The Worst Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

#1 Worst Episode
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6.6/10(363 votes)
#1 - Episode 220: Hair
S8:E115/9/2021
John Oliver discusses the importance of black hair, the ways it can be a target of discrimination, and some ideas to address that.
Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
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Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
7.0/10(349 votes)
#2 - April 6, 2025: Trans Athletes
S12:E74/6/2025
John Oliver discusses Donald Trump's sweeping new set of tariffs and why trans athletes seem to be at the center of U.S. politics.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.2/10(227 votes)
#3 - June 8, 2025: Med Spas
S12:E146/8/2025
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."
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.2/10(187 votes)
#4 - October 26, 2025: Medicare Advantage
S12:E2710/26/2025
John Oliver details what Medicare Advantage is, and why it basically has all the pitfalls of private insurance.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.3/10(291 votes)
#5 - October 16, 2022: Transgender Rights II
S9:E2610/16/2022
John Oliver discusses the latest round of attacks on transgender rights, what’s at stake, and how kids are schooling the ignorant adults on this topic. Plus, why the Crimean Bridge is having a bad time these days.
Director:Unknown
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7.3/10(210 votes)
#6 - August 17, 2025: Make America Healthy Again
S12:E218/17/2025
John Oliver discusses why Donald Trump seized control of the police in Washington, D.C., where the "Make America Healthy Again" movement in the U.S. could be headed, and whether or not you can buy testicles on Amazon. Three issues of equal importance.
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The 20 BEST Episodes of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

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7.3/10(196 votes)
#7 - October 5, 2025: Presidential Libraries
S12:E2510/5/2025
John Oliver discusses what presidential libraries are exactly, how presidents use them to fundraise in office, how Donald Trump might make existing problems even worse and – of course – some stuff about one president's unique inseam.
Director:Unknown
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7.3/10(180 votes)
#8 - November 2, 2025: Police Chases
S12:E2811/2/2025
John Oliver discusses the prevalence of police chases, and why the risks involved can massively outweigh the benefits.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.4/10(287 votes)
#9 - Prisons & Jails
S7:E166/21/2020
In the latest episode on coronavirus John talks about US prisons and jails. These confined spaces have frightening number of COVID-19 infections. And there has been insufficient initiatives to address the matter. Consequently, in some cases inmates are taking matters in their own hand to raise concern about situation behind bars.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.4/10(280 votes)
#10 - Episode 218: Bankruptcy
S8:E94/18/2021
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.
Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
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Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
7.4/10(330 votes)
#11 - Episode 221: Stand Your Ground
S8:E125/16/2021
Main Story: John Oliver takes a look at why “stand your ground” laws were created, who they protect, and, crucially, who they don’t. Plus, a look at the past week’s events in Israel.
Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
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Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
7.4/10(275 votes)
#12 - Episode 223: Asian Americans
S8:E146/6/2021
John Oliver discusses the large and diverse group of people who fall under the term "Asian American", the history of the model minority stereotype, and why our conversations on the subject need to be better-informed.
Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
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Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
7.4/10(239 votes)
#13 - Episode 225: PACE
S8:E166/20/2021
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.
Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
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Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
7.4/10(272 votes)
#14 - April 21, 2024: UFOs
S11:E94/21/2024
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.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.4/10(207 votes)
#15 - August 18, 2024: Hospice Care
S11:E218/18/2024
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.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.4/10(192 votes)
#16 - October 6, 2024: Traffic Stops
S11:E2510/6/2024
John Oliver discusses the power given to cops during traffic stops and some simple ways we can start to change that, and J.D. Vance's week surrounding the vice presidential debate.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.4/10(218 votes)
#17 - August 3, 2025: Deferred Prosecution Agreements
S12:E198/3/2025
John Oliver discusses how Israel is starving civilians in Gaza by blocking vital aid, how deferred prosecution agreements are helping corporations sweep serious crimes under the rug, and the least horny message you could possibly get on Hinge.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.4/10(202 votes)
#18 - September 7, 2025: Higher Education
S12:E229/7/2025
John Oliver discusses Florida's move to end vaccine mandates, Trump's war on higher education, and why universities should start acting more like tough little shrimp. Ya, you heard us: tough little shrimp.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.4/10(209 votes)
#19 - October 12, 2025: Paramount Skydance Merger
S12:E2610/12/2025
John Oliver discusses the Paramount Skydance merger, and how they've named Bari Weiss the new Editor-in-Chief of CBS News.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.4/10(178 votes)
#20 - November 9, 2025: Felony Murder
S12:E2911/9/2025
John Oliver discusses felony murder, a way you can wind up in prison for murder without actually killing anyone, and why Cillian Murphy won an Oscar, not his parents whose hot Irish sex led to his existence. Those last two things are related. We swear.
Director:Unknown
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7.5/10(278 votes)
#21 - Juries
S7:E218/16/2020
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.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
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7.5/10(284 votes)
#22 - Episode 217: Long-Term Care
S8:E84/11/2021
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.
Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
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Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
7.5/10(241 votes)
#23 - Episode 224: Prison Heat
S8:E156/13/2021
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.
Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
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Directors:Paul Pennolino, Christopher Werner
Writers:John Oliver, Greg Iwinski, Seena Vali, Mark Kramer, Owen Parsons, Chrissy Shackelford, Daniel O'Brien, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Ben Silva, Johnathan Appel, Liz Hynes, Ali Barthwell
7.5/10(234 votes)
#24 - August 7, 2022: Monkeypox
S9:E198/7/2022
John Oliver discusses the recent monkeypox outbreak in the U.S., how the authorities have fumbled the response to it, and some aspirations for this coming autumn. Plus, Walter from Butler, Indiana, likes to share stuff, perhaps a little too much.
Director:Unknown
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7.5/10(256 votes)
#25 - September 11, 2022: Law & Order
S9:E229/11/2022
John Oliver discusses the wildly popular television franchise, what it’s been teaching us about law enforcement, and how it differs from the reality. Plus, some important developments in British politics.
Director:Unknown
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