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. 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.
#1 - 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.
Watch Now:iTunes
#2 - 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.
Watch Now:iTunes
#3 - 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.
Watch Now:iTunes
#4 - 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.
#5 - 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.
#6 - 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.
Watch Now:iTunes
#7 - 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.
#8 - 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.
Watch Now:iTunes
#9 - 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.
Watch Now:iTunes
#10 - 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.
#11 - June 27, 2021: Health Care Sharing Ministries
Season 8 - Episode 17 - Aired 6/27/2021
Main story: The limitations of Health Care Sharing Ministries, a faith-based alternative to health insurance; plus, the ItalyGate conspiracy theory.
Watch Now:iTunes
#12 - 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.
#13 - March 21, 2021: Plastics
Season 8 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/21/2021
Main story: How plastics are harming the planet, and why recycling isn’t the solution you think it is; plus, the Atlanta mass shootings and hate crimes against Asian-Americans.
Watch Now:iTunes
#14 - 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.
#15 - March 7, 2021: Unemployment
Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/7/2021
Main story: The many obstacles that impede access to unemployment benefits; plus, Fox News freaks out over Dr. Seuss; Texas lifts its mask mandate; Neil Cavuto really loves Adele.
Watch Now:iTunes
#16 - May 15, 2022: Utilities
Season 9 - Episode 11 - Aired 5/15/2022
Main story: the incredible amount of power we give electric utility companies; how weakly regulated they are, and why they get such bad Yelp reviews. Plus, a look at Alabama’s extreme anti-trans law; highlights from the Eurovision Song Contest 2022.
#17 - Episode 171
Season 6 - Episode 22 - Aired 9/8/2019
Main story: Legislation and the filibuster; plus, Trump’s weather map flub; Boris Johnson and British Brexit chaos; And Now: Fox Business’s Stu Varney Gets All Giddy Over the President.
#18 - Episode 196
Season 7 - Episode 17 - Aired 6/28/2020
Main story: evictions are on the rise due to coronavirus; plus, COVID-19 cases are surging in red states like Texas and Florida; Papa John Schnatter ruins Tik Tok.
#19 - 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.
#20 - 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.
#21 - Episode 161
Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/19/2019
Main story: America’s system for conducting death investigations is a mess; plus, a look at the Eurovision 2019 Song Contest, Hatari, Trump’s tariff confusion. Guests: Glenn Close, Tracy Morgan
#22 - March 27, 2022: Harm Reduction
Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/27/2022
Main story: why overdoses in the U.S. have been on the rise and what we should, and shouldn’t, be doing to prevent them; plus, a disastrous royal tour; Ketanji Brown Jackson faces inane questions from the GOP; the Nenana Ice Classic.
#23 - Episode 66
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.
#24 - Episode 195
Season 7 - Episode 16 - Aired 6/21/2020
Main story: Why COVID-19 has spread so rapidly behind bars and what we can do to stop it; plus, K-pop fans punk racist hashtags; Trump’s Tulsa rally flops; John Bolton’s new book drops.
#25 - Episode 206
Season 7 - Episode 27 - Aired 10/25/2020
Main story: How the Trump administration has handled asylum seekers; plus, a recap of the last presidential debate; and Giuliani meets Borat.
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