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The Best Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Every episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver!

A half-hour satirical look at the week in news, politics and current events.
Genres:TalkComedyNews
Network:HBO
Episodes
320
Avg. Rating
8.0
S1
S2
S3
S4
E1
E2
E3
8.4
8.4
8.2
9.0
8.2
8.8
8.6
8.5
8.3
8.1
9.3
8.1

Filter By Season (12)

  • Government Surveillance
    9.5/10(753)
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    #1 - Government Surveillance

    Season 2 Episode 8

    Aired 4/5/2015

    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: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell

    Comments

    0
  • SLAPP Suits
    9.5/10(770)
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    #2 - SLAPP Suits

    Season 6 Episode 29

    Aired 11/10/2019

    After winning a legal battle involving a coal executive and a giant squirrel, John Oliver explains how SLAPP suits are designed to stifle public dissent.

    Director: Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner

    Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner

    Comments

    0
  • Church
    9.3/10(624)
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    #3 - Church

    Season 2 Episode 25

    Aired 8/16/2015

    John discusses predatory churches and televangelism, and how the U.S. tax law allows them to get away with almost anything. Plus, the raising of the American flag in Cuba, the redesign of New Zealand's flag, and President Harding's illegitimate child.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Donald Trump
    9.3/10(758)
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    #4 - Donald Trump

    Season 3 Episode 3

    Aired 2/28/2016

    John talks about the Egyptian president and economic crisis, the Guantanamo Bay shutdown and Donald Trump.

    Director: Paul Pennolino

    Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell

    Comments

    0
  • Trump vs. Truth
    9.0/10(537)
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    #5 - Trump vs. Truth

    Season 4 Episode 1

    Aired 2/12/2017

    Donald Trump spreads a lot of false information thanks to his daily consumption of morning cable news. If only we could sneak some facts into the president’s media diet.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • February 18, 2024: Supreme Court
    8.9/10(367)
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    #6 - February 18, 2024: Supreme Court

    Season 11 Episode 1

    Aired 2/18/2024

    John Oliver discusses the Supreme Court, the ethically questionable gifts some of the justices receive, and an offer for Clarence Thomas that could ruin John's life. Genuinely. You'll see.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
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  • Net Neutrality
    8.8/10(501)
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    #7 - Net Neutrality

    Season 1 Episode 5

    Aired 6/1/2014

    John talks about the rise of the far-right political parties in Europe, the Ukrainian election, Afghanistan, Net Neutrality, Australia's hard-line right-wing Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

    Director: Joe Perota

    Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Tim Carvell

    Comments

    0
  • Tobacco
    8.8/10(446)
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    #8 - Tobacco

    Season 2 Episode 2

    Aired 2/15/2015

    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: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell

    Comments

    0
  • FIFA II
    8.8/10(462)
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    #9 - FIFA II

    Season 2 Episode 15

    Aired 5/31/2015

    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: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell

    Comments

    0
  • Sex Education
    8.8/10(451)
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    #10 - Sex Education

    Season 2 Episode 24

    Aired 8/9/2015

    Sex education varies widely between school districts, leaving many teens without comprehensive information. We made a video that covers what some schools are too embarrassed to teach.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • President-Elect Trump
    8.8/10(495)
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    #11 - President-Elect Trump

    Season 3 Episode 30

    Aired 11/13/2016

    The presidential race has been a hell of a ride. ‘Last Week Tonight’ closes out the election and Season 3 with a bang.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Police
    8.8/10(452)
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    #12 - Police

    Season 7 Episode 14

    Aired 6/7/2020

    This episode tackles the hard truth about the history of Police in the United States and the many problems that are faced in fixing those problems.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Scientific Studies
    8.7/10(414)
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    #13 - Scientific Studies

    Season 3 Episode 11

    Aired 5/8/2016

    John Oliver on Sticking to the Facts: Media outlets often report new findings from scientific studies, but how many are true?

