The Best Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 9

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   7.6/10(371 votes)

   #1 - February 20, 2022: Critical Race Theory

   S9:E12/20/2022

   John Oliver explains what critical race theory is, what it isn't, and why we can expect to hear more about it in the coming months. Plus, the Canadian trucker protests.

   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken

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   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken
2. 

   7.9/10(307 votes)

   #2 - February 27, 2022: Sex Work

   S9:E22/27/2022

   As long as sex work has existed, so have efforts to end it. John Oliver explains why criminalizing the trade hasn’t helped the most vulnerable people involved, and why we should start listening to those at the center of the conversation: sex workers. Plus, Russian invasion into Ukraine, that has placed the whole world at the brink of WW3.

   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
3. 

   8.0/10(285 votes)

   #3 - March 6, 2022: Wrongful Convictions

   S9:E33/6/2022

   John Oliver talks about the current practices of overturning wrongful convictions and how it is quite unsupportive of even apparently innocent people. He advocates for urgent reforms in the flawed system which is clearly not working in favor of the innocents. Plus, the heroic resistance of Ukrainians against the invasion of Russia.

   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
4. 

   7.8/10(284 votes)

   #4 - March 13, 2022: Tickets

   S9:E43/13/2022

   John Oliver explains why concert tickets are so expensive, who’s making money off of them, and which One Direction is his favorite. Plus, the introduction of some appalling anti-LGBT laws in several states.

   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
5. 

   7.8/10(266 votes)

   #5 - March 27, 2022: Harm Reduction

   S9:E53/27/2022

   John Oliver discusses why overdoses in the U.S. have been on the rise and what we should, and shouldn't, be doing to prevent them. Plus, a rather odd yearly tradition in Nenana, Alaska.

   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
6. 

   8.0/10(287 votes)

   #6 - April 3, 2022: Trucks

   S9:E64/3/2022

   John Oliver explains how truck drivers get paid, how they often don’t, and how companies exploit them to increase profits. Plus, Republican congressman Madison Cawthorn's tales of GOP orgies and drug use has him in trouble with his own party.

   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
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7. 

   8.5/10(298 votes)

   #7 - April 10, 2022: Data Brokers

   S9:E74/10/2022

   John Oliver discusses how much data brokers know about us, what they’re doing with our personal information, and one unusual way to change privacy laws. Plus, Russian State TV lies about the Ukraine war; DirecTV drops OAN; John says goodbye to AT&T.

   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
8. 

   8.2/10(268 votes)

   #8 - April 17, 2022: Police Interrogations

   S9:E84/17/2022

   John Oliver discusses the tactics that can make police interrogations so damaging, particularly to the innocent. Plus, a look at Dr. Oz's campaign for U.S. Senate.

   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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   Director:Paul Pennolino

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
9. 

   7.7/10(259 votes)

   #9 - May 1, 2022: Environmental Racism

   S9:E95/1/2022

   John Oliver discusses environmental racism, how both government and industry are failing people of color and how zoning is manipulating the same people to live in adverse conditions. Plus, pandas doing some weird things and 'gas math' by Shaquille O'Neal.

   Directors:Paul Pennolino, Elliot Mendelson

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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   Directors:Paul Pennolino, Elliot Mendelson

   Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
10. 

    8.0/10(240 votes)

    #10 - May 8, 2022: Abortion Ruling/Philippines Election

    S9:E105/8/2022

    John Oliver discusses the current presidential election in The Philippines and why Bongbong Marcos is - albeit in a very limited and unflattering way - sort of like Ant-Man. Plus, the leaked anti-abortion draft opinion that looks set to overturn Roe v. Wade, how we got to this point, and where we may be headed.

    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
11. 

    7.6/10(246 votes)

    #11 - May 15, 2022: Utilities

    S9:E115/15/2022

    John Oliver discusses the incredible amount of power we give electric utility companies, how weakly regulated they are, and why they get such bad Yelp reviews. Plus, a look at Alabama's extreme anti-trans law and some ridiculous participants of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.

    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
12. 

    8.2/10(296 votes)

    #12 - May 22, 2022: Subway

    S9:E125/22/2022

    John Oliver discusses one of the largest franchises in the U.S., how their business model doesn’t always serve franchisees, and what it all has to do with Korean dramas.

