happens during the part of the show about religion, and jokingly urged those considering leaving to "stick with it" and if all else fails, to at least admit that up until that point, it was a pretty good show.

Bill Maher, best-selling author and host of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher," is doing two stand-up shows in Raleigh this week, and both are being taped for HBO.

There are more tickets available for the Friday show than for Saturday, though there are still ...
The show dates and times for the special, "Bill Maher ... But I'm Not Wrong," will be Friday at 8pm and Saturday at 9pm at Progress Energy Performing Arts Center at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.

The Saturday show will air on HBO at 10pm.

Bill Maher, the controversial comedic pundit, is coming to town to do a pair of shows being taped for broadcast on HBO. Maher will hold forth at Raleigh's Progress Energy Center for two nights, Feb. 12-13. Tickets are $39.50-$59.50 (plus the obligatory service charges), and they go on sale at 10 a.m. next Saturday, Oct. 17, at the usual spots.