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Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014 – ...)

2014 • 13 seasons • Comedy, News • TV-MA
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Last Week Tonight with John Oliver — Season 2

35 episodes · Feb 8, 2015

1. Marketing to Doctors
Feb 8, 2015 · 30m · 7.4

John Oliver addresses the escalating concerns surrounding pharmaceutical companies' direct marketing efforts targeting physicians. He also offers a poignant farewell to RadioShack, following the retailer's bankruptcy filing. Furthermore, th…

2. Tobacco
Feb 15, 2015 · 30m · 7.8

Driven by regulations and marketing limitations within the United States, smoking prevalence has declined sharply. John Oliver elucidates how tobacco corporations maintain robust operations in international markets, focusing particularly on…

3. Elected Judges
Feb 22, 2015 · 30m · 8.1

In the United States, the majority of judges are chosen through elections, a system that often compels them to prioritize the desires of voters and accept campaign contributions to maintain their positions. This dynamic presents a potential…

4. Infrastructure
Mar 1, 2015 · 30m · 7.4

The nation’s decaying infrastructure is a matter of little public interest, yet it presents a deeply troubling reality.

5. U.S. Territories
Mar 8, 2015 · 30m · 8.5

A series of Supreme Court rulings from over a century ago have effectively denied meaningful representation to the United States' territories. It’s an odd situation, isn’t it? And the practice of daylight saving time, despite its origins, a…

6. The NCAA
Mar 15, 2015 · 30m · 7.4

The collegiate athletic association maintains that its athletes are amateurs, a designation rooted in the reality that they receive no compensation. This view of amateurism is, in effect, a self-fulfilling prophecy.

7. Municipal Violations
Mar 22, 2015 · 30m · 8.1

For those with means, a municipal infraction is often little more than a minor inconvenience. But for others, the same offense can be devastating. Furthermore, the New Hampshire legislature's decision to forgo an official state raptor led *…

8. Government Surveillance
Apr 5, 2015 · 30m · 9.2

Few governmental constraints currently limit the reach of America's extensive surveillance operations. In a recent segment, John Oliver engages in conversation with Edward Snowden, exploring the National Security Agency, the delicate equili…

9. The IRS
Apr 12, 2015 · 30m · 7.5

The Internal Revenue Service rarely inspires affection. However, recent budgetary constraints and reductions in staffing levels have significantly hampered the agency's ability to fulfill its vital mission. Indeed, the evidence is readily a…

10. Patents
Apr 19, 2015 · 30m · 8.5

For those who create new things, patents offer vital protection against misappropriation. However, when patent trolls exploit the system by accumulating patents and issuing threats of litigation, businesses are often compelled to spend exor…

11. Fashion
Apr 26, 2015 · 30m · 8.3

John examines the world of fast fashion, revealing some of its most troubling realities regarding production.

12. Standardized Testing
May 3, 2015 · 30m · 8.3

The sheer volume of assessments confronting American students has become absurd. As John Oliver elucidates, these standardized tests exert a profound influence on school funding, exacerbate the achievement gap, and frequently push young peo…

13. Paid Family Leave
May 10, 2015 · 30m · 8.5

A significant number of American companies fail to provide paid leave for new mothers, a circumstance that casts a shadow over their sentimental Mother's Day advertisements. Meanwhile, a growing fascination with mascots in Japan has led Joh…

14. Chickens
May 17, 2015 · 30m · 8.0

John Oliver elucidates the often-unseen harsh realities of modern chicken farming, detailing practices that can be profoundly unfair, deeply distressing, and fundamentally inhumane – a suffering that extends far beyond the birds themselves.

15. FIFA II
May 31, 2015 · 30m · 8.8

Following the recent arrests of several prominent figures, John Oliver turned his attention to the situation within FIFA, offering a comprehensive review of the organization's current state. Meanwhile, Thailand’s apparent lack of awareness …

16. Bail
Jun 7, 2015 · 30m · 8.5

John Oliver elucidates the peculiar disparity in America's bail system: a structure demonstrably more advantageous to the entertainment industry, specifically reality television, than it is to the pursuit of justice.

17. Torture
Jun 14, 2015 · 30m · 8.8

The Senate's report on America's torture program unveiled deeply disturbing details. Helen Mirren offers a closer look at this controversial history. We also explore the events of the 2015 European Games and the expense irregularities withi…

18. The Internet
Jun 21, 2015 · 30m · 8.7

The pervasive issue of online harassment remains largely unaddressed by the legal system. It’s a troubling reality, one that feels like a danger we should have understood and prepared for from the very beginning of the digital age.

