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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!

The Best Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

A half-hour satirical look at the week in news, politics and current events.
  1. Background image for Government Surveillance
    9.5/10(757 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.

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  2. Background image for SLAPP Suits
    9.5/10(778 votes)

    #2 - SLAPP Suits

    S6:E29

    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.

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  3. Background image for Church
    9.3/10(630 votes)

    #3 - Church

    S2:E25

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  4. Background image for Donald Trump
    9.3/10(761 votes)

    #4 - Donald Trump

    S3:E3

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

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  5. Background image for Trump vs. Truth
    9.0/10(539 votes)

    #5 - Trump vs. Truth

    S4:E1

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  6. Background image for February 18, 2024: Supreme Court
    8.9/10(377 votes)

    #6 - February 18, 2024: Supreme Court

    S11:E1

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  8. Background image for Net Neutrality
    8.8/10(504 votes)

    #7 - Net Neutrality

    S1:E5

    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.

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  9. Background image for Tobacco
    8.8/10(449 votes)

    #8 - 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.

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  10. Background image for FIFA II
    8.8/10(464 votes)

    #9 - 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.

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  11. Background image for Sex Education
    8.8/10(454 votes)

    #10 - Sex Education

    S2:E24

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  12. Background image for President-Elect Trump
    8.8/10(497 votes)

    #11 - President-Elect Trump

    S3:E30

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

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  13. Background image for Scientific Studies
    8.7/10(417 votes)

    #12 - Scientific Studies

    S3:E11

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

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  14. Background image for Dalai Lama
    8.7/10(412 votes)

    #13 - Dalai Lama

    S4:E4

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  15. Background image for The Trump Presidency
    8.7/10(326 votes)

    #14 - The Trump Presidency

    S4:E30

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  16. Background image for Rudy Giuliani
    8.7/10(386 votes)

    #15 - Rudy Giuliani

    S5:E10

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for June 16, 2024: Trump's Second Term
    8.7/10(273 votes)

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

    S11:E15

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for FIFA and the World Cup
    8.6/10(471 votes)

    #17 - FIFA and the World Cup

    S1:E6

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

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  19. Background image for Civil Forfeiture
    8.6/10(416 votes)

    #18 - Civil Forfeiture

    S1:E20

    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.

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  20. Background image for The Lottery
    8.6/10(426 votes)

    #19 - The Lottery

    S1:E24

    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.

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  21. Background image for Abortion Laws
    8.6/10(429 votes)

    #20 - 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?

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  22. Background image for Debt Buyers
    8.6/10(409 votes)

    #21 - Debt Buyers

    S3:E14

    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.

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  23. Background image for Authoritarianism
    8.6/10(297 votes)

    #22 - Authoritarianism

    S5:E30

    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.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  24. Background image for Food Waste
    8.5/10(382 votes)

    #23 - Food Waste

    S2:E21

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

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  25. Background image for Border Wall
    8.5/10(405 votes)

    #24 - Border Wall

    S3:E6

    Donald Drumpf wants to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Is his plan feasible?

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  26. Background image for Putin
    8.5/10(411 votes)

    #25 - Putin

    S4:E2

    Vladimir Putin is known as a ruthless leader and master manipulator. John Oliver enlists a group of singing dancers to explain that to Donald Trump.

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    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

Best Episodes Summary

"Government Surveillance" is the best rated episode of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver". It scored 9.5/10 based on 757 votes. Directed by Jim Hoskinson and written by Jill Twiss, Jeff Maurer, Dan Gurewitch, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Will Tracy, John Oliver, Geoff Haggerty, Scott Sherman, Josh Gondelman, Tim Carvell, it aired on 4/5/2015. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "SLAPP Suits".