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The Best Episodes Directed By Jim Hoskinson

Every TV Episode Directed by Jim Hoskinson Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    undefined Season 2 Episode 8 - Government Surveillance
    9.3/10(7 votes)

    #1 - Government Surveillance

    S2:E8

    There are very few government checks on what America’s sweeping surveillance programs are capable of doing. John Oliver sits down with Edward Snowden to discuss the NSA, the balance between privacy and security, and dick-pics.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  2. undefined Season 1 Episode 1 - Stone Phillips / Truthiness
    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #2 - Stone Phillips / Truthiness

    S1:E1

    In the premiere episode of The Colbert Report, Stephen starts off the show with a segment called The Word coining the term "Truthiness". Other segments include: The Threat Down rating avian flu, basketball, babies, hurricanes and James Brady. Stephen interviews Stone Phillips, an Emmy award winning journalist and host of Dateline NBC. At the end of the interview, Stephen and Stone Phillips have a competition of gravitas.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  3. undefined Season 2 Episode 15 - FIFA II
    8.9/10(7 votes)

    #3 - FIFA II

    S2:E15

    After the arrests of numerous top officials, John Oliver decided to give an update on the state of FIFA. Also, Thailand's ignorance about the world's history involving Hitler might require some re-education.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  4. undefined Season 2 Episode 17 - Torture
    8.8/10(6 votes)

    #4 - Torture

    S2:E17

    The US Senate Torture Report revealed horrifying details of America's interrogation program. Helen Mirren will fill you in. Plus, information about the 2015 European Games and the Canadian Senate expenses scandal.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  5. undefined Season 2 Episode 18 - The Internet
    8.7/10(6 votes)

    #5 - The Internet

    S2:E18

    Online harassment is a major problem, but it’s rarely prosecuted. If only we’d been warned about this in the early days of the internet.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  6. undefined Season 2 Episode 19 - Transgender Rights
    8.7/10(6 votes)

    #6 - Transgender Rights

    S2:E19

    This week’s gay rights victory was historic, but the transgender community still faces staggering challenges. John Oliver focuses on the “T” in “LGBT."

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  7. undefined Season 2 Episode 5 - U.S. Territories
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #7 - U.S. Territories

    S2:E5

    A set of Supreme Court decisions made over 100 years ago has left U.S. territories without meaningful representation. That’s weird, right? Plus, daylight saving time doesn’t actually benefit anyone. Strangely, it’s still a thing!

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  8. undefined Season 2 Episode 10 - Patents
    8.5/10(6 votes)

    #8 - Patents

    S2:E10

    For inventors, patents are an essential protection against theft. But when patent trolls abuse the system by stockpiling patents and threatening lawsuits, businesses are forced to shell out tons of money. Also, CNN produced an actual doomsday video to broadcast when the world is ending and it’s incredibly dull. We've enlisted Martin Sheen to help make humanity’s final moments happier!

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  9. undefined Season 2 Episode 13 - Paid Family Leave
    8.5/10(6 votes)

    #9 - Paid Family Leave

    S2:E13

    Many American companies do not offer paid leave after the birth of a child, which means they probably shouldn’t run sappy Mother’s Day ads. Also, the Japanese have some unhealthy obsession with mascots and John proposes to adopt some of that culture in the U.S. government agencies as well.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  10. undefined Season 2 Episode 16 - Bail
    8.5/10(6 votes)

    #10 - Bail

    S2:E16

    John Oliver explains why America’s bail system is better for the reality TV industry than it is for the justice system.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  11. undefined Season 2 Episode 21 - Food Waste
    8.4/10(7 votes)

    #11 - Food Waste

    S2:E21

    Producers, sellers, and consumers waste tons of food. John Oliver discusses the shocking amount of food we don’t eat.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  12. undefined Season 2 Episode 11 - Fashion
    8.3/10(6 votes)

    #12 - Fashion

    S2:E11

    John explores the concept of changing and cheap fashion and some of the ugliest truths of the manufacturing process.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  13. undefined Season 2 Episode 12 - Standardized Testing
    8.3/10(6 votes)

    #13 - Standardized Testing

    S2:E12

    American students face a ridiculous amount of testing. John Oliver explains how standardized tests impact school funding, the achievement gap and how often the kids are expected to throw up while taking one.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  14. undefined Season 2 Episode 20 - Stadiums
    8.3/10(6 votes)

    #14 - Stadiums

    S2:E20

    Cities spend massive amounts of public money on privately-owned stadiums. Cities issue tax-exempt municipal bonds that — wait, don’t fall asleep!

