John Oliver

John William Oliver was born in the Birmingham suburb of Erdington on 23 April 1977,{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Ryan |date=6 April 2021|title=John Cena Jokes About the Difficulty of Sharing a Birthday With John Oliver |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/john-cena-jokes-about-the-difficulty-of-sharing-a-birthday-with-john-oliver-4161754/ |access-date=13 February 2024|website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last=Usborne |first=David |date=7 April 2010 |title=Made in Manhattan: John Oliver On Taking Satire Stateside |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/features/made-in-manhattan-john-oliver-on-taking-satire-stateside-1937408.html |url-status=live |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128053659/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/features/made-in-manhattan-john-oliver-on-taking-satire-stateside-1937408.html |archive-date=28 November 2016}}{{Cite podcast |url=https://family-trips-with-the-meyers-brothers.simplecast.com/episodes/john-oliver |title=John Oliver Camped for Two Human Weeks |website=Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers |publisher=Simplecast |last=Meyers |first=Seth |date=2023-07-25 |time=55:19 |access-date=2023-11-11 |last2=John |first2=Meyers}} the son of music teacher Carole and school headmaster and social worker Jim Oliver. His mother is from Liverpool, while his father comes from the Wirral. He has a younger sister who lives in Australia.{{cite news |last=Cummings |first=Pip |date=6 March 2015 |title=Last Week Tonight Host John Oliver's Fascination With Tony Abbott, John Howard, Tim Fischer |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/last-week-tonight-host-john-olivers-fascination-with-tony-abbott-john-howard-tim-fischer-20150308-13wylf.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227185822/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/last-week-tonight-host-john-olivers-fascination-with-tony-abbott-john-howard-tim-fischer-20150308-13wylf.html |archive-date=27 December 2019}} His uncle was the composer Stephen Oliver.{{cite magazine |last=Kamp |first=David |date=15 January 2015 |title=John Oliver Is Horrified by Massages and Is a 'Committed Coward': What You Should Know About the Host of Last Week Tonight |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/01/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-facts |url-status=live |magazine=Vanity Fair |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905122244/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/01/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-facts |archive-date=5 September 2015 |access-date=4 September 2015}} He grew up in Bedford, where he attended the Mark Rutherford School and learned to play the viola.{{cite news |date=23 July 2007 |title=From Our Own Correspondent |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/23/mondaymediasection.broadcasting4 |url-status=live |access-date=21 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002180426/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/23/mondaymediasection.broadcasting4 |archive-date=2 October 2013}}{{Cite web |last=Gross |first=Terry |author-link=Terry Gross |date=7 March 2018 |title=John Oliver Finds Humor in the News No One Wants to Hear About |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/591457135 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603082501/https://www.npr.org/transcripts/591457135 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |access-date=11 February 2021 |website=NPR}} He was raised Anglican, but later told interviewer Terry Gross that he lapsed at the age of 12 after the death of a school friend and an uncle, followed by a feeling of receiving no useful answers from the church.{{Cite web |last=Bean |first=Alan |date=19 March 2018 |title=Saving John Oliver: 10 Suggestions for Retaining Young People in the Church |url=https://baptistnews.com/article/saving-john-oliver-10-suggestions-for-retaining-young-people-in-the-church/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929115032/https://baptistnews.com/article/saving-john-oliver-10-suggestions-for-retaining-young-people-in-the-church/ |archive-date=29 September 2020 |access-date=20 December 2020 |website=Baptist News Global |language=en-US}} In the mid-to-late 1990s, he studied at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the Cambridge Footlights. His Footlights contemporaries included comedians David Mitchell and Richard Ayoade, and he became the club's vice president in 1997.{{cite web | title=Cambridge Footlights Alumni, 1990–1999 |url=http://www.footlights.org/alumni-archive?name=1990-1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102122535/http://www.footlights.org/alumni-archive?name=1990-1999 |archive-date=2 November 2013 |access-date=6 August 2013 |work=Cambridge Footlights}}{{cite web |last=Freeman |first=Hadley |date=19 October 2012 |title=David Mitchell: Goodbye Lonely Nerd |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/oct/19/david-mitchell-victoria-coren-engagement |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108004404/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/oct/19/david-mitchell-victoria-coren-engagement |archive-date=8 January 2014 |access-date=6 August 2013 |work=The Guardian}} He and Footlights president Ayoade wrote and performed in several productions together, appearing in both Footlights' 1997 and 1998 touring shows: Emotional Baggage (directed by Matthew Holness) and Between a Rock and a Hard Place (directed by Cal McCrystal).{{cite web|last1=Bassett|first1=Kate|title=The Footlights lose their shine|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4714435/The-Footlights-lose-their-shine.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226165657/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4714435/The-Footlights-lose-their-shine.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 February 2016|website=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=19 January 2018|date=20 June 1998}} In 1998, Oliver graduated with a degree in English.{{cite web |url=http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/1997-8/weekly/5744/5.html |title=Reporter 8/7/98: Congregations of the Regent House on 26 and 27 June 1998 |work=Cambridge University Reporter |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103230652/http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/1997-8/weekly/5744/5.html |archive-date=3 January 2010 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Berry |first=Jillian A. |date=25 April 2008 |title=Oliver's Twist on These 'Terrifying Times' |url=http://tech.mit.edu/V128/N21/johnoliver.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521150941/http://tech.mit.edu/V128/N21/johnoliver.html |archive-date=21 May 2013 |access-date=1 March 2013 |work=The Tech |publisher=MIT}}

Since childhood, he has been a fan of Liverpool F.C., noting in interviews that "my mum's family are from Knotty Ash and my dad's family are from the Wirral, so supporting Liverpool was very much not a choice".{{cite news |last=Hunter |first=Steve |date=21 July 2016 |title=My dad told me, always remember Istanbul |work=Liverpool Football Club |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/2016-tour/228210-my-dad-told-me-always-remember-istanbul |url-status=dead |access-date=26 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724200100/http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/2016-tour/228210-my-dad-told-me-always-remember-istanbul |archive-date=24 July 2016}}

