The BEST episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver season 2

Every episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver season 2, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver season 2!

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

Last Updated: 4/22/2024Network: HBOStatus: Continuing
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Episode 32
star
8.72
806 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.

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 26
star
8.24
646 votes

#2 - 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.

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 49
star
8.23
766 votes

#3 - 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
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 41
star
8.20
708 votes

#4 - 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.

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 39
star
8.20
688 votes

#5 - 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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Episode 45
star
8.19
690 votes

#6 - 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
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 29
star
8.11
655 votes

#7 - Episode 29

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? Daylight saving time doesn’t actually benefit anyone. Strangely, it’s still a thing!

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 48
star
8.11
683 votes

#8 - Episode 48

Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 8/9/2015

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.

Directors: Jim Hoskinson
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 51
star
8.08
745 votes

#9 - Episode 51

Season 2 - Episode 27 - Aired 9/13/2015

The Miranda warning includes the right to a public defender. It doesn’t include the fact that public defenders are highly overworked and grossly underpaid.

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 34
star
8.05
711 votes

#10 - Episode 34

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/19/2015

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. 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!

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 28
star
8.03
651 votes

#11 - Episode 28

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/1/2015

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

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Episode 40
star
7.94
669 votes

#12 - Episode 40

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.

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Episode 46
star
7.94
653 votes

#13 - Episode 46

Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 7/26/2015

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

Directors: Jim Hoskinson
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 53
star
7.91
738 votes

#14 - Episode 53

Season 2 - Episode 29 - Aired 10/4/2015

John Oliver investigates the treatment of mental health in the US and discovers the system doesn't always work. In other news Russia gets involved in the bombing of Syria, the UN trains the leaders of the future and Jason Chaffetz is embarressed. John Oliver also launches a brand new app.

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 25
star
7.89
625 votes

#15 - Episode 25

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/8/2015

Pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars marketing drugs to doctors. We have a few issues with that. RadioShack has filed for bankruptcy. We've helped them create a farewell message. Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa.

Directors: Jim Hoskins
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 35
star
7.86
672 votes

#16 - Episode 35

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/26/2015

Trendy clothes are cheaper than ever. That sounds great for the people who buy them, but it's horrible for the people who make them.

Episode 38
star
7.85
607 votes

#17 - Episode 38

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 5/17/2015

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

Episode 31
star
7.85
756 votes

#18 - Episode 31

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/22/2015

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

Episode 30
star
7.84
698 votes

#19 - Episode 30

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/15/2015

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

Episode 59
star
7.84
746 votes

#20 - Episode 59

Season 2 - Episode 35 - Aired 11/22/2015

John Oliver starts a campaign to remove the penny from circulation and takes a look back at the highlights of the season with appearances from some of our favorite characters. The Paris attacks and their impact on refugee intake across the globe are also discussed.

Episode 44
star
7.81
665 votes

#21 - Episode 44

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 7/12/2015

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

Directors: Jim Hoskinson
Episode 27
star
7.79
583 votes

#22 - Episode 27

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/22/2015

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.

Episode 52
star
7.77
802 votes

#23 - Episode 52

Season 2 - Episode 28 - Aired 9/27/2015

The European migrant crisis sees millions of refugees face hostility, racism, and red tape so John Oliver does something small for them. In other news Pope Francis visited the U.S., an interesting report on David Cameron and the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

Episode 47
star
7.69
631 votes

#24 - Episode 47

Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 8/2/2015

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.

Directors: Jim Hoskinson
Episode 50
star
7.66
721 votes

#25 - Episode 50

Season 2 - Episode 26 - Aired 8/23/2015

This year’s gay marriage ruling was a milestone, but LGBT discrimination is still surprisingly legal. John Oliver explains why we need a federal anti-discrimination law.

Directors: Jim Hoskinson