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  15. undefined Season 3 Episode 1 - Voting
    8.3/10(10 votes)

    #15 - Voting

    S3:E1

    John talks about the late Antonin Scalia's love of the Letter of the Law, Chipotle's food safety problems, how Voter IDs laws should be applied to those who write them, and New Zealand's economic development minister Steven Joyce.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  16. undefined Season 2 Episode 3 - Elected Judges
    8.1/10(7 votes)

    #16 - Elected Judges

    S2:E3

    The vast majority of US judges are elected, forcing many judges to pander to the electorate and accept campaign money in order to keep their jobs. This seems slightly troubling... The UK's Labour Party has painted a campaign van pink in an attempt to attract women voters. We are glad they didn't keep going with that strategy.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  17. undefined Season 2 Episode 7 - Municipal Violations
    8.1/10(7 votes)

    #17 - Municipal Violations

    S2:E7

    If you have money, committing a municipal violation may pose you a minor inconvenience. If you don’t, it can ruin your life. Also, the New Hampshire legislature refused to make the red-tailed hawk the official raptor of their state... so Last Week Tonight made it the official raptor of the show.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  18. undefined Season 2 Episode 22 - Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws
    8.1/10(7 votes)

    #18 - Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws

    S2:E22

    Mandatory minimums require fixed prison sentences for certain crimes. John Oliver explains why we treat some turkeys better than most low-level offenders.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  19. undefined Season 2 Episode 34 - Daily Fantasy Sports
    8.1/10(7 votes)

    #19 - Daily Fantasy Sports

    S2:E34

    John talks about the recent Paris attacks, China's Singles Day, the Koh-i-Noor diamond and Daily Fantasy Sports.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  20. undefined Season 2 Episode 35 - Refugees & Pennies
    8.1/10(7 votes)

    #20 - Refugees & Pennies

    S2:E35

    John reflects on the aftermath of Paris attacks and how it affects refugees worldwide. Plus, he questions the usefulness of the U.S. penny, since minting the coins costs more than they're actually worth.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  21. undefined Season 2 Episode 14 - Chickens
    8.0/10(6 votes)

    #21 - Chickens

    S2:E14

    John Oliver explains how chicken farming can be unfair, punishing, and inhumane. And not just for the chickens!

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  22. undefined Season 3 Episode 2 - Abortion Laws
    7.9/10(13 votes)

    #22 - Abortion Laws

    S3:E2

    John talks about the South Carolina Republican primary, the Supreme Court vacancy and abortion, which theoretically is legal in the U.S., but some states make it practically inaccessible. Plus, how is Hollywood whitewashing still a thing?

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  23. undefined Season 2 Episode 33 - Prisoner Re-entry
    7.9/10(8 votes)

    #23 - Prisoner Re-entry

    S2:E33

    John Oliver discusses problems that prisoners face when re-entering the society after they're released from prison. A quick interview with Bilal Chatman shines a light on one such case. Plus, a law proposed in the United Kingdom advocates for a mass surveillance of citizens' online activities, how Department of Defense is paying huge sums of money to professional sports teams to honor veterans during their events, and Washington Redskins file a lawsuit to defend their poorly chosen trademark name by naming other terrible examples.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  24. undefined Season 2 Episode 2 - Tobacco
    7.8/10(9 votes)

    #24 - Tobacco

    S2:E2

    Thanks to tobacco industry regulations and marketing restrictions in the U.S., smoking rates have dropped dramatically. John Oliver explains how tobacco companies are keeping their business strong overseas and how Phillip Morris International in particular is employing some unethical legal practices while suing some of the world's poorest countries. Plus, we've noticed that the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue still exists but can’t quite figure out why.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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  25. undefined Season 2 Episode 9 - The IRS
    7.5/10(8 votes)

    #25 - The IRS

    S2:E9

    Nobody likes the IRS. But recent budget and staff cuts have made it increasingly difficult for the department to do its very important job. Don’t take our word for it. Ask Michael Bolton.

    Director:Jim Hoskinson
    Writer:N/A

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Jim Hoskinson Ratings Summary

"Government Surveillance" is the best rated episode directed by Jim Hoskinson. It scored 9.286/10 based on 7 votes. It was written by N/A. It aired on 4/5/2015 and is rated 0.3 points higher than their second-best episode, "Stone Phillips / Truthiness".