File:John Oliver and Kate Norley (31202364806) (cropped).jpg

Oliver met Kate Norley, an Iraq War veteran who served as a medic in the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division, at the 2008 Republican National Convention; he was reporting for The Daily Show and she was campaigning with Vets for Freedom. She and other veterans hid Oliver, the other correspondents, and the camera crew from security.{{Cite news |last=Zimmerman |first=Amy |date=18 July 2016 |title=How John Oliver Found Love in a Hopeless Place: The Republican National Convention |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/18/how-john-oliver-found-love-in-a-hopeless-place-the-republican-national-convention |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-date=8 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508072905/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/07/18/how-john-oliver-found-love-in-a-hopeless-place-the-republican-national-convention |url-status=live }} The two were married in October 2011 and reside in New York City.{{Cite web |last=Silverstein |first=Ken |date=10 May 2017 |title=The John Oliver Property Tax Scam: HBO Comedian Secretly Buys Manhattan Mansion |url=https://observer.com/2017/05/john-oliver-property-tax-scam-trump/ |access-date=16 August 2023 |website=Observer |language=en-US |archive-date=17 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417045410/https://observer.com/2017/05/john-oliver-property-tax-scam-trump/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Slonim |first=Jeffrey |url=https://people.com/celebrity/the-daily-shows-john-oliver-is-engaged/ |title=The Daily Show{{'}}s John Oliver Is Engaged |work=People |date=3 October 2010 |access-date=13 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213124012/https://people.com/celebrity/the-daily-shows-john-oliver-is-engaged/ |archive-date=13 February 2019 |url-status=live}} They have two sons, one born prematurely in 2015 and the other born in 2018.* For the marriage date: {{Cite book |last=Hersey |first=Curt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dDd9EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA217 |title=A History of Television News Parody in America |publisher=Lexington Books |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-7936-3778-9 |location=London |pages=217 |access-date=19 August 2023 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901111004/https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_History_of_Television_News_Parody_in_A/dDd9EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA217&printsec=frontcover |url-status=live }}

• For the child born prematurely: {{Cite web |last=Levin |first=Gary |date=16 February 2018 |title=How Jimmy Kimmel Inspired John Oliver to Share His Own Son's Health Scare |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2018/02/16/how-jimmy-kimmel-inspired-john-oliver-share-his-own-sons-health-scare/345028002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719014714/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2018/02/16/how-jimmy-kimmel-inspired-john-oliver-share-his-own-sons-health-scare/345028002/ |archive-date=19 July 2023 |access-date=19 July 2023 |website=USA Today |language=en-US |ref=none }}
• For the birth date of the first child: {{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Hilary |date=12 November 2015 |title=John Oliver Baby News: Last Week Tonight Host, Wife Welcome Son |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-oliver-baby-news-last-839887 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115005355/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-oliver-baby-news-last-839887 |archive-date=15 November 2015 |access-date=15 November 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |ref=none }}
• For the birth date of the second child: {{cite web |last1=Juneau |first1=Jen |last2=Fecteau |first2=Jessica |date=19 September 2018 |title=Emmy Winner John Oliver Reveals He and Wife Kate Welcomed Their Second Child Three Months Ago |url=https://people.com/parents/emmys-2018-john-oliver-welcomes-second-child-son-wife-kate/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919183104/https://people.com/parents/emmys-2018-john-oliver-welcomes-second-child-son-wife-kate/ |archive-date=19 September 2018 |access-date=19 September 2018 |website=People |ref=none }} Oliver occasionally wears a 1st Cavalry Division lapel pin in honour of Norley.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4xzECGt-v0 |title=John Oliver Asks For Dave's Advice |date=4 June 2013 |last=Late Show with David Letterman |type=Television production |publisher=CBS |author-link=Late Show with David Letterman |time=2:15 |access-date=18 July 2023 |via=YouTube |archive-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628123405/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4xzECGt-v0&feature=youtu.be |url-status=live }}

Oliver's immigration status when he joined The Daily Show in 2006 placed certain constraints on what he could do in the United States, but also provided him with comedy material as he poked fun at the opacity and occasional absurdity of the process of obtaining US residency.{{Cite web |last=Schaffstall |first=Katherine |date=11 February 2020 |title=John Oliver Opens Up About the 'Petrifying' Process of Becoming a U.S. Citizen |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/john-oliver-petrifying-process-becoming-a-us-citizen-1278725/ |access-date=19 July 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719014714/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/john-oliver-petrifying-process-becoming-a-us-citizen-1278725/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=7 June 2013 |title=John Oliver: A Very British Coup |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/jun/07/john-oliver-the-daily-show |url-status=live |access-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115111618/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/jun/07/john-oliver-the-daily-show |archive-date=15 November 2013}} During the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike, which temporarily stopped production of The Daily Show, Oliver participated in picketing protests;{{cite web |last=Signore |first=John Del |date=15 November 2007 |title=John Oliver, Writer |url=https://gothamist.com/news/john-oliver-writer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420091836/http://gothamist.com/2007/11/15/john_oliver_wri.php |archive-date=20 April 2008 |access-date=11 December 2021 |work=Gothamist}} he appeared on the show upon its resuming production on 7 January 2008. During a sketch, he pointed out that he was then in America on a visitor visa that requires him not to strike while the show is in production, as violation of the terms of the visa would be grounds for deportation.{{Cite episode |title=Olivers on the Strike |series=The Daily Show with Jon Stewart |series-link=The Daily Show |network=Comedy Central |date=8 January 2008 |season=13 |number=2 |url=https://www.cc.com/video/ixq99m/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-olivers-on-the-strike |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-date=1 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001034405/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ixq99m/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-olivers-on-the-strike |url-status=dead }}

In an episode of The Bugle released on 2 November 2009 and recorded three days earlier, Oliver announced that he was approved for his US green card, noting that now he can "get arrested filming bits for The Daily Show".{{cite news |last=Wright |first=Tom |date=31 October 2009 |title=The Bugle #94: Does the EU really want El Presidente Blair? |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/94-does-the-eu-really-want-el-presidente-blair-csbtqbpz79p |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=11 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605002109/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/the_bugle/article6895545.ece |archive-date=5 June 2011}} Oliver says he was given a scare while applying at the US embassy in London when an immigration officer asked, "Give me one good reason I should let you back in to insult my country" before following up with, "Oh, I'm just kidding, I love the show." Since then, he has referred to Americans as "us" or "you" based on what each segment has demanded. Oliver was naturalized as a US citizen on 13 December 2019. Since moving to the United States, he has been a fan of the New York Mets.{{Cite web |date=26 May 2019 |title=Oliver Talks Loyalty to Mets |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/oliver-talks-loyalty-to-mets |access-date=19 July 2023 |website= |publisher=MLB |language=en |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719014712/https://www.mlb.com/video/oliver-talks-loyalty-to-mets |url-status=live }} He has said that being a New York Yankees fan would be the "wrong thing to do morally".{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Dennis |date=26 May 2019 |title=John Oliver On Yankees Fandom: 'Just Not OK...The Wrong Thing To Do Morally' |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-20190526-z7fgx4fn3nef7hhad5fcot3nsi-story.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 July 2023 |website=New York Daily News |archive-date=19 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719014712/https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-20190526-z7fgx4fn3nef7hhad5fcot3nsi-story.html |url-status=live }}

Oliver's philanthropy includes an on-air giveaway in which he forgave over $15 million of medical debt owed by over 9,000 people. He purchased the debt for $60,000 and forgave it on his show on 4 June 2016.{{cite web |last=Kasperkevic |first=Jana |date=6 June 2016 |title=John Oliver Buys and Forgives $15m Worth of Medical Debt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/06/john-oliver-medical-debt-forgiveness-last-week-tonight |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619140428/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/06/john-oliver-medical-debt-forgiveness-last-week-tonight |archive-date=19 June 2018 |access-date=5 May 2021 |website=The Guardian |language=en |agency=New York}}

