The Best Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
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   9.5/10(822 votes)

   #1 - SLAPP Suits

   S6:E2911/10/2019

   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.

   Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner

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

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   Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner

   Writers:Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner
2. 

   9.4/10(778 votes)

   #2 - Government Surveillance

   S2:E84/5/2015

   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

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

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   Director:Jim Hoskinson

   Writers:Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Will Tracy, John Oliver, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell
3. 

   9.2/10(651 votes)

   #3 - Church

   S2:E258/16/2015

   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:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

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4. 

   9.2/10(784 votes)

   #4 - Donald Trump

   S3:E32/28/2016

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

   Director:Paul Pennolino

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

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   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Will Tracy, John Oliver, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell
5. 

   8.9/10(558 votes)

   #5 - Trump vs. Truth

   S4:E12/12/2017

   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:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

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6. 

   8.9/10(401 votes)

   #6 - February 18, 2024: Supreme Court

   S11:E12/18/2024

   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:Unknown

   Writer:Unknown

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7. 

   8.8/10(514 votes)

   #7 - Net Neutrality

   S1:E56/1/2014

   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

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

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   Director:Joe Perota

   Writers:Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Will Tracy, John Oliver, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Tim Carvell
8. 

   8.8/10(454 votes)

   #8 - Tobacco

   S2:E22/15/2015

   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

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

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   Director:Jim Hoskinson

   Writers:Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Will Tracy, John Oliver, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell
9. 

   8.8/10(468 votes)

   #9 - FIFA II

   S2:E155/31/2015

   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

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

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   Director:Jim Hoskinson

   Writers:Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Will Tracy, John Oliver, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell
10. 

    8.8/10(463 votes)

    #10 - Sex Education

    S2:E248/9/2015

    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:Unknown

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11. 

    8.8/10(467 votes)

    #11 - Police

    S7:E146/7/2020

    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:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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12. 

    8.7/10(420 votes)

    #12 - Civil Forfeiture

    S1:E2010/5/2014

    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

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

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    Director:Joe Perota

    Writers:Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Will Tracy, John Oliver, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman
13. 

    8.7/10(430 votes)

    #13 - The Lottery

    S1:E2411/9/2014

    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

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

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    Director:Joe Perota

    Writers:Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Will Tracy, John Oliver, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman
14. 

    8.7/10(420 votes)

    #14 - Scientific Studies

    S3:E115/8/2016

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

    Director:Paul Pennolino

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

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    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, John Oliver, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell
15. 

    8.7/10(505 votes)

    #15 - President-Elect Trump

    S3:E3011/13/2016

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

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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16. 

    8.7/10(415 votes)

    #16 - Dalai Lama

    S4:E43/5/2017

    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:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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17. 

    8.7/10(331 votes)

    #17 - The Trump Presidency

    S4:E3011/12/2017

    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:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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18. 

    8.7/10(388 votes)

    #18 - Rudy Giuliani

    S5:E105/6/2018

    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:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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19. 

    8.7/10(317 votes)

    #19 - Trump & Election Results

    S7:E3011/15/2020

    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:Unknown

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20. 

    8.7/10(292 votes)

    #20 - June 16, 2024: Trump's Second Term

    S11:E156/16/2024

    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:Unknown

    Writer:Unknown

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21. 

    8.6/10(474 votes)

    #21 - FIFA and the World Cup

    S1:E66/8/2014

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

    Director:Joe Perota

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

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    Director:Joe Perota

    Writers:Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Will Tracy, John Oliver, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Tim Carvell
22. 

    8.6/10(433 votes)

    #22 - Abortion Laws

    S3:E22/21/2016

    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

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

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    Director:Jim Hoskinson

    Writers:Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Will Tracy, John Oliver, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell
23. 

    8.6/10(413 votes)

    #23 - Debt Buyers

    S3:E146/5/2016

    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

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

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    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Will Tracy, John Oliver, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell
24. 

    8.6/10(341 votes)

    #24 - Brexit II

    S4:E156/11/2017

    In the wake of a divisive election, the UK will begin the process of leaving the European Union. John Oliver and an intergalactic space lord propose a plan.

    Director:Unknown

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25. 

    8.6/10(299 votes)

    #25 - Authoritarianism

    S5:E3011/18/2018

    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:Unknown

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