The WORST episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Every episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst 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: 7/3/2025Network: HBOStatus: Continuing
June 8, 2025: Med Spas
star
7.34
217 votes

#1 - June 8, 2025: Med Spas

Season 12 - Episode 14 - Aired 6/8/2025

John Oliver discusses the feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Mike Lindell's trial, the lack of regulation at med spas, and a fun new way to spell "scumbag."

June 20, 2021: PACE
star
7.35
362 votes

#2 - June 20, 2021: PACE

Season 8 - Episode 16 - Aired 6/20/2021

Main story: How PACE, a program meant to pay for environmentally-friendly home renovations, is fundamentally flawed and can put people at risk of losing their homes; plus, a look at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

May 9, 2021: Hair
star
7.35
397 votes

#3 - May 9, 2021: Hair

Season 8 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/9/2021

Main story: The ways Black hair can be a target of discrimination; plus, the race for governor in California, and GOP voter suppression.

June 13, 2021: Prison Heat
star
7.39
363 votes

#4 - June 13, 2021: Prison Heat

Season 8 - Episode 15 - Aired 6/13/2021

Main story: How the failure to air-condition prisons can cause health issues for incarcerated people; plus, a look at the NYC mayoral candidates.

April 21, 2024: UFOs
star
7.42
308 votes

#5 - April 21, 2024: UFOs

Season 11 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/21/2024

John Oliver explains why we need honest inquiry into UFO sightings, covers the week’s protests in the US over the war in Gaza, and recaps Adeel Mangi’s confirmation hearing.

April 18, 2021: Bankruptcy
star
7.44
419 votes

#6 - April 18, 2021: Bankruptcy

Season 8 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/18/2021

Main story: Why people file for bankruptcy and how difficult the process can be; plus, a look at police brutality in the U.S.

March 30, 2025: Tasers
star
7.46
257 votes

#7 - March 30, 2025: Tasers

Season 12 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/30/2025

John Oliver discusses whether Tasers are as safe and effective as the company that makes them claims, the broader effect Tasers have had on policing, and why you shouldn’t test Tasers out on any of your family members.

Episode 200
star
7.46
461 votes

#8 - Episode 200

Season 7 - Episode 21 - Aired 8/16/2020

Main story: people of color are routinely excluded from becoming jurors; plus, Republicans embrace QAnon; Trump brings back birtherism.

April 9, 2023: Homeowners Associations
star
7.46
320 votes

#9 - April 9, 2023: Homeowners Associations

Season 10 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/9/2023

John Oliver discusses homeowners associations, the surprising power they have, and how to tell if a tree is ‘’tree-shaped.’’

March 12, 2023: TANF
star
7.47
330 votes

#10 - March 12, 2023: TANF

Season 10 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/12/2023

John Oliver discusses TANF – a federal program designed to help families with little to no income – who’s currently receiving these vital funds, who should be receiving them, and what it all has to do with Brett Favre. Plus, a look at Tennessee’s new law about drag performances and the lieutenant governor who supports the law.

July 25, 2021: Housing Discrimination
star
7.47
353 votes

#11 - July 25, 2021: Housing Discrimination

Season 8 - Episode 18 - Aired 7/25/2021

Main story: the long history of housing discrimination in the U.S., the damage it’s done, and, crucially, what we can do about it; plus, John is headed back to the studio and makes a new friend along the way.

April 14, 2024: Medicaid
star
7.47
291 votes

#12 - April 14, 2024: Medicaid

Season 11 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/14/2024

John Oliver discusses why millions of people have been kicked off of Medicaid, why Medicaid access was difficult even before the current "unwinding," and what would happen if fruits and vegetables could talk.

Episode 56
star
7.47
711 votes

#13 - Episode 56

Season 2 - Episode 32 - Aired 11/1/2015

John Oliver discusses the impact of the upcoming US elections on the status of Medicaid and tries to calm tensions in the East China Sea through Kenny G. In other news the peace talks in Syria feature no Syrians, the link between the Ukraine and Star Wars, and Andrew Lloyd Webber has some opinions on UK tax credits.