File:John Oliver.jpg

In 1985, Oliver made his first on-screen appearance playing Felix Pardiggle, a minor role in the BBC drama Bleak House. In an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, he commented, "When I was six years old ... [the BBC] wanted a kid with dark hair and brown eyes, and I was two-for-two on that".{{cite web |last=Fadroski |first=Kelli Skye |date=23 November 2010 |title=Daily Show Star John Oliver Heads to Irvine |url=http://www.ocregister.com/soundcheck/oliver-481457-comedy-irvine.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031001241/http://www.ocregister.com/soundcheck/oliver-481457-comedy-irvine.html |archive-date=31 October 2013 |access-date=24 August 2013 |work=Orange County Register}}{{Cite web |last=Late Night with Seth Meyers |author-link=Late Night with Seth Meyers |date=19 February 2019 |title=John Oliver's First On-Camera Role Was a British Stereotype |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvfEWUazvi0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504024340/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvfEWUazvi0 |archive-date=4 May 2023 |access-date=6 May 2023 |publisher=NBCUniversal |via=YouTube}} In 2001, Oliver appeared as a bank manager in series two of People Like Us. Oliver said in a later Seth Meyers appearance that one of his first paying jobs was writing for the British morning show The Big Breakfast.{{Cite web |last=Late Night with Seth Meyers |author-link=Late Night with Seth Meyers |date=13 April 2021 |title=John Oliver Reacts to Prince Philip's Passing |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sToDod20eq0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417010001/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sToDod20eq0 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |access-date= |publisher=NBCUniversal |via=YouTube}}

Oliver's first major stand-up appearance was at the 2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of the late-night showcase The Comedy Zone, where he played an "oleaginous journalist".{{cite web |last=Czajkowski |first=Elise |date=22 July 2013 |title=A Look Back at John Oliver's Pre-Daily Show Work |url=http://splitsider.com/2013/07/a-look-back-at-john-olivers-pre-daily-show-work/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727183935/http://splitsider.com/2013/07/a-look-back-at-john-olivers-pre-daily-show-work/ |archive-date=27 July 2013 |access-date=26 July 2013 |work=Splitsider |publisher=New York}} Oliver frequently worked with other members of the comedian group the Chocolate Milk Gang, including Daniel Kitson, Russell Howard, David O'Doherty, and Alun Cochrane.{{Cite news |last=Horgan |first=Richard |date=25 September 2016 |title=The John Oliver Origins Story |language=en-US |work=Adweek |url=https://www.adweek.com/digital/john-oliver-dominic-maxwell-london-times/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625194243/https://www.adweek.com/digital/john-oliver-dominic-maxwell-london-times/ |archive-date=25 June 2018}} His debut solo show was at the 2002 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and he returned the following year. In 2004 and 2005, he performed in a double act and co-hosted the political radio show Political Animal with Andy Zaltzman.{{Cite web |title=John Oliver |url=https://alumni.christs.cam.ac.uk/john-oliver |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923052016/https://alumni.christs.cam.ac.uk/john-oliver |archive-date=23 September 2020 |access-date=22 August 2021 |website=Christ's College, Cambridge}}{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Julian |date=24 August 2011 |title=Political Animal, The Stand, Edinburgh |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/reviews/political-animal-the-stand-edinburgh-2343223.html |url-access=limited |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718182539/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/reviews/political-animal-the-stand-edinburgh-2343223.html |url-status=live }}

From 2002 to 2003, Oliver worked on the BBC Three comedy series The State We're In, along with Anita Rani, Jon Holmes, and Robin Ince.{{Cite news |date=8 April 2003 |title=The State We're In: Meet the Team |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/the_state_were_in/2909905.stm |url-status=live |access-date=25 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625051619/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/the_state_were_in/2909905.stm |archive-date=25 June 2018}} In 2003, Oliver manned the "results desk" on an election night episode of Armando Iannucci's satirical show Gash on Channel 4.{{cite news |title=HBO's New Late-Night Host John Oliver Reveals His 5 Comedic Influences |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/john-oliver-reveals-his-5-696662 |url-status=live |access-date=16 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418164057/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/john-oliver-reveals-his-5-696662 |archive-date=18 April 2014}}{{Cite web |last=Wakeman |first=Gregory |date=12 March 2018 |title=John Oliver's Mentor Recalls the Comedian's Origins |url=https://www.metro.us/john-olivers-mentor-recalls-the-comedians-origins/ |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=Metro |language=en-US |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718182540/https://www.metro.us/john-olivers-mentor-recalls-the-comedians-origins/ |url-status=live }} In 2004, Oliver wrote and performed in the satirical radio programme The Department on BBC Radio 4 with Andy Zaltzman and Chris Addison.{{Cite web |title=The Department |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/the_department.shtml |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=BBC Radio 4 |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718182543/https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/the_department.shtml |url-status=live }} Starting in June 2005, Oliver made appearances on British television as a panellist on the satirical news show Mock the Week, and became a frequent guest on the first two series.

File:John Oliver Wyatt Cenac hug Shankbone.jpg at the launch of Earth|alt=Photo of Oliver, wearing a grey hoodie, embracing Cenac, who is wearing a red hoodie. Both are standing in front of a press backdrop labeled "Barnes & Noble".]]In July 2006, Oliver joined The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as its Senior British Correspondent. He says he was interviewed for the show on the recommendation of comedian Ricky Gervais, who had never met Oliver, but was familiar with his work. Two weeks after the interview, he got the job, flying from London to New York City on a Sunday and unexpectedly appearing on camera the next day.{{cite news |last=Guthrie |first=Marisa |date=16 April 2014 |title=John Oliver on the Luxurious 'Freedom' of HBO, His Complicated Relationship With NYC |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-oliver-luxurious-freedom-hbo-696165 |url-status=live |access-date=19 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418232827/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-oliver-luxurious-freedom-hbo-696165 |archive-date=18 April 2014}}{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=23 April 2014 |title=Now Nattering on His Own Throne |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/arts/television/john-oliver-launches-last-week-tonight-on-hbo.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=24 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424124445/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/arts/television/john-oliver-launches-last-week-tonight-on-hbo.html |archive-date=24 April 2014}} Oliver received Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for The Daily Show in 2009, 2011, and 2012.{{Cite web |title=Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series - 2009 |url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2009/outstanding-writing-for-a-variety-series |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223215933/https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2009/outstanding-writing-for-a-variety-series |archive-date=23 February 2023 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website= |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series - 2011 |url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2011/outstanding-writing-for-a-variety-series |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223215934/https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2012/outstanding-writing-for-a-variety-series |archive-date=23 February 2023 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website= |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series - 2012 |url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2012/outstanding-writing-for-a-variety-series |access-date=18 July 2023 |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |archive-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223215934/https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2012/outstanding-writing-for-a-variety-series |url-status=live }}

