Cover Story this week Satire at its best: ‘Last Week Tonight With John Oliver’ returns to HBO

from The Brainerd Dispatch TV Week February 18th 2018

by Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal

All fired up: Chef Roger Mooking digs into primal cooking

By Kyla Brewer TV Media

As24-hour news channels, websites and apps rise in popularity, the public is becoming more invested in national and international news. Indeed, broadcast journalists have become celebrities in their own right, for better or for worse. However, one of TV’s most popular latenight hosts offers a comedic yet critical twist on the news of the week.

John Oliver (“The Daily Show”) returns with a satirical look at the headlines and more in the season premiere of “Last Week Tonight

With John Oliver,” airing Sunday, Feb. 18, on HBO. The late-night program features a mix of commentary, comedic sketches and interviews as the intrepid host turns a critical eye to politics, corporations and even the media.

The opener kicks off the fifth season of the program, which premiered in April 2014. Last fall, HBO announced the show had been renewed for three more 30-episode seasons, so fans of the British comedian can expect to see him on the cable channel until at least 2020. When the deal was announced by HBO executive Casey Bloys, the host responded in typical Oliver fashion: with tongue planted firmly in cheek.

“We’re very grateful to Richard Plepler, Casey and everyone at HBO for letting us continue to do whatever it is we actually do,” Oliver said. “We’d also like to thank our staff for all their hard work. We’re incredibly

Late Laughs

Conan

The Baltimore Ravens first-round pick was arrested on robbery charges. In other words, he’s going to fit right in.

proud of all of you, and rather than tell you that to your face, we’d like to do it in the cold, dispassionate form of a press release.”

For his part, Bloys had nothing but praise for the performer, saying: “His extraordinary genius for rich and intelligent commentary is second to none.”

Oliver has worked his way up through the entertainment industry since starting out as a standup comedian in the United Kingdom. Before “Last Week Tonight,” he was best known to North American audiences for his work on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” as the program’s senior British correspondent, and he later filled in as interim host when Jon Stewart (“Rosewater,” 2014) went on hiatus.

His work on “The Daily Show” was well received by critics and audiences alike, and the gig eventually led to his show on HBO. Thanks, in part, to his no-holds-barred approach to lambasting politicians, corporations and more, Oliver has gained millions of loyal fans who tune in for his refreshing perspectives on current events, as well as quirky comedy sketches by him and other performers. Viewership for the show is on the upswing, with about 1.2 million live viewers for last season’s finale, which aired Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Millions also tune in on the show’s YouTube channel. Oliver was even named one of Time magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential People in 2015.

In its short life, “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” has had a marked influence on politics and business, even as far back as its first season. A 2014 segment on net neutrality is widely credited with prompting more than 45,000 comments on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) electronic filing page, and another 300,000 comments in an email inbox dedicated to a proposal that would allow “priority lanes” for cer-

Shortly after another funded public defendaired, thousands of dollars were donated by the show’s fans. Oliver and pal Mike Meyers (“Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,” 1999) famously urged Canadians to vote against thenPrime Minister Stephen Harper in the 2015 federal election. In one of the show’s most headline-grabbing episodes, the host interviewed accused whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Purportedly armed with “full creative freedom” from HBO, Oliver has also taken on big tobacco companies, televangelists, debt buyers, coal mining and, of course, President Donald Trump. In fact, Trump has been a frequent topic for the comedian, who has been unabashedly critical of the current administration. While such opinions likely put Trump’s supporter’s off, Oliver has nonetheless established himself as one of the heavy hitters of the modern late-night landscape.

For all of his efforts, Oliver and his team have been handsomely rewarded, both in ratings and in accolades. In fact, to say the show is acclaimed may be an understatement.

In its short, four-season existence, it has earned nominations for no fewer than 44 major awards, from Emmys and Critics’ Choice Awards to GLAAD Media Awards and Writers’ Guild of America Awards. For its inaugural season, the show even won a prestigious Peabody, which recognizes enlightening and invigorating work.

The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

Last night, the Eagles moved on to the Super Bowl after beating the Vikings 38-7. The last time someone got beat up that bad in Philadelphia, he had to move in with his Auntie and Uncle in Bel-Air.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

On Friday, Sen. Chuck Schumer met with Trump at the White House and they “came close to a deal over cheeseburgers.” That’s smart — get him all burgered up first. Although, if they’re eating burgers, I think that means they were negotiating in Trump’s bed.

Jimmy Kimmel Live

I’m glad “The Shape of Water” got so many nominations. I like that movie. And, finally, Hollywood is recognizing a monster other than Harvey Weinstein.

Late Night With Seth Meyers

The Taj Mahal is currently undergoing its first cleaning since its construction in the 1600s. “Maybe we should do that,” said New York.

Weekend Update With Colin Jost and Michael Che

Kinship Partners Inc.

Match of the Month February

Kinship Partners is pleased to honor Abbie Schram and Autumn Reilley both of Pequot Lakes, as its newest Match of the Month.

Abbie received a call from Kinship Partners asking if she and her husband knew of anyone who would be willing to take on a farm crazy kid. They decided they could be those folks. Their two boys instantly fell in love with Autumn - she is like a big sister to them and is a great ﬁt in their family dynamic.

Autumn has been “adopted” by all members of the Schram family. This includes a Great Dane named Maverick who was just a pup when Autumn and Abbie were matched. Autumn is his favorite human in the world.

Both Abbie and Autumn feel the powerful positive impact of mentoring. They have a list a mile long of the things they are “going to do” in the future - and said they will be ancient by the time they get it all accomplished and welcome the adventure.

Thank you, Abbie and Autumn, for remaining committed to mentoring. Having a reliable adult as a friend can be priceless for a child.

Be a Friend. Be a Mentor.

Why not start your own friendship journey?

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Other notable wins include backto-back Emmys for Outstanding Writing in a Variety Series in 2016 and 2017, a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Talk Show in 2016, and a Dorian Award for TV Current Affairs Show of the Year in 2016.

“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” was also recognized with a Television Critics Association Award for Achievement in News and Information in 2015, though Oliver has insisted that his show is comedy, not journalism. In spite of his intent, commentators from such mainstream media outlets as The New York Times, Time and The Huffington Post have described Oliver’s work as journalism.

No matter how you look at it, fans and critics can look forward to another season of insightful commentary and hilarious, off-the-wall comedy when Oliver and his crew return to the airwaves in “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver,” Sunday, Feb. 18, on HBO.

Bacardi Rum announced that they are merging with Patron Tequila. But I thought Bacardi and Patron had already merged to form Pitbull.