    Director: Paul Pennolino

    Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell

    Comments

    0
  • Dalai Lama
    8.7/10(410)
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    #14 - Dalai Lama

    Season 4 Episode 4

    Aired 3/5/2017

    Tibetan Buddhists have suffered deep persecution by the Chinese government. John Oliver sits down with the Dalai Lama to discuss China, the conditions in Tibet, and horse milk.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • The Trump Presidency
    8.7/10(326)
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    #15 - The Trump Presidency

    Season 4 Episode 30

    Aired 11/12/2017

    One year after the presidential election, John Oliver discusses what we've learned so far and enlists our catheter cowboy to teach Donald Trump what he hasn't.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Rudy Giuliani
    8.7/10(386)
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    #16 - Rudy Giuliani

    Season 5 Episode 10

    Aired 5/6/2018

    Rudy Giuliani is new to Trump’s legal team, but not to public controversy. Last Week Tonight examines his turbulent record in the wake of his recent political upsets.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Trump & Election Results
    8.7/10(302)
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    #17 - Trump & Election Results

    Season 7 Episode 30

    Aired 11/15/2020

    A week after Joe Biden’s win in the US presidential election, John Oliver discusses Donald Trump’s various attempts to overturn the results, why his claims don’t hold water, and the consequences of indulging him.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • June 16, 2024: Trump's Second Term
    8.7/10(260)
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    #18 - June 16, 2024: Trump's Second Term

    Season 11 Episode 15

    Aired 6/16/2024

    John Oliver discusses the plans for Donald Trump's second term, an interesting campaign choice from a conservative congressional candidate in Michigan, and the bakery that has very successfully turned John into a cake bear.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • FIFA and the World Cup
    8.6/10(468)
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    #19 - FIFA and the World Cup

    Season 1 Episode 6

    Aired 6/8/2014

    John talks about California Chrome and the Belmont Stakes, FIFA and the 2014 World Cup, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

    Director: Joe Perota

    Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Tim Carvell

    Comments

    0
  • Civil Forfeiture
    8.6/10(412)
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    #20 - Civil Forfeiture

    Season 1 Episode 20

    Aired 10/5/2014

    Main story: how desperate the American law enforcement is to make money out of everyone by using the process called the "civil asset forfeiture," and how it would make for a weird episode of "Law and Order." Plus, John wants to host the 2022 Winter Olympics and how is Columbus Day still a thing.

    Director: Joe Perota

    Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy

    Comments

    0
  • The Lottery
    8.6/10(423)
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    #21 - The Lottery

    Season 1 Episode 24

    Aired 11/9/2014

    The Lottery: State lotteries claim to be good for education and the general wellbeing of citizens. But are they? (Spoiler alert: No.) Also, there is a cannon that shoots salmon over dams. It’s awesome. Check it out.

    Director: Joe Perota

    Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy

    Comments

    0
  • Abortion Laws
    8.6/10(427)
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    #22 - Abortion Laws

    Season 3 Episode 2

    Aired 2/21/2016

    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: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell

    Comments

    0
  • Debt Buyers
    8.6/10(407)
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    #23 - Debt Buyers

    Season 3 Episode 14

    Aired 6/5/2016

    John Oliver Takes On Debt Buyers: Companies that purchase debt on the cheap will aggressively collect on it. 'Last Week Tonight’ took a hands-on approach to addressing this issue.

    Director: Paul Pennolino

    Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell

    Comments

    0
  • Authoritarianism
    8.6/10(296)
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    #24 - Authoritarianism

    Season 5 Episode 30

    Aired 11/18/2018

    John Oliver discusses the growing number of authoritarian leaders around the world, their common characteristics, and whether or not one of them is currently our president.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0
  • Coronavirus II
    8.6/10(379)
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    #25 - Coronavirus II

    Season 7 Episode 5

    Aired 3/15/2020

    Main story: 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak, governmental response in the US, and the prevention of COVID-19. This episode was filmed at an unspecified location with no live audience as the studio and the show's offices were shut down after employees tested positive for COVID-19. John Oliver stated the show will go on hiatus for an unspecified amount of time but will definitely return.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

    Comments

    0

Best Episodes Summary

"Government Surveillance" is the best rated episode of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver". It scored 9.5/10 based on 753 votes. Directed by Jim Hoskinson and written by Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Maurer, Jill Twiss, Juli Weiner, John Oliver, Kevin Avery, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Will Tracy, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell, it aired on 4/5/2015. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "SLAPP Suits".