In 2007, Oliver wrote and presented a BBC America campaign to have viewers use closed captions. Shown in brief segments before shows, one of the campaign messages said, "The following program contains accents you would have heard a lot more if you hadn't thrown our tea into Boston Harbor ... Not even British people can follow the British accent 100 per cent of the time. Therefore you, like me, might want to use closed-captioning." Oliver used some of these jokes in his stand-up routine.{{cite journal |last1=Lafayette |first1=Jon |date=21 May 2007 |title=Translated From the British |url=http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/blink/2007/05/translated_from_the_british.php |url-status=dead |journal=Television Week |volume=26 |issue=21 |page=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321131957/http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/blink/2007/05/translated_from_the_british.php |archive-date=21 March 2008 |access-date=18 November 2018}}

After moving to New York City, Oliver began performing stand-up comedy in clubs, later headlining shows in larger venues.{{cite web |last=Borden |first=Jane |date=8 February 2007 |title=Oliver Twisted |url=http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/comedy/2529/oliver-twisted |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725065322/http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/comedy/2529/oliver-twisted |archive-date=25 July 2009 |access-date=21 April 2009 |work=Time Out New York |issue=593}} From October 2007 to May 2015, Oliver co-hosted The Bugle, a weekly comedy podcast, with Andy Zaltzman. Originally produced by The Times, it became an independent project in 2012.{{cite news |last1=Coates |first1=Sam |last2=Elliott |first2=Francis |last3=Watson |first3=Roland |title=The Bugle: Audio Newspaper for a Visual World |work=The Times |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/the_bugle/ |url-status=dead |access-date=7 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509182622/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/the_bugle/ |archive-date=9 May 2008}}{{Cite magazine |last=Shephard |first=Alex |date=3 June 2014 |title=John Oliver Has Left The Bugle, the World's Best Podcast. |url=https://newrepublic.com/minutes/133964/john-oliver-left-the-bugle-worlds-best-podcast |url-status=dead |magazine=The New Republic |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604134731/https://newrepublic.com/minutes/133964/john-oliver-left-the-bugle-worlds-best-podcast |archive-date=4 June 2016 |access-date=18 July 2018}} John Oliver: Terrifying Times, his first stand-up special, premiered on Comedy Central in 2008.{{Cite news |last=Hale |first=Mike |date=19 April 2008 |title=Standing Up, a Briton Mocks Britain |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/arts/television/19hale.html |url-status=live |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718182540/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/arts/television/19hale.html |archive-date=18 July 2023}} In 2009, Comedy Central announced that it would be ordering six episodes of the John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show, a series on Comedy Central that featured sets from himself and other comedians, including Janeane Garofalo, Brian Posehn, Paul F. Tompkins and Marc Maron.{{Cite web |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |date=15 July 2013 |title=John Oliver and Friends Are Back with John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show Season 4 Premiere on July 26 |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/07/15/john-oliver-and-friends-are-back-with-john-olivers-new-york-stand-up-show-season-4-premiere-on-july-26/191918/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722005153/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/07/15/john-oliver-and-friends-are-back-with-john-olivers-new-york-stand-up-show-season-4-premiere-on-july-26/191918/ |archive-date=22 July 2013 |website=Zap2it}}{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Denise |date=18 November 2009 |title=Comedy Central Gives John Oliver His Own Standup Comedy Series |work=Los Angeles Times |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/11/comedy-central-gives-john-oliver-his-own-stand-up-comedy-series.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122200121/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/11/comedy-central-gives-john-oliver-his-own-stand-up-comedy-series.html |archive-date=22 November 2009}} From 2010 to 2013, four seasons were produced.{{Cite web |title=John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/john-olivers-new-york-stand-up-show/episodes/299769 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128094503/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/john-olivers-new-york-stand-up-show/episodes/299769 |archive-date=28 November 2019 |access-date=28 November 2019 |website=TV Guide |language=en}} In 2013, he went to Afghanistan on a USO tour to perform for the troops.{{Cite magazine |date=30 January 2015 |title=Watch John Oliver Explain Why He Tased Himself for the Troops |url=https://time.com/3689337/watch-john-oliver-troops/ |url-status=live |magazine=Time |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420133437/http://time.com/3689337/watch-john-oliver-troops/ |archive-date=20 April 2019 |access-date=25 June 2018}}{{Cite news |last1=Sargent |first1=Jay |last2=Strubberg |first2=Mikah |date=30 January 2015 |title=John Oliver's Shocking Display For U.S. Troops |language=en-US |work=WPTV |url=https://www.wptv.com/newsy/john-olivers-shocking-display-for-us-troops |url-status=dead |access-date=25 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625050451/https://www.wptv.com/newsy/john-olivers-shocking-display-for-us-troops |archive-date=25 June 2018}} Oliver continues to perform stand-up.{{Cite web |title=John Oliver: Tour Dates 2023 |url=https://www.iamjohnoliver.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718182541/https://www.iamjohnoliver.com/ |archive-date=18 July 2023 |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=John Oliver |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Pearis |first=Bill |date=5 June 2023 |title=John Oliver & Seth Meyers plot separate stand-up tours, playing NYC together |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/john-oliver-seth-meyers-plot-separate-stand-up-tours-playing-nyc-together/ |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=BrooklynVegan |language=en-US |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718182539/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/john-oliver-seth-meyers-plot-separate-stand-up-tours-playing-nyc-together/ |url-status=live }}

File:Stephen Colbert and John Oliver (30430521953).jpg at the Montclair Film Festival in New Jersey|left|alt=Photo of Oliver, wearing a dark suit, standing next to Colbert, wearing a tan suit, both laughing and standing in front of a press backdrop.]]