19. Transgender Rights
Jun 28, 2015 · 30m · 8.7

While this week's advancement for LGBTQ+ rights represents a significant milestone, the transgender community continues to grapple with profound obstacles. John Oliver directs his attention to the complexities inherent in the "T" within the…

20. Stadiums
Jul 12, 2015 · 30m · 8.3

Municipalities invest considerable public funds in stadiums owned by private entities. They often do so by issuing tax-exempt municipal bonds—a detail worth noting.

21. Food Waste
Jul 19, 2015 · 30m · 8.4

From farm to table, vast quantities of food are lost – discarded by producers, unsold by retailers, and uneaten by consumers. John Oliver sheds light on the startling scale of this waste, revealing the sheer volume of edible food that goes …

22. Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Laws
Jul 26, 2015 · 30m · 8.1

Laws mandating minimum prison sentences dictate fixed terms for specific offenses. John Oliver elucidates the disparity in our justice system, suggesting that certain turkeys receive more humane treatment than many individuals convicted of …

23. District of Columbia
Aug 2, 2015 · 30m · 8.5

The nation's capital grapples with a persistent sense of taxation without representation, a grievance echoed in the absence of a state song to rival those of its sister states. In a curious turn of events, John Oliver and a chorus of young…

24. Sex Education
Aug 9, 2015 · 30m · 8.6

The quality of sex education differs significantly from one school district to another, often leaving young people without the thorough information they need. We have created a video addressing topics that some schools feel unable to discus…

25. Church
Aug 16, 2015 · 30m · 9.0

John addresses the troubling phenomenon of predatory churches and the world of televangelism, examining how U.S. tax law often permits them to operate with impunity. He also touches upon the recent raising of the American flag in Cuba, the …

26. LGBT Discrimination
Aug 23, 2015 · 29m · 8.1

The recent ruling on same-sex marriage marked a significant step forward, yet discrimination against LGBT individuals remains surprisingly permissible. John Oliver elucidates the necessity of a federal law prohibiting such discrimination. I…

27. Public Defenders
Sep 13, 2015 · 30m · 8.3

The Miranda warning guarantees the right to counsel, specifically the option of a public defender. However, it omits the reality of those defenses: public defenders are consistently overburdened and inadequately compensated. Beyond this, re…

28. Migrants and Refugees
Sep 27, 2015 · 30m · 8.0

Europe currently grapples with a complex situation as millions of asylum seekers encounter prejudice, discrimination, and bureaucratic obstacles. In a small gesture of support, John Oliver offers assistance to one individual among them. Thi…

29. Mental Health
Oct 4, 2015 · 30m · 8.3

John addresses Russia’s role in the Syrian conflict, the proceedings of the United Nations General Assembly, and shortcomings within the nation's mental healthcare system. He also considers the potential pitfalls of developing an applicatio…

30. North Dakota
Oct 11, 2015 · 30m · 8.2

North Dakota has long cultivated a reputation for courtesy, though perhaps this goodwill has extended a little too far in the direction of the oil industry. This is compounded by recent turmoil within FIFA's governing bodies and the unsettl…

31. Canada
Oct 18, 2015 · 30m · 8.4

With a significant election looming, Canada is receiving an unusual advisory panel. John Oliver enlists the aid of Mike Myers, alongside a beaver and a moose, to offer guidance to voters. The program will also address the declining approval…

32. Medicaid Gap
Nov 1, 2015 · 30m · 7.7

John Oliver turns his attention to the approaching state elections, where the outcomes will significantly impact the lives of millions of Americans seeking Medicaid. He also examines the so-called "peace talks" convened in Vienna, Austria r…

33. Prisoner Re-entry
Nov 8, 2015 · 30m · 7.9

John Oliver examines the challenges faced by individuals attempting to reintegrate into society following their release from prison. A brief interview with Bilal Chatman illustrates one such struggle. The program also explores a recently pr…

34. Daily Fantasy Sports
Nov 15, 2015 · 30m · 8.1

John recently addressed a range of topics: the unsettling events in Paris, the commercial phenomenon of China's Singles Day, the enduring story of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, and the burgeoning world of Daily Fantasy Sports.

35. Refugees & Pennies
Nov 22, 2015 · 30m · 8.1

The echoes of the Paris attacks linger in John’s thoughts, a stark reminder of the vulnerability faced by refugees across the globe. This tragedy prompts a deeper consideration of their precarious existence and the enduring challenges they …