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Olive John Oliver's Last Week Tonight

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  • #1

    Olive John Oliver's Last Week Tonight

    I've been meaning to start a thread dedicated to Last Week Tonight with John Oliver for awhile. JL's posts about the death of The Daily Show was the final push that I needed. I can't lie, I was really pessimistic about this concept when Oliver left The Daily Show. So far, the show has taken on some pretty serious issues in HBO appropriate irreverence. The first season was good, but the second season has been great.

    Here's one of my favorite clips from earlier this year:

    [YOUTUBE]zIhKAQX5izw[/YOUTUBE]
    Last edited by Dwight Schr-ute; 09-30-2015, 02:14 PM.
    I told him he was a goddamn Nazi Stormtrooper.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Happy Columbus Day!

    https://youtu.be/eKEwL-10s7E
    I told him he was a goddamn Nazi Stormtrooper.

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    • #3
      I've said this before with the Daily Show, but these shows can be very influential, in fact more influential than the actual news. Jon Stewart however seemed to understand that his show was a comedy act first and a faux news show second...or third...or fourth. Jon Oliver seems to have that order messed up. He comes across as too serious, and well, too certain of his position. I'll admit he's funny and I tend to watch his shows, but I get annoyed when he takes it all too seriously, which can lead to him missing the point or skewing something that really shouldn't be skewed.

      This is very noticeable when he tries to report on something that you know he knows very little about and you have a lot, and I mean a lot, of experience dealing with. Take for instance his criticism of the oil industry in the clip below. He's specifically calling out Oasis Petroleum, which just so happens to be headquartered 4 or 5 floors below my office. He has a valid criticism that people dying in the oil fields(specifically the Bakken) is a serious issue, but he makes so many weird other points that I just can't take his criticism seriously. It's kind of like MPFunk arguing that Steve Smith is a HoF wide receiver, which we all know is a ludicrous assessment. He'd be fine stating that Smith is a great receiver and has had a very good career, but no, he has to take it one step further into ludicrous land.
      "Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessing of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes. And yet for some, “spectator discipleship” is a preferred if not primary way of worshipping." -Pres. Uchtdorf

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      • #4
        Originally posted by Moliere View Post
        I've said this before with the Daily Show, but these shows can be very influential, in fact more influential than the actual news. Jon Stewart however seemed to understand that his show was a comedy act first and a faux news show second...or third...or fourth. Jon Oliver seems to have that order messed up. He comes across as too serious, and well, too certain of his position. I'll admit he's funny and I tend to watch his shows, but I get annoyed when he takes it all too seriously, which can lead to him missing the point or skewing something that really shouldn't be skewed.

        This is very noticeable when he tries to report on something that you know he knows very little about and you have a lot, and I mean a lot, of experience dealing with. Take for instance his criticism of the oil industry in the clip below. He's specifically calling out Oasis Petroleum, which just so happens to be headquartered 4 or 5 floors below my office. He has a valid criticism that people dying in the oil fields(specifically the Bakken) is a serious issue, but he makes so many weird other points that I just can't take his criticism seriously. It's kind of like MPFunk arguing that Steve Smith is a HoF wide receiver, which we all know is a ludicrous assessment. He'd be fine stating that Smith is a great receiver and has had a very good career, but no, he has to take it one step further into ludicrous land.
        He's probably funnier and less ludicrous when he takes on interests in which you have a very limited stake.
        Give 'em Hell, Cougars!!!

        For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.

        Not long ago an obituary appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune that said the recently departed had "died doing what he enjoyed most—watching BYU lose."

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by myboynoah View Post
          He's probably funnier and less ludicrous when he takes on interests in which you have a very limited stake.
          Yeah I'd think he doesn't know much about most things outside of what's reported in the real news. He's an entertainer after all. In which topics do you think he has a deep knowledge and breadth of understanding?

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          • #6
            Originally posted by myboynoah View Post
            He's probably funnier and less ludicrous when he takes on interests in which you have a very limited stake.
            Ha. I was thinking the same thing.

            It's a shame he isn't back doing the Daily Show. And my main problem with his new format is that his bits are waaaaay too long. 20 minutes on North Dakota oil drilling?
            "There is no creature more arrogant than a self-righteous libertarian on the web, am I right? Those folks are just intolerable."
            "It's no secret that the great American pastime is no longer baseball. Now it's sanctimony." -- Guy Periwinkle, The Nix.
            "Juilliardk N I ibuprofen Hyu I U unhurt u" - creekster

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            • #7
              Originally posted by myboynoah View Post
              He's probably funnier and less ludicrous when he takes on interests in which you have a very limited stake.
              Yes, probably true. Although I have very little at stake with this bit. My company isn't in the Bakken and I don't have any ties with Oasis...although I do ride the elevator with them

              His outright dismay at the use of independent contractors and service companies is baffling. The oil industry has been that way for a long, long time and it works well. E&P companies aren't drilling companies and never have been. It's like attacking the Jazz basketball team if someone gets food poisoning from a hotdog sold by a vendor at Vivint Arena, which vendor probably works for Sodexo.
              "Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessing of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes. And yet for some, “spectator discipleship” is a preferred if not primary way of worshipping." -Pres. Uchtdorf