Oliver had a recurring role on the NBC sitcom Community as the professor of psychology Ian Duncan. Owing to his work at The Daily Show, he declined the offer to become a regular member of the cast, and did not appear in the third, fourth, or sixth seasons, but returned in season five, appearing in seven of its thirteen episodes.{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Patrick |date=31 December 2013 |title=John Oliver resumes his Community tenure |url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/24680606-421/john-oliver-resumes-his-community-tenure.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104030216/http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/24680606-421/john-oliver-resumes-his-community-tenure.html |archive-date=4 January 2014 |website=Chicago Sun Times}}{{Cite web |last=Ryan |first=Patrick |date=9 December 2013 |title=Sneak peek: John Oliver returns to Community |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/12/09/john-oliver-returns-to-community/3871517/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104224601/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/12/09/john-oliver-returns-to-community/3871517/ |archive-date=4 November 2016 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}} In 2008, Oliver played Dick Pants in The Love Guru, his first film role.{{Cite news |last=Fenster |first=Jordan |date=19 August 2020 |title=Danbury Hockey Team Hits Back at Comedian John Oliver |work=The News-Times |url=https://www.newstimes.com/entertainment/slideshow/Danbury-hockey-team-hits-back-at-comedian-John-206957.php |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718182540/https://www.newstimes.com/entertainment/slideshow/Danbury-hockey-team-hits-back-at-comedian-John-206957.php |url-status=live }} He later voiced Vanity Smurf in The Smurfs film and its sequel.{{cite magazine |last1=Sperling |first1=Nicole |date=28 April 2010 |title=Smurfs Casting Update: SNL Cast and John Oliver Join Voice Cast |url=https://ew.com/article/2010/04/28/smurfs-john-oliver-snl/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100501120840/http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/04/28/smurfs-john-oliver-snl/ |archive-date=1 May 2010 |access-date=10 December 2021}} Oliver performed several roles in the 2009 Comedy Central series Important Things with Demetri Martin.{{Cite press release |title=Comedy Central(R) Home Entertainment Releases 'Important Things With Demetri Martin: Season One' DVD -- Hitting Stores on Tuesday, September 8' |url=https://www.paramount.com/press/comedy-centralr-home-entertainment-releases-important-things-with-demetri-martin-season-one-dvd-hitting-stores-on-tuesday-september-8 |date=19 August 2009 |publisher=Paramount |last1=Viacom CBS Staff |access-date=23 February 2023 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224003635/https://www.paramount.com/press/comedy-centralr-home-entertainment-releases-important-things-with-demetri-martin-season-one-dvd-hitting-stores-on-tuesday-september-8 |url-status=live }} In 2009, Oliver made a cameo appearance in the music video for The Fiery Furnaces' single "Even in the Rain".{{cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=3 December 2009 |title=Video Premiere: The Fiery Furnaces: 'Even in the Rain' |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/37279-video-premiere-the-fiery-furnaces-even-in-the-rain/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107021152/http://pitchfork.com/news/37279-video-premiere-the-fiery-furnaces-even-in-the-rain/ |archive-date=7 January 2010 |access-date=7 January 2010 |website=Pitchfork}}

Starting in June 2013, Oliver guest-hosted The Daily Show for eight weeks while Stewart directed his film Rosewater.{{cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=5 March 2013 |title=Update: Jon Stewart Taking Summer Daily Show Hiatus to Direct First Film and 'Challenge' Himself, John Oliver to Sub |url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/jon-stewart-daily-show-hiatus-john-oliver-hosting-rosewater-445972/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807021758/http://www.deadline.com/2013/03/jon-stewart-daily-show-hiatus-john-oliver-hosting-rosewater/ |archive-date=7 August 2013 |access-date=16 August 2013 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} Oliver's performance received positive reviews,{{cite web |last=Paskin |first=Willa |date=14 June 2013 |title=Jon Stewart Who?: John Oliver's Daily Show Is Almost Too Good |url=http://www.salon.com/2013/06/14/john_oliver_on_the_daily_show_is_almost_too_good/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816042946/http://www.salon.com/2013/06/14/john_oliver_on_the_daily_show_is_almost_too_good/ |archive-date=16 August 2013 |access-date=16 August 2013 |work=Salon}}{{cite web |last=Grant |first=Drew |date=28 June 2013 |title=The Daily Show Down: Why John Oliver Is the Best Thing to Happen to Late Night Since Colbert |url=http://observer.com/2013/06/the-daily-showdown-why-john-oliver-is-the-best-thing-to-happen-to-late-night-since-colbert-video/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724040421/http://observer.com/2013/06/the-daily-showdown-why-john-oliver-is-the-best-thing-to-happen-to-late-night-since-colbert-video/ |archive-date=24 July 2013 |access-date=16 August 2013 |work=New York Observer}}{{cite news |last=Carlson |first=Erin |date=11 June 2013 |title=Daily Show: John Oliver Makes Hilarious Debut as Host |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/daily-show-john-oliver-makes-566167 |url-status=live |access-date=16 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617220005/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/daily-show-john-oliver-makes-566167 |archive-date=17 June 2013}}{{cite web |last=Molloy |first=Tim |date=10 June 2013 |title=Review: John Oliver's Daily Show Is Sharp as Ever |url=https://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/review-john-olivers-daily-show-sharp-ever-96536 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808183630/http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/review-john-olivers-daily-show-sharp-ever-96536 |archive-date=8 August 2013 |access-date=16 August 2013 |website=TheWrap}} with some critics suggesting that he should eventually succeed Stewart as the host, or receive his own show.{{cite web |last=Fox |first=Jesse David |date=15 August 2013 |title=We Can Now Consider John Oliver The Daily Show{{'}}s Heir Apparent |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/08/john-oliver-the-daily-shows-heir-apparent.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817053456/http://www.vulture.com/2013/08/john-oliver-the-daily-shows-heir-apparent.html |archive-date=17 August 2013 |access-date=16 August 2013 |work=Vulture |publisher=New York}}{{cite magazine |last=Busis |first=Hillary |date=16 August 2013 |title=John Oliver Bids Farewell to Daily Show Hosting Gig – How'd He Do? |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/08/16/john-oliver-daily-show-last-day/ |url-status=dead |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816162624/http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/08/16/john-oliver-daily-show-last-day/ |archive-date=16 August 2013 |access-date=16 August 2013}}{{cite web |last=Holpuch |first=Amanda |date=11 June 2013 |title=John Oliver Hosts The Daily Show Without Jon Stewart – Triumphantly |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/us-news-blog/2013/jun/11/john-oliver-daily-show-jon-stewart |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812223146/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/us-news-blog/2013/jun/11/john-oliver-daily-show-jon-stewart |archive-date=12 August 2013 |access-date=16 August 2013 |work=The Guardian}} CBS discussed the possibility of Oliver replacing Craig Ferguson on The Late Late Show. Three months after his role as the interim Daily Show host ended, HBO announced it was giving Oliver his own late-night show.{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=14 November 2013 |title=Daily Show{{'}}s John Oliver to Host Weekly Comedy Talk Show For HBO |url=https://deadline.com/2013/11/john-oliver-to-host-weekly-comedy-talk-show-for-hbo-635395/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220192006/http://www.deadline.com/2013/11/john-oliver-to-host-weekly-comedy-talk-show-for-hbo/ |archive-date=20 December 2013 |access-date=20 December 2013 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

File:Last Week Tonight.svg]]

