9.5/10750 votesLoading...#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
9.5/10766 votesLoading...#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
9.3/10622 votesLoading...#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
9.3/10754 votesLoading...#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
9.0/10534 votesLoading...#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
8.9/10363 votesLoading...#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
8.8/10498 votesLoading...#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
8.8/10443 votesLoading...#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
8.8/10459 votesLoading...#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
8.8/10449 votesLoading...#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
8.8/10491 votesLoading...#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
8.8/10449 votesLoading...#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
8.7/10420 votesLoading...#13 - 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
8.7/10411 votesLoading...#14 - 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
8.7/10408 votesLoading...#15 - 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
8.7/10323 votesLoading...#16 - 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
8.7/10384 votesLoading...#17 - 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
8.7/10299 votesLoading...#18 - 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
8.7/10255 votesLoading...#19 - 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
8.6/10465 votesLoading...#20 - 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
8.6/10409 votesLoading...#21 - 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
8.6/10424 votesLoading...#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
8.6/10404 votesLoading...#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
8.6/10293 votesLoading...#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
8.6/10376 votesLoading...#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
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
Best Episodes Summary
"Government Surveillance" is the best rated episode of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver". It scored 9.5/10 based on 750 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".