              Comment

              • #8
                Originally posted by Moliere View Post
                Yes, probably true. Although I have very little at stake with this bit. My company isn't in the Bakken and I don't have any ties with Oasis...although I do ride the elevator with them

                His outright dismay at the use of independent contractors and service companies is baffling. The oil industry has been that way for a long, long time and it works well. E&P companies aren't drilling companies and never have been. It's like attacking the Jazz basketball team if someone gets food poisoning from a hotdog sold by a vendor at Vivint Arena, which vendor probably works for Sodexo.
                I don't know why it is baffling. He doesn't have a deep knowledge about much of anything that he "reports" on, so he will use whatever sensational piece of half-truth in an attempt to make his show watchable.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by myboynoah View Post
                  He's probably funnier and less ludicrous when he takes on interests in which you have a very limited stake.
                  MBN is right.

                  I thought that ND bit was hilarious, along with the Candadian elections one. Both really cracked me up. He isn't trying to be objective, he is biased, and he is using comedy in it's best form to critique society and make people uncomfortable with their orthodoxies. He's good.
                  Dio perdona tante cose per un’opera di misericordia
                  God forgives many things for an act of mercy
                  Alessandro Manzoni

                  Knock it off. This board has enough problems without a dose of middle-age lechery.

                  pelagius

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                  • #10
                    I just don't get John Oliver. I think some of the stuff he does is funny/informative, but he rubs me the wrong way for some reason. Which is weird, because he has the same shtick that Stewart did and I loved him.
                    "...you pointy-headed autopsy nerd. Do you think it's possible for you to post without using words like "hilarious," "absurd," "canard," and "truther"? Your bare assertions do not make it so. Maybe your reasoning is too stunted and your vocabulary is too limited to go without these epithets."
                    "You are an intemperate, unscientific poster who makes light of very serious matters.”
                    - SeattleUte

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Northwestcoug View Post
                      I just don't get John Oliver. I think some of the stuff he does is funny/informative, but he rubs me the wrong way for some reason. Which is weird, because he has the same shtick that Stewart did and I loved him.
                      Because his crooked teeth country is ruled by a nutty old lady and he thinks he can make fun of us.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Northwestcoug View Post
                        I just don't get John Oliver. I think some of the stuff he does is funny/informative, but he rubs me the wrong way for some reason. Which is weird, because he has the same shtick that Stewart did and I loved him.
                        I'm in the same boat. I tried to make the distinction in my first post that I really think Jon Stewart knew his show was comedy and not really informative. I really think Oliver thinks he's making a difference, which is evident in the structure of his show. Stewart just took the crazy stuff that happened or was said and made fun of it. Oliver picks a pet topic and then goes after it. Stewart puts comedy first. Oliver puts the pet topic first.
                        "Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessing of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television and giving advice to the athletes. And yet for some, “spectator discipleship” is a preferred if not primary way of worshipping." -Pres. Uchtdorf

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Originally posted by YOhio View Post
                          Because his crooked teeth country is ruled by a nutty old lady and he thinks he can make fun of us.


                          Originally posted by Moliere View Post
                          I'm in the same boat. I tried to make the distinction in my first post that I really think Jon Stewart knew his show was comedy and not really informative. I really think Oliver thinks he's making a difference, which is evident in the structure of his show. Stewart just took the crazy stuff that happened or was said and made fun of it. Oliver picks a pet topic and then goes after it. Stewart puts comedy first. Oliver puts the pet topic first.
                          I think that's a pretty good distinction. I don't need to be hit over the head to be won over by your argument. I'm easy; just lure me in with wit and I'll listen
                          "...you pointy-headed autopsy nerd. Do you think it's possible for you to post without using words like "hilarious," "absurd," "canard," and "truther"? Your bare assertions do not make it so. Maybe your reasoning is too stunted and your vocabulary is too limited to go without these epithets."
                          "You are an intemperate, unscientific poster who makes light of very serious matters.”
                          - SeattleUte

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            I think the distinction is that they are 2 different programs; he's always going to lose if you're comparing him to Stewart based on what Stewart did. Oliver certainly takes a cue from what Stewart innovated and did so well for years, but he delves into the subject deeper. Jokes are secondary and it shows. Of course he's no expert like Moliere pointed out, but he does really explore his topics well- at least compellingly so. It was a lot easier to poke holes in Stewart's views and research, but you never really bothered because well, they were jokes after all. Although Oliver is nowhere near as funny as Stewart, I like his schtick.
                            "I'm anti, can't no government handle a commando / Your man don't want it, Trump's a bitch! I'll make his whole brand go under,"

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Commando View Post
                              I think the distinction is that they are 2 different programs; he's always going to lose if you're comparing him to Stewart based on what Stewart did. Oliver certainly takes a cue from what Stewart innovated and did so well for years, but he delves into the subject deeper. Jokes are secondary and it shows. Of course he's no expert like Moliere pointed out, but he does really explore his topics well- at least compellingly so. It was a lot easier to poke holes in Stewart's views and research, but you never really bothered because well, they were jokes after all. Although Oliver is nowhere near as funny as Stewart, I like his schtick.
                              totally agree
                              Dyslexics are teople poo...

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