In 2014, Oliver began hosting his current events late-night talk show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.{{cite news |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=12 February 2014 |title=HBO Sets Name & Date For John Oliver Debut |website=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/hbo-sets-name-date-for-john-oliver-debut-682033/ |url-status=live |access-date=12 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214111313/http://www.deadline.com/2014/02/hbo-sets-name-date-for-john-oliver-debut/ |archive-date=14 February 2014}} The show features thoroughly researched segments dedicated to topics or events in the news.{{Cite journal |last=Becker |first=Amy B. |date=30 November 2022 |title=John Oliver as the Pandemic Fundraiser? Championing Causes and Political Participation Through Satirical Television |journal=Social Media + Society |language=en |volume=8 |issue=4 |pages= |doi=10.1177/20563051221140998 |doi-access=free }} His initial two-year contract was extended through to 2017 in 2015,{{cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=17 February 2015 |title=John Oliver Will Stay at HBO Through 2017 |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/john-oliver-will-stay-on-hbo-through-2017-1201435357/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309160627/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/john-oliver-will-stay-on-hbo-through-2017-1201435357/ |archive-date=9 March 2017 |access-date=17 September 2015 |work=Variety}}{{cite magazine |last=Luckerson |first=Victor |date=17 February 2015 |title=Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Gets 2 More Seasons |url=https://time.com/3712367/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-renewed/ |url-status=live |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923003722/http://time.com/3712367/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-renewed/ |archive-date=23 September 2015 |access-date=17 September 2015}} to 2020 in September 2017,{{cite news |last=Koblin |first=John |date=12 September 2017 |title=John Oliver Extends HBO Contract Through 2020 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/arts/television/john-oliver-hbo-contract.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912182739/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/arts/television/john-oliver-hbo-contract.html |archive-date=12 September 2017}} to 2023 in September 2020,{{Cite web |last=Thorne |first=Will |date=14 September 2020 |title=John Oliver's Last Week Tonight Renewed by HBO Through 2023 |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-renewed-three-more-seasons-2023-hbo-1234769025/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915214239/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-renewed-three-more-seasons-2023-hbo-1234769025/ |archive-date=15 September 2020 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} and to 2026 in December 2023.{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=5 December 2023|title=Last Week Tonight With John Oliver Renewed for Three More Seasons at HBO |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/last-week-tonight-with-john-oliver-renewed-three-more-seasons-hbo-1235822239/ |access-date=6 December 2023|website=Variety |language=en-US}} Oliver has stated that he has full creative freedom, including free rein to criticise corporations, given HBO's ad-free subscription model. In 2015, Oliver was named one of Time 100 influential people of the year for his work on the show. Across the TV airings, DVR, on-demand, and HBO Go, Last Week Tonight averaged 4.1 million weekly viewers in its first season.{{Cite news |last=O'Connell |first=Michael |date=9 September 2014 |title=John Oliver's Talk Show Ratings Edging Out HBO Colleague Bill Maher |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-olivers-talk-show-ratings-735187 |url-status=live |access-date=23 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217013001/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-olivers-talk-show-ratings-735187 |archive-date=17 December 2014}} In 2014, Last Week Tonight was honoured with a Peabody Award in the "Entertainment" category for "bringing satire and journalism even closer together".{{cite web |date=2014 |title=Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) |url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/last-week-tonight-with-john-oliver |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121416/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/last-week-tonight-with-john-oliver |archive-date=19 January 2019 |access-date=18 January 2019 |website= |publisher=The Peabody Awards}}{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=Maureen |date=16 April 2015 |title=Peabody Awards Go To Last Week Tonight, Jane the Virgin, The Americans and Other Shows |work=HuffPost |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/peabody-awards_n_7073234 |url-status=live |accessdate=1 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722072943/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/15/peabody-awards_n_7073234.html |archive-date=22 July 2015}} The show received a second award in 2017.{{cite web |date=2017 |title=Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) |url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/last-week-tonight-with-john-oliver1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518151429/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/last-week-tonight-with-john-oliver1 |archive-date=18 May 2020 |accessdate=1 April 2020 |publisher=Peabody Awards}}{{Cite web |last=Brockington |first=Ariana |date=19 April 2018 |title=Handmaid's Tale, A Series of Unfortunate Events Among Peabody Entertainment, Youth Winners |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/peabody-2018-entertainment-childrens-youth-programming-winners-1202758001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512180158/http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/peabody-2018-entertainment-childrens-youth-programming-winners-1202758001/ |archive-date=12 May 2018 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} The show has also won 26 Primetime Emmy Awards,{{Cite web |title=Last Week Tonight With John Oliver |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/last-week-tonight-john-oliver |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214054044/https://www.emmys.com/shows/last-week-tonight-john-oliver |archive-date=14 December 2021 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website= |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |language=en}} five Writers Guild of America Awards,{{Cite web |last1=Beresford |first1=Trilby |last2=Crist |first2=Allison |last3=Chuba |first3=Kirsten |last4=Lewis |first4=Hilary |date=1 February 2020 |title=WGA Awards: Parasite and Jojo Rabbit Among Film Winners |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/writers-guild-awards-winners-2020-full-list-1274188/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310024739/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/writers-guild-awards-winners-2020-full-list-1274188 |archive-date=10 March 2020 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} eight Producers Guild Awards,{{cite web |last1=Hipes |first1=Patrick |date=26 February 2023 |title=PGA Awards: Everything Everywhere All At Once Takes Best Picture; The White Lotus, The Bear, The Dropout Top TV Heap – Complete Winners List |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/2023-pga-awards-winners-list-producers-guild-1235267002/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226082300/https://deadline.com/2023/02/2023-pga-awards-winners-list-producers-guild-1235267002/ |archive-date=26 February 2023 |access-date=26 February 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} and three Critics' Choice Television Awards.{{cite news |last1=Panaligan |first1=EJ |last2=Earl |first2=William |date=15 January 2023 |title=Critics' Choice Awards 2023 Full Winners List: Everything Everywhere All at Once, Abbott Elementary and Better Call Saul Take Top Honors |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2023/awards/news/critics-choice-awards-2023-winners-list-1235488828/ |url-status=live |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116025853/https://variety.com/2023/awards/news/critics-choice-awards-2023-winners-list-1235488828/ |archive-date=16 January 2023}}

