9.0/105 votes#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: John Oliver
8.7/107 votes#2 - April 10, 2022: Data Brokers
Season 9 Episode 7 - Aired 4/10/2022
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
Writer: John Oliver
8.5/102 votes#3 - U.S. Territories
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 3/8/2015
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!
Director: Jim Hoskinson
Writer: John Oliver
8.5/106 votes#4 - Episode 214: Tucker Carlson
Season 8 Episode 5 - Aired 3/14/2021
Main story: Where Tucker Carlson came from and why he's admired by white nationalists; plus, reaction to the Biden COVID-19 relief bill.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: John Oliver
8.5/102 votes#5 - Episode 238
Season 8 Episode 29 - Aired 11/7/2021
John Oliver discusses the current state of the nation's power grid, why it needs fixing, and, of course, how fun the balloons are.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: John Oliver
8.5/102 votes#6 - Episode 239
Season 8 Episode 30 - Aired 11/14/2021
John Oliver discusses the mechanics of union busting, why the companies who do it face so few consequences, and what it really means when your manager wants to talk to you about "your attendance."
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: John Oliver
8.4/105 votes#7 - 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: John Oliver
8.4/105 votes#8 - Episode 222: Sponcon
Season 8 Episode 13 - Aired 5/23/2021
John Oliver explains why the integrity of local news is so important, how sponsored content could damage that integrity, and why the Venus Veil is so much more than a blanket. (It's not.)
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: John Oliver
8.3/103 votes#9 - Episode 219: Vaccine
Season 8 Episode 10 - Aired 5/2/2021
John Oliver explains why some people don't want to get the Covid-19 vaccine and how they might be reassured.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: John Oliver
8.2/108 votes#10 - The Right to Be Forgotten
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 5/18/2014
John talks about the product recall going on at General Motors, the EU Court of Justice "Right to be Forgotten" ruling and updates us on how the Indian election is going with help from Fareed Zakaria.
Director: Joe Perota
Writer: John Oliver
8.2/106 votes#11 - Military Translators
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 10/19/2014
Translators who have aided the U.S. Military in Afghanistan and Iraq are in great danger in their home countries, but red tape is making it impossible for many of them to leave. John Oliver interviews FNU Mohammad, one translator who made it out. Plus, since cameras aren’t allowed in the Supreme Court discussions, most coverage of the important cases looks like garbage. John fixes that problem with real animals and fake paws.
Director: Joe Perota
Writer: John Oliver
8.2/104 votes#12 - Torture
Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 6/14/2015
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.
Director: Jim Hoskinson
Writer: John Oliver
8.2/108 votes#13 - Puerto Rico
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 4/24/2016
Puerto Rico is suffering a massive debt crisis. Lin-Manuel Miranda joins John Oliver to call for relief.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: John Oliver
8.2/105 votes#14 - May 1, 2022: Environmental Racism
Season 9 Episode 9 - Aired 5/1/2022
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.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: John Oliver
8.2/106 votes#15 - May 22, 2022: Subway
Season 9 Episode 12 - Aired 5/22/2022
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
Writer: John Oliver
8.2/106 votes#16 - February 26, 2023: Artificial Intelligence
Season 10 Episode 2 - Aired 2/26/2023
Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming part of our lives, from self-driving cars to ChatGPT. John Oliver discusses how AI works, where it might be heading next, and, of course, why it hates the bus.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: John Oliver
8.2/105 votes#17 - October 29, 2023: Chocolate
Season 10 Episode 15 - Aired 10/29/2023
John Oliver discusses chocolate, cocoa farming, and, of course, some facts that will make Halloween a little weird.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: John Oliver
8.2/105 votes#18 - November 5, 2023: Abortion Rights
Season 10 Episode 16 - Aired 11/5/2023
John Oliver discusses the ongoing fallout from the overturning of Roe v. Wade as the November elections approach.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: John Oliver
8.1/109 votes#19 - Brexit
Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 6/19/2016
John Oliver on “Brexiting” from the EU: There might be an innate British desire to diss Europe, but Last Week Tonight lays out exactly why it’s a mistake to leave the EU.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: John Oliver
8.1/108 votes#20 - March 13, 2022: Tickets
Season 9 Episode 4 - Aired 3/13/2022
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
Writer: John Oliver
8.0/104 votes#21 - Paid Family Leave
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 5/10/2015
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.
Director: Jim Hoskinson
Writer: John Oliver
8.0/103 votes#22 - Bail
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 6/7/2015
John Oliver explains why America’s bail system is better for the reality TV industry than it is for the justice system.
Director: Jim Hoskinson
Writer: John Oliver
8.0/104 votes#23 - The Internet
Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 6/21/2015
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.
Director: Jim Hoskinson
Writer: John Oliver
8.0/104 votes#24 - Transgender Rights
Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 6/28/2015
This week’s gay rights victory was historic, but the transgender community still faces staggering challenges. John Oliver focuses on the “T” in “LGBT."
Director: Jim Hoskinson
Writer: John Oliver
8.0/107 votes#25 - Special Districts
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 3/6/2016
Special districts spend more public money than all city governments combined. That's odd considering most of us don't know they exist.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: John Oliver
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The Best Episodes Written By John Oliver
Every TV Episode Written by John Oliver Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters
John Oliver Ratings Summary
"Government Surveillance" is the best rated episode written by John Oliver. It scored 9/10 based on 5 votes. It was directed by Jim Hoskinson. It aired on 4/5/2015 and is rated 0.3 points higher than their second-best episode, "April 10, 2022: Data Brokers".