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The Best Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 2

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Every episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 2 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 2!

The Best Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 2

A half-hour satirical look at the week in news, politics and current events.
  1. Background image for Marketing to Doctors
    7.1/10(8 votes)

    #1 - Marketing to Doctors

    S2:E1

    John Oliver discusses the growing issues of pharmaceutical companies marketing directly to and through doctors. Also, since RadioShack has filed for bankruptcy, John has created a farewell message for them. Plus, the online sessions by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa to address the public aren't going too well.

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  2. Background image for Tobacco
    7.5/10(8 votes)

    #2 - 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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  3. Background image for Elected Judges
    8.0/10(6 votes)

    #3 - Elected Judges

    S2:E3

    The vast majority of US judges are elected, forcing many judges to pander to the electorate and accept campaign money in order to keep their jobs. This seems slightly troubling... The UK's Labour Party has painted a campaign van pink in an attempt to attract women voters. We are glad they didn't keep going with that strategy.

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  4. Background image for Infrastructure
    7.0/10(6 votes)

    #4 - Infrastructure

    S2:E4

    America's crumbling infrastructure: It's not a sexy problem, but it is a scary one.

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  5. Background image for U.S. Territories
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #5 - U.S. Territories

    S2:E5

    A set of Supreme Court decisions made over 100 years ago has left U.S. territories without meaningful representation. That’s weird, right? Plus, daylight saving time doesn’t actually benefit anyone. Strangely, it’s still a thing!

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  6. Background image for The NCAA
    7.0/10(7 votes)

    #6 - The NCAA

    S2:E6

    The NCAA doesn’t pay athletes because they consider them amateurs. The NCAA considers them amateurs because they don’t get paid.

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    The 20 BEST Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

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  8. Background image for Municipal Violations
    8.0/10(6 votes)

    #7 - Municipal Violations

    S2:E7

    If you have money, committing a municipal violation may pose you a minor inconvenience. If you don’t, it can ruin your life. Also, the New Hampshire legislature refused to make the red-tailed hawk the official raptor of their state... so Last Week Tonight made it the official raptor of the show.

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  9. Background image for Government Surveillance
    9.2/10(6 votes)

    #8 - 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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  10. Background image for The IRS
    7.1/10(7 votes)

    #9 - The IRS

    S2:E9

    Nobody likes the IRS. But recent budget and staff cuts have made it increasingly difficult for the department to do its very important job. Don’t take our word for it. Ask Michael Bolton.

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  11. Background image for Patents
    8.2/10(5 votes)

    #10 - Patents

    S2:E10

    For inventors, patents are an essential protection against theft. But when patent trolls abuse the system by stockpiling patents and threatening lawsuits, businesses are forced to shell out tons of money. Also, CNN produced an actual doomsday video to broadcast when the world is ending and it’s incredibly dull. We've enlisted Martin Sheen to help make humanity’s final moments happier!

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  12. Background image for Fashion
    8.2/10(5 votes)

    #11 - Fashion

    S2:E11

    John explores the concept of changing and cheap fashion and some of the ugliest truths of the manufacturing process.

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  13. Background image for Standardized Testing
    8.2/10(5 votes)

    #12 - Standardized Testing

    S2:E12

    American students face a ridiculous amount of testing. John Oliver explains how standardized tests impact school funding, the achievement gap and how often the kids are expected to throw up while taking one.

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  14. Background image for Paid Family Leave
    8.4/10(5 votes)

    #13 - Paid Family Leave

    S2:E13

    Many American companies do not offer paid leave after the birth of a child, which means they probably shouldn’t run sappy Mother’s Day ads. Also, the Japanese have some unhealthy obsession with mascots and John proposes to adopt some of that culture in the U.S. government agencies as well.

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  15. Background image for Chickens
    7.8/10(5 votes)

    #14 - Chickens

    S2:E14

    John Oliver explains how chicken farming can be unfair, punishing, and inhumane. And not just for the chickens!

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  16. Background image for FIFA II
    8.7/10(6 votes)

    #15 - 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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  17. Background image for Bail
    8.4/10(5 votes)

    #16 - Bail

    S2:E16

    John Oliver explains why America’s bail system is better for the reality TV industry than it is for the justice system.

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  18. Background image for Torture
    8.6/10(5 votes)

    #17 - Torture

    S2:E17

    The US Senate Torture Report revealed horrifying details of America's interrogation program. Helen Mirren will fill you in. Plus, information about the 2015 European Games and the Canadian Senate expenses scandal.

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  19. Background image for The Internet
    8.4/10(5 votes)

    #18 - The Internet

    S2:E18

    Online harassment is a major problem, but it’s rarely prosecuted. If only we’d been warned about this in the early days of the internet.

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  20. Background image for Transgender Rights
    8.4/10(5 votes)

    #19 - Transgender Rights

    S2:E19

    This week’s gay rights victory was historic, but the transgender community still faces staggering challenges. John Oliver focuses on the “T” in “LGBT."

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  21. Background image for Stadiums
    8.0/10(5 votes)

    #20 - Stadiums

    S2:E20

    Cities spend massive amounts of public money on privately-owned stadiums. Cities issue tax-exempt municipal bonds that — wait, don’t fall asleep!

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  22. Background image for Food Waste
    8.2/10(6 votes)

    #21 - 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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  23. Background image for Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws
    7.8/10(6 votes)

    #22 - Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws

    S2:E22

    Mandatory minimums require fixed prison sentences for certain crimes. John Oliver explains why we treat some turkeys better than most low-level offenders.

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  24. Background image for District of Columbia
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #23 - District of Columbia

    S2:E23

    Washington DC experiences taxation without representation. It's also missing from rhyming state songs. John Oliver and a group of singing children fix one of these problems. Plus, a sex scandal involving the Chairman of the British House of Lords.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  25. Background image for Sex Education
    8.2/10(6 votes)

    #24 - 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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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  26. Background image for Church
    8.8/10(6 votes)

    #25 - 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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
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Season 2 Ratings Summary

"Marketing to Doctors" is the best rated episode of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" season 2. It scored 7.1/10 based on 8 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 2/8/2015. This episode is rated 0.4 points higher than the second-best, "Tobacco".