August 18, 2024: Hospice Care
star
7.48
286 votes

#14 - August 18, 2024: Hospice Care

Season 11 - Episode 21 - Aired 8/18/2024

John Oliver discusses hospice scams, the Trump campaign’s attempt to appear “not weird,” and the Republican primary candidates who are making the party seem stranger and stranger.

Episode 55
star
7.49
745 votes

#15 - Episode 55

Season 2 - Episode 31 - Aired 10/18/2015

In order to help Canada with their upcoming election, John Oliver enlists Mike Myers, a beaver, and a moose to give some advice to voters. In other news the New Zealand Prime Minister admits to some interesting habits, Mexico isn't happy with it's president and a zoo in Denmark tries to educate visitors by butchering animals.

August 1, 2021: Emergency Medical Services
star
7.49
359 votes

#16 - August 1, 2021: Emergency Medical Services

Season 8 - Episode 19 - Aired 8/1/2021

Main story: how emergency medical services function in the U.S., why they can be so expensive, and what we can do to fix things.

May 12, 2024: Opioid Settlements
star
7.49
273 votes

#17 - May 12, 2024: Opioid Settlements

Season 11 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/12/2024

John Oliver discusses how state and local governments in the US are spending opioid settlements, a new deportation plan in the UK, and, of course, his favorite contestant at Eurovision.

December 3, 2023: Organ & Body Donations
star
7.50
287 votes

#18 - December 3, 2023: Organ & Body Donations

Season 10 - Episode 19 - Aired 12/3/2023

John Oliver discusses the systems in place for donating our organs and bodies, why those donations don't always go where we might think they're going, and which airline is the Greyhound bus of the sky.

August 11, 2024: Hawaii
star
7.50
278 votes

#19 - August 11, 2024: Hawaii

Season 11 - Episode 20 - Aired 8/11/2024

John Oliver discusses how Hawaii has long been run for the benefit of everyone but Hawaiians, whether or not J.D. Vance is ok, and the Trump campaign’s weak attacks on Tim Walz and Kamala Harris.

June 6, 2021: Asian Americans
star
7.51
378 votes

#20 - June 6, 2021: Asian Americans

Season 8 - Episode 14 - Aired 6/6/2021

Main story: Examining the diverse group of people who fall under the term “Asian American,” and the history of the model minority stereotype. Plus, Jair Bolsonaro is jeopardizing the national and global health.

April 11, 2021: Long Term Care
star
7.52
395 votes

#21 - April 11, 2021: Long Term Care

Season 8 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/11/2021

Main story: Why nursing homes and assisted living facilities need fixing; plus, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program; Matt Gaetz and Venmo; R.I.P. Yahoo! Answers.

March 10, 2024: State Medical Boards
star
7.52
291 votes

#22 - March 10, 2024: State Medical Boards

Season 11 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/10/2024

John Oliver discusses how state medical boards fail to protect patients, Kamala Harris' awkward call for a ceasefire in Gaza, the North Carolina Republican running for governor, and which reality show would benefit from becoming a government psyop.

Episode 57
star
7.52
712 votes

#23 - Episode 57

Season 2 - Episode 33 - Aired 11/8/2015

John Oliver explains the hurdles for prisoner re-entry in the US with help from a real life ex-convict. In other news, the UK introduces new surveillance measures, US patriotism is an advertising gimmick, and the Washington Redskins defend their trademark.

Episode 58
star
7.52
756 votes

#24 - Episode 58

Season 2 - Episode 34 - Aired 11/15/2015

John Oliver investigates the murky world of Daily Fantasy Sports and creates an advertisement to help explain the positives. In other news, the terrorist attacks in Paris shocked the world, Singles Day in China features some questionable celebrity endorsements, and India want their diamond back.

October 31, 2021: Homelessness
star
7.53
366 votes

#25 - October 31, 2021: Homelessness

Season 8 - Episode 28 - Aired 10/31/2021

Main story: With homelessness increasing nationwide, John Oliver examines the way we discuss the unhoused; plus, a look at Biden’s spending plan.

Directors: Paul Pennolino