Oliver has guest-starred in several TV shows, including The Simpsons as Booth Wilkes-John (2014);{{cite web |last1=Perkins |first1=Dennis |date=11 May 2014 |title=The Simpsons: 'Pay Pal' |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-simpsons-pay-pal-1798180420 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831190734/http://www.avclub.com/tvclub/simpsons-pay-pal-204525 |archive-date=31 August 2015 |access-date=10 December 2021 |website=The A.V. Club}} Gravity Falls as the voice of Sherlock Holmes (2012);{{Cite web |last=Wiese |first=Jason |date=10 October 2020 |title=9 John Oliver Movie And TV Appearances You Probably Forgot About |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2556440/John-oliver-movie-and-tv-appearances-you-probably-forgot-about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121021403/https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2556440/John-oliver-movie-and-tv-appearances-you-probably-forgot-about |archive-date=21 January 2022 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=Cinemablend |language=en}} Rick and Morty as an amoeba named Dr Xenon Bloom (2013); Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja as the voice of Coach Green (2012–15);{{Cite web |title=Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/randy-cunningham-9th-grade-ninja/cast/1000424075/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224003630/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/randy-cunningham-9th-grade-ninja/cast/1000424075/ |archive-date=24 February 2023 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=TV Guide |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=McLean |first=Tom |date=12 September 2013 |title=Randy Cunningham Season 2 Starts Production |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2013/09/randy-cunningham-season-2-starts-production/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224022207/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2013/09/randy-cunningham-season-2-starts-production/ |archive-date=24 February 2023 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=Animation Magazine |language=en-US}} My Hero as a man from the BBC (2001);{{Cite web |last=Eames |first=Tom |date=10 August 2017 |title=My Hero Started 17 years Ago – Where Are the Cast Now? |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a835284/my-hero-cast-then-now/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224003642/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a835284/my-hero-cast-then-now/ |archive-date=24 February 2023 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}} Green Wing as a car salesman (2004);{{Cite web |title=John Oliver |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/john_oliver |access-date=18 August 2023 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |language=en |archive-date=18 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618083648/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/john_oliver |url-status=live }} Big Mouth as the camp counsellor Harry (2020);{{Cite web |last=Spencer |first=Samuel |date=4 December 2020 |title=All the New And Returning Voice Cast Members in Big Mouth Season 4 |url=https://www.newsweek.com/big-mouth-season-4-cast-netflix-new-missy-maria-bamford-john-oliver-seth-rogen-1552377 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224003636/https://www.newsweek.com/big-mouth-season-4-cast-netflix-new-missy-maria-bamford-john-oliver-seth-rogen-1552377 |archive-date=24 February 2023 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=Newsweek |language=en}} and Bob's Burgers as a cat agent (2017). Oliver was originally cast in 2010 to star in the Terry Jones film Absolutely Anything as Neil Clarke,{{Cite news |last1=Eisenberg |first1=Eric |date=14 September 2010 |title=John Oliver To Star In Absolutely Anything, Robin Williams and Monty Python Cast In Talks |work=CinemaBlend |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/John-Oliver-Star-Absolutely-Anything-Robin-Williams-Monty-Python-Cast-Talks-20648.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625075127/https://www.cinemablend.com/new/John-Oliver-Star-Absolutely-Anything-Robin-Williams-Monty-Python-Cast-Talks-20648.html |archive-date=25 June 2018}} but scheduling conflicts due to the debut of Last Week Tonight in 2014 led to the role being recast for Simon Pegg.{{Cite news |last1=Fischer |first1=Russ |date=11 December 2013 |title=Simon Pegg Joins Monty Python Members in Absolutely Anything |language=en-US |work=Slashfilm |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/simon-pegg-joins-monty-python-members-in-absolutely-anything/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625050149/http://www.slashfilm.com/simon-pegg-joins-monty-python-members-in-absolutely-anything/ |archive-date=25 June 2018}} In 2019, Oliver voiced the porcupine Steve in the CGI animated film Wonder Park and hornbill Zazu in the remake of Disney's The Lion King.{{Cite web |last=Scheck |first=Frank |date=14 March 2019 |title=Wonder Park: Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wonder-park-review-1194514/ |access-date=18 July 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=18 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718182539/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wonder-park-review-1194514/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Donnelly |first1=Matt |date=10 July 2017 |title=John Oliver Joins Disney's Live-Action The Lion King (Exclusive) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/john-oliver-joins-live-action-lion-king-zazu-bird-exclusive/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710230308/http://www.thewrap.com/john-oliver-joins-live-action-lion-king-zazu-bird-exclusive/ |archive-date=10 July 2017 |access-date=10 July 2017 |website=TheWrap}} From 2018 to 2019, Oliver worked as an executive producer for Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas.{{Cite news |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=16 October 2017 |title=Wyatt Cenac to Star in John Oliver Docu-Series on HBO |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/wyatt-cenac-star-john-oliver-docu-series-hbo-169395 |url-status=live |access-date=10 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624093004/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/wyatt-cenac-star-john-oliver-docu-series-hbo-169395 |archive-date=24 June 2018}}{{Cite web |last=Sippell |first=Margeaux |date=7 June 2019 |title=Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas Canceled by HBO After 2 Seasons |url=https://www.thewrap.com/problem-areas-canceled-2-seasons-host-wyatt-cenac-says/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224003639/https://www.thewrap.com/problem-areas-canceled-2-seasons-host-wyatt-cenac-says/ |archive-date=24 February 2023 |access-date=24 February 2023 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}} On 30 August 2023, Oliver began hosting the comedy podcast Strike Force Five with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers, to support their staff members out of work due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.{{Cite news |last=Horton |first=Adrian |date=30 August 2023 |title=Strike Force Five: what happens when late-night TV hosts make a podcast? |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/aug/30/strike-force-five-late-night-hosts-podcast-fallon-kimmel-colbert |access-date=1 September 2023 |archive-date=31 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831103817/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/aug/30/strike-force-five-late-night-hosts-podcast-fallon-kimmel-colbert |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Rancilio |first=Alicia |date=30 August 2023 |title=Late-night Hosts Team Pp for 'Strike Force Five' Podcast to Benefit Their Out-of-Work Staff |url=https://apnews.com/article/latenight-hosts-podcast-strike-force-five-f57d2b60642ded98799c4b57c627e5d6 |access-date=1 September 2023 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901021914/https://apnews.com/article/latenight-hosts-podcast-strike-force-five-f57d2b60642ded98799c4b57c627e5d6 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=29 August 2023 |title=Late-Night Hosts Hook Up for Spotify Podcast With Proceeds to Benefit Unemployed Staffers During Writers Strike |url=https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/late-night-hosts-spotify-strike-team-five-writers-strike-1235706901/ |access-date=1 September 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=30 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830235349/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/late-night-hosts-spotify-strike-team-five-writers-strike-1235706901/ |url-status=live }}

Oliver has said that among his comedic influences are Armando Iannucci, David Letterman, Monty Python, Peter Cook, Richard Pryor, and Jon Stewart.{{cite news |date=17 April 2015 |title=How John Oliver Became an American Star |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/comedy/comedy-news/11546015/How-John-Oliver-became-an-American-star.html |url-status=live |access-date=17 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418062301/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/comedy/comedy-news/11546015/How-John-Oliver-became-an-American-star.html |archive-date=18 April 2015}} Oliver said regarding Monty Python, "I saw Life of Brian in middle school, when a substitute teacher put it on to keep us quiet on a rainy day ... I've never forgotten how it made me feel".{{cite news |last=Oliver |first=John |date=7 January 2019 |title=John Oliver on Monty Python: 'Inspirational Idiots Who Changed Comedy' |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jan/07/john-oliver-monty-python-inspirational-idiots-who-changed-comedy |url-status=live |access-date=25 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825230722/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jan/07/john-oliver-monty-python-inspirational-idiots-who-changed-comedy |archive-date=25 August 2019}} Edward Helmore wrote in The Guardian about Oliver's comedy, "His style leans toward the kind that Americans like best from the British – exaggerated, full of odd accents and mannerisms, in the vein of Monty Python." Oliver describes his own accent as a "mongrel" of Brummie, Scouse, and Bedford influences.{{cite web |last=Marsh |first=Steve |date=7 June 2013 |title=John Oliver on Hosting The Daily Show and Being Less of a Mean Brit While Doing So |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/06/john-oliver-the-daily-show-interview.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905042708/http://www.vulture.com/2013/06/john-oliver-the-daily-show-interview.html |archive-date=5 September 2013 |access-date=23 August 2013 |work=Vulture |publisher=New York}}