    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
13. 

    7.9/10(251 votes)

    #13 - June 5, 2022: School Police

    S9:E136/5/2022

    In the wake of the mass shooting in Uvalde, John Oliver discusses the push for more police in schools and whether they are the answer to school safety issues, or a new problem altogether. Plus, John makes an offer for a banana sculpture in Australia.

    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
14. 

    7.9/10(234 votes)

    #14 - June 12, 2022: Tech Monopolies

    S9:E146/12/2022

    John Oliver discusses tech monopolies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook, and how to address the hidden harm they can do. Plus, a look at the hotly contested U.S. Senate race in Arizona, which includes Trump-endorsed candidate Blake Masters.

    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
15. 

    7.9/10(239 votes)

    #15 - June 19, 2022: Rent

    S9:E156/19/2022

    John Oliver discusses why rent has become increasingly unaffordable, what we can do to combat a system that is stacked against tenants, and, of course, Dakota Johnson’s complex relationship to limes. Plus, a look at GOP primary winners claiming the 2020 election was stolen.

    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
16. 

    7.7/10(244 votes)

    #16 - June 26, 2022: Water

    S9:E166/26/2022

    John Oliver discusses the water shortage in the American west; plus, the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi

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    Director:Paul Pennolino

    Writers:John Oliver, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell, Taylor Kay Phillips, Ryan Ken, Sofía Manfredi
17. 

    7.9/10(249 votes)

    #17 - July 24, 2022: Inflation

    S9:E177/24/2022

    John Oliver discusses the causes of inflation and what we've done about it; plus, updates on the beach dolls and the banana sculpture.

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18. 

    7.6/10(230 votes)

    #18 - July 31, 2022: Mental Health Care

    S9:E187/31/2022

    John Oliver discusses the cracks in our broken mental health care system; plus, a look at who's running to become the UK's prime minister.

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19. 

    7.5/10(232 votes)

    #19 - August 7, 2022: Monkeypox

    S9:E198/7/2022

    John Oliver discusses the recent monkeypox outbreak in the U.S., how the authorities have fumbled the response to it, and some aspirations for this coming autumn. Plus, Walter from Butler, Indiana, likes to share stuff, perhaps a little too much.

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20. 

    7.7/10(240 votes)

    #20 - August 14, 2022: Afghanistan

    S9:E208/14/2022

    John Oliver discusses what’s happened since the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan, how their ongoing crisis has even more to do with our decisions than you might think, and how to properly modify the verb “feel”. Plus, some true masterpieces of an AI-generated art.

    Director:Unknown

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21. 

    7.8/10(240 votes)

    #21 - August 21, 2022: Carbon Offsets

    S9:E218/21/2022

    John Oliver explains what carbon offsets are, what they claim to do, how they might be making climate change even worse, and, of course, how Oscar Isaac is getting hotter.

    Director:Unknown

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22. 

    7.5/10(253 votes)

    #22 - September 11, 2022: Law & Order

    S9:E229/11/2022

    John Oliver discusses the wildly popular television franchise, what it’s been teaching us about law enforcement, and how it differs from the reality. Plus, some important developments in British politics.

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23. 

    7.6/10(245 votes)

    #23 - September 25, 2022: Bolsonaro

    S9:E239/25/2022

    John Oliver discusses Jair Bolsonaro, how he's run Brazil as president and how far he might go to maintain power after the upcoming election. Plus, the absurd stunt by Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis involving Martha's Vineyard and why people in Puerto Rico are getting fed up by the electric company Luma.

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24. 

    7.8/10(243 votes)

    #24 - October 2, 2022: Museums

    S9:E2410/2/2022

    John Oliver discusses some of the world's most prestigious museums, why they contain so many stolen goods, the market that continues to illegally trade antiquities, and a pretty solid blueprint for revenge. Plus, the disappearance of the British PM Liz Truss.

    Director:Unknown

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25. 

    7.6/10(214 votes)

    #25 - October 9, 2022: Crime Reporting

    S9:E2510/9/2022

    John Oliver discusses the outlets that cover crime, the incentives that drive them, the flawed sources they rely upon, and an alternative name for Miss Piggy. Plus, why teenage girls in Iran are leading massive protests against the current regime.

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