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: Tim Carvell
8.5/102 votes#2 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.4/105 votes#3 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.2/108 votes#4 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.2/104 votes#5 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.2/108 votes#6 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.2/106 votes#7 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.2/105 votes#8 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.2/105 votes#9 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.1/109 votes#10 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.0/104 votes#11 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.0/103 votes#12 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.0/104 votes#13 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.0/104 votes#14 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.0/107 votes#15 - 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: Tim Carvell
8.0/104 votes#16 - October 8, 2023: Homeschooling
Season 10 Episode 12 - Aired 10/8/2023
John Oliver discusses homeschooling, its surprising lack of regulation in many states, and, crucially, Darth Vader's parenting skills.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: Tim Carvell
8.0/104 votes#17 - November 12, 2023: Israel-Hamas War
Season 10 Episode 17 - Aired 11/12/2023
John Oliver discusses the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: Tim Carvell
7.9/107 votes#18 - Student Debt
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 9/7/2014
John talks about ISIS and student loan debt. Musical group A Great Big World make a special appearance.
Director: Joe Perota
Writer: Tim Carvell
7.9/108 votes#19 - Voting
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 2/14/2016
John talks about the late Antonin Scalia's love of the Letter of the Law, Chipotle's food safety problems, how Voter IDs laws should be applied to those who write them, and New Zealand's economic development minister Steven Joyce.
Director: Jim Hoskinson
Writer: Tim Carvell
7.9/108 votes#20 - Congressional Fundraising
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 4/3/2016
Lawmakers have to raise money to keep their jobs, but a surprising amount of their job now consists of raising money. John Oliver sits down with Congressman Steve Israel to discuss the costs of political spending.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: Tim Carvell
7.9/108 votes#21 - Primaries and Caucuses
Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 5/22/2016
Last Week Tonight Tackles U.S. Primaries and Caucuses: The United States selection process for presidential nominees is convoluted — to say the least. Nevertheless, John Oliver reminds Americans that the "middle of the game" is the worst possible time to change the rules.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: Tim Carvell
7.9/107 votes#22 - February 19, 2023: Psychedelic Assisted Therapy
Season 10 Episode 1 - Aired 2/19/2023
John Oliver discusses psychedelic assisted therapy: its history, its potential, and what it has to do with A$AP Rocky’s relationship to rainbows. Plus, the Fox News lawsuit and the Ohio train derailment.
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: Tim Carvell
7.9/107 votes#23 - April 23, 2023: Cryptocurrencies II
Season 10 Episode 9 - Aired 4/23/2023
John Oliver discusses cryptocurrency, the collapse of three big crypto companies, and what to do if your office gives off “crime vibes.”
Director: Paul Pennolino
Writer: Tim Carvell
7.8/106 votes#24 - Dr. Oz
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 6/22/2014
John talks about Iraq, Antarctica tourism and Dr. Oz's "Miracle Drug".
Director: Joe Perota
Writer: Tim Carvell
7.8/106 votes#25 - Nuclear Weapons and the United States
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 7/27/2014
John talks about human rights violations in the Middle East, nuclear disarmament and Russia's science satellite that lost communication.
Director: Joe Perota
Writer: Tim Carvell
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Tim Carvell Ratings Summary
"Government Surveillance" is the best rated episode written by Tim Carvell. It scored 9/10 based on 5 votes. It was directed by Jim Hoskinson. It aired on 4/5/2015 and is rated 0.5 points higher than their second-best episode, "U.S. Territories".