Oliver was opposed to Brexit, writing multiple pieces about it and calling it "painful, it's pointless, and most of you didn't even agree to run it; you were just signed up by your dumbest friend". He stated that it was "sad" to consider that his children with British citizenship would not experience the benefits of the EU.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=David |date=10 February 2022 |title=John Oliver: 'Maybe Brexit Is a Great Idea. There's Absolutely Nothing to Suggest That' |url=https://theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/feb/10/john-oliver-maybe-brexit-is-a-great-idea-theres-absolutely-nothing-to-suggest-that |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116174940/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/feb/10/john-oliver-maybe-brexit-is-a-great-idea-theres-absolutely-nothing-to-suggest-that |archive-date=16 November 2022 |access-date=16 November 2022 |work=The Guardian |language=en-US}} He has been particularly critical of the Conservative Party and of its former leader Boris Johnson's time as Prime Minister.{{Cite magazine |last=Reed |first=Ryan |date=29 July 2022 |title=John Oliver Blasts British Prime Minister Boris Johnson: 'He Is a Liar' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-boris-johnson-864555/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116174940/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-boris-johnson-864555/ |archive-date=16 November 2022 |access-date=16 November 2022 |url-access=subscription}} He also criticised the Royal Family's secrecy concerning their wealth, calling them "a freeloading multimillionaire family exempt from paying most taxes" and stating that "the Royal Family's wealth{{emdash}}unlike its gene pool{{emdash}}is massive".{{cite web |last1=Mazza |first1=Ed |date=14 November 2022 |title=John Oliver Goes There In Relentless Takedown Of British Royal Family |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/john-oliver-royal-family_n_6371ffd0e4b029013643bc23 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117153836/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/john-oliver-royal-family_n_6371ffd0e4b029013643bc23 |archive-date=17 November 2022 |access-date=17 November 2022 |website=HuffPost |language=en-US}} He supports abolishing the British monarchy and making Britain a republic,{{Cite web |last=Horton |first=Adrian |date=14 November 2022 |title=John Oliver On British Monarchy: 'Like An Appendix. We've Long Evolved Past Needing Them' |url=https://theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/14/john-oliver-british-monarchy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116034859/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/14/john-oliver-british-monarchy |archive-date=16 November 2022 |access-date=16 November 2022 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB}} and declined an OBE.{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Roisin |date=1 January 2022 |title=From Skepta to David Bowie – The Celebrities Who Turned Down New Year's Honours |language=en-GB |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/new-years-honours-list-turned-down-refused-b1985339.html |url-status=live |access-date=26 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922101318/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/new-years-honours-list-turned-down-refused-b1985339.html |archive-date=22 September 2022}} On a September 2022 episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers, he said he declined it because he did not want his name being associated with the words "British Empire" and expressed distaste for the British class system.{{Cite web |date=27 January 2023|title=From Alan Cumming to David Bowie – the celebrities who said no to OBEs |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/obe-celebrities-rejected-queens-honours-b2270641.html |access-date=11 December 2024|website=The Independent }}

Oliver favoured Joe Biden for president in the 2020 election and celebrated Biden's victory over Donald Trump. He warned that "more than 70 million people voted for [Trump] and everything he said and stands for, and that is something we are going to have to reckon with for the foreseeable future".{{cite magazine |last1=Romano |first1=Nick |date=November 2020 |title=John Oliver Takes a Moment to Celebrate Biden's Election Win: Like 'A Reverse 9/11' |url=https://ew.com/tv/john-oliver-joe-biden-election-win/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207045145/https://ew.com/tv/john-oliver-joe-biden-election-win/ |archive-date=7 February 2021 |access-date=31 May 2021}} He has been strongly critical of Trump and the Republican Party,{{Cite news |last=Horton |first=Adrian |date=7 November 2022 |title=John Oliver On Republicans and Voting: 'If I Lose, It's Rigged, If I Win, It's Fine' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/07/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-republican-voting |url-status=live |access-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214121023/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/07/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-republican-voting |archive-date=14 February 2023}}{{Cite book |last=Symons |first=A. |chapter=Trump and Satire: America's Carnivalesque President and His War on Television Comedians |pages=183–197 |title=Trump's Media War |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2019 |isbn=978-3-319-94069-4 |editor-last=Happer |editor-first=C. |location=Cham |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-94069-4_12 |s2cid=194895998 |access-date=6 August 2023 |editor-last2=Hoskins |editor-first2=A. |editor-last3=Merrin |editor-first3=W. |chapter-url=https://rdcu.be/diFQg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806190128/https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1007/978-3-319-94069-4_12?sharing_token=ccjJQmIdULa6UtVDnb9QHfe4RwlQNchNByi7wbcMAY4dUdcBzkkws5OgHzgHiRo6poPrSmia8YjKlUNl4vfGQ5V5msgBceT50TGPkdIYy9dWnpWuz2H2-sle335xmKhBniHG1iCjBPN3VXzmdMU1u-CTQEXhQ6w5tQjOrIRBCuQ= |archive-date=6 August 2023 |url-status=live}} later endorsing Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election.{{Cite web |last=Shafer |first=Ellise |date=4 November 2024|title=John Oliver Fights Back Tears Urging Viewers to Vote for Kamala Harris: 'Wouldn't It Be Great to Live in a World' Where Trump Is 'No Longer an Active Threat?' |url=https://variety.com/2024/politics/news/john-oliver-fights-back-tears-kamala-harris-vote-1236199366/ |access-date=4 November 2024|website=Variety }} Politico argued that Oliver criticised liberal politicians as much as those on the right.{{Cite web |last1=Tani |first1=Max |last2=Thompson |first2=Alex |date=14 February 2022 |title=John Oliver's Recipe for Comedy in the Biden Years |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2022/02/14/john-olivers-recipe-for-comedy-in-the-biden-years-00008692 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223012140/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2022/02/14/john-olivers-recipe-for-comedy-in-the-biden-years-00008692 |archive-date=23 February 2023 |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=Politico }}

File:John Oliver 1.jpg|alt=Oliver, wearing a black suit, talking into a microphone and gesturing with his hands.]]Oliver's comedic commentary has been credited with influencing US legislation, regulations, court rulings, and other aspects of US