The BEST episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Every episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver!

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is an American late-night talk and news satire television program. LWT draws its comedy and satire from recent news stories, political figures, media organizations, pop culture, and often aspects of the show itself.

Last Updated: 5/5/2025Network: HBOStatus: Continuing

8.71

809 votes

#1 - Episode 32

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.

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8.45

1731 votes

#2 - Episode 90

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/12/2017

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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8.44

631 votes

#3 - Episode 178

Season 6 - Episode 29 - Aired 11/10/2019

Main story: How SLAPP suits are designed to stifle public dissent (including an update on Bob Murray’s lawsuit); plus, Trump “caught” the swamp; Lindsey Graham’s desperate defense of Trump; Roger Stone’s trial begins.

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8.42

642 votes

#4 - Episode 20

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 10/5/2014

Did you know police can just take your stuff if they suspect it's involved in a crime? They can! It’s a shady process called “civil asset forfeiture,” and it would make for a weird episode of Law and Order.

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8.34

573 votes

#5 - Episode 193

Season 7 - Episode 14 - Aired 6/7/2020

Main story: As nationwide protests over the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor are met with police brutality, John discusses how the histories of policing and white supremacy are intertwined, the roadblocks to fixing things, and some potential paths forward.

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8.34

935 votes

#6 - Episode 62

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/28/2016

Our main story was about Donald Trump. We can't believe we're saying that either.

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8.31

623 votes

#7 - Episode 21

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 Mohammad, one translator who made it out. Cameras aren’t allowed in the Supreme Court, so most coverage of our most important cases looks like garbage. We fixed that problem with real animals and fake paws.

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8.29

610 votes

#8 - Episode 6

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/8/2014

John talks about California Chrome and the Belmont Stakes, FIFA and the 2014 World Cup, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Directors: Joe Perota

Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeffrey Scott, Jill Twiss, John Oliver, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Scott Sherman, Tim Carvell, Will Tracy

Watch Now:Amazon

8.29

533 votes

#9 - Episode 8

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/22/2014

John talks about Iraq, Antarctica tourism and Dr. Oz's "Miracle Drug".

Directors: Joe Perota

Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeffrey Scott, Jill Twiss, John Oliver, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Scott Sherman, Tim Carvell, Will Tracy

Watch Now:Amazon

8.25

1476 votes

#10 - Episode 100

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/7/2017

Equal access to online information is once again under serious threat. John Oliver encourages internet commenters to voice their displeasure to the FCC by visiting www.gofccyourself.com and clicking “express” to file your comment.

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8.24

1089 votes

#11 - Episode 73

Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 6/5/2016

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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8.24

650 votes

#12 - Episode 26

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/15/2015

Thanks to tobacco industry regulations and marketing restrictions in the US, smoking rates have dropped dramatically. John Oliver explains how tobacco companies are keeping their business strong overseas. We've noticed that the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue still exists but can’t quite figure out why.

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8.24

773 votes

#13 - Episode 49

Season 2 - Episode 25 - Aired 8/16/2015

U.S. tax law allows television preachers to get away with almost anything. We know this from personal experience.

Directors: Jim Hoskinson

Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jill Twiss, John Oliver, Josh Gondelman, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Scott Sherman, Tim Carvell, to delete - Jeff Maurer), Will Tracy

Watch Now:Amazon

8.22

1479 votes

#14 - Episode 89

Season 3 - Episode 30 - Aired 11/13/2016

Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States. How did we get to this point? And what do we do now?

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8.20

711 votes

#15 - Episode 41

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.

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8.20

691 votes

#16 - Episode 39

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.

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8.20

1047 votes

#17 - Episode 119

Season 4 - Episode 30 - Aired 11/12/2017

Main story: The Trump Presidency; plus, a look back on the year’s segments.

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8.19

696 votes

#18 - Episode 45

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 7/19/2015

Producers, sellers, and consumers waste tons of food. John Oliver discusses the shocking amount of food we don’t eat.

Directors: Jim Hoskinson

Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jill Twiss, John Oliver, Josh Gondelman, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Scott Sherman, Tim Carvell, to delete - Jeff Mauer, Will Tracy

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8.19

691 votes

#19 - Episode 149

Season 5 - Episode 30 - Aired 11/18/2018

Main story: A look at the growing number of authoritarian leaders around the world, including our president. Plus, the fate of Russell Crowe’s jockstrap; a Brexit update; Trump’s reaction to California’s wildfires.

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8.18

1344 votes

#20 - Episode 108

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 7/30/2017

Main story: Alex Jones; plus, Trump Transgender military ban; Sen. McCain’s dramatic Obamacare repeal vote; amusing press coverage of Anthony Scaramucci’s expletive-filled interview.

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8.16

659 votes

#21 - Episode 3

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/11/2014

John talks about Eurovision, Ukraine and Russia's relations and interviews Bill Nye about Climate Change.

Directors: Joe Perota

Writer: Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeffrey Scott, Jill Twiss, John Oliver, Juli Weiner, Kevin Avery, Scott Sherman, Tim Carvell, Will Tracy

Watch Now:Amazon

8.16

1339 votes

#22 - Episode 104

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 6/11/2017

Main story: U.K. elections and Brexit with special appearance by Lord Buckethead; plus, “Stupid Watergate” update: James Comey edition; And Now: There Is No Group More Easily Amazed Than the Audience of ’America’s Got Talent.’

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8.16

1534 votes

#23 - Episode 93

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/5/2017

John Oliver sits down with the Dalai Lama to discuss China, the conditions in Tibet, and horse milk.

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8.15

833 votes

#24 - Episode 64

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/13/2016

Strong encryption poses problems for law enforcement, is weakening it worth the risks it presents? It’s…complicated.

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8.15

883 votes

#25 - Episode 129

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/6/2018

Main story: Rudy Giuliani; plus, West Virginia Senatorial candidate Don Blankenship; And Now: The Inevitable Consequences of Combining Local News and the Fifth of May; Russell Crowe memorabilia update.

Watch Now:Amazon