Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

The Best Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Genres:TalkComedyNews
Network:HBO

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.
Episodes
326
Avg. Rating
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  1. 9.5/10(756 votes)

    #1 - Government Surveillance

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    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. 9.5/10(773 votes)

    #2 - SLAPP Suits

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    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. 9.3/10(627 votes)

    #3 - Church

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    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:N/A
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  4. 9.3/10(760 votes)

    #4 - Donald Trump

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    S3:E3

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

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  5. 9.0/10(538 votes)

    #5 - Trump vs. Truth

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    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:N/A
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  6. 8.9/10(372 votes)

    #6 - February 18, 2024: Supreme Court

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    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:N/A
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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

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  8. 8.8/10(502 votes)

    #7 - Net Neutrality

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    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. 8.8/10(447 votes)

    #8 - Tobacco

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    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. 8.8/10(463 votes)

    #9 - FIFA II

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    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. 8.8/10(452 votes)

    #10 - Sex Education

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    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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  12. 8.8/10(496 votes)

    #11 - President-Elect Trump

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    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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  13. 8.8/10(455 votes)

    #12 - Police

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    S7:E14

    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.

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  14. 8.7/10(415 votes)

    #13 - Scientific Studies

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    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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  15. 8.7/10(411 votes)

    #14 - Dalai Lama

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    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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  16. 8.7/10(326 votes)

    #15 - The Trump Presidency

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    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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  17. 8.7/10(386 votes)

    #16 - Rudy Giuliani

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    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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  18. 8.7/10(304 votes)

    #17 - Trump & Election Results

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    S7:E30

    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.

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  19. 8.7/10(267 votes)

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

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    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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  20. 8.6/10(469 votes)

    #19 - FIFA and the World Cup

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    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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  21. 8.6/10(413 votes)

    #20 - Civil Forfeiture

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    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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  22. 8.6/10(423 votes)

    #21 - The Lottery

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    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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  23. 8.6/10(428 votes)

    #22 - Abortion Laws

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    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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  24. 8.6/10(407 votes)

    #23 - Debt Buyers

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    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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  25. 8.6/10(296 votes)

    #24 - Authoritarianism

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    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:N/A
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  26. 8.6/10(379 votes)

    #25 - Coronavirus II

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    S7:E5

    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.

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Best Episodes Summary

"Government Surveillance" is the best rated episode of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver". It scored 9.5/10 based on 756 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".