Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

10 Worst Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is a half-hour satirical show that airs on HBO. Hosted by John Oliver, the show first aired in 2014 and is currently in its 11th season. Through witty commentary and comedic sketches, the show covers news, politics and current events.

With so many episodes over the years, viewers have had the opportunity to rank their least favorite episodes. In this article, we will be looking at the worst episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver according to viewers.

Written by Sophie and last updated on nov 18, 2024.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - S11E21

#10 - August 18, 2024: Hospice Care (Season 11 - Episode 21)

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.

The episode was rated 7.48 from 269 votes.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - S8E18

#9 - Episode 227: Housing Discrimination (Season 8 - Episode 18)

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John Oliver breaks down the long history of housing discrimination in the U.S., the damage it's done, and, crucially, what we can do about it.

The episode was rated 7.48 from 352 votes.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - S10E4

#8 - March 12, 2023: TANF (Season 10 - Episode 4)

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.

The episode was rated 7.47 from 327 votes.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - S7E21

#7 - Juries (Season 7 - Episode 21)

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John Oliver takes a look at why people of color are routinely excluded from becoming jurors, who their absence impacts, and what we can do to create a fairer system.

The episode was rated 7.46 from 463 votes.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - S10E7

#6 - April 9, 2023: Homeowners Associations (Season 10 - Episode 7)

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

The episode was rated 7.45 from 317 votes.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - S11E9

#5 - April 21, 2024: UFOs (Season 11 - Episode 9)

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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.

The episode was rated 7.44 from 292 votes.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - S8E9

#4 - Episode 218: Bankruptcy (Season 8 - Episode 9)

John Oliver details why people file for bankruptcy, how needlessly difficult the process can be, and the ways we can better serve people struggling with debt.

The episode was rated 7.44 from 420 votes.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - S8E15

#3 - Episode 224: Prison Heat (Season 8 - Episode 15)

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John Oliver explains how the failure to air-condition prisons can cause both physical and mental health issues for incarcerated people, and why the solution is simpler than you might think. Plus, some truly unique local car dealership ads.

The episode was rated 7.40 from 362 votes.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - S8E11

#2 - Episode 220: Hair (Season 8 - Episode 11)

John Oliver discusses the importance of black hair, the ways it can be a target of discrimination, and some ideas to address that.

The episode was rated 7.36 from 397 votes.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - S8E16

#1 - Episode 225: PACE (Season 8 - Episode 16)

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John Oliver explains 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, why hosting summer Olympics in Tokyo this year is a bad idea and why dog shows are weird.

The episode was rated 7.35 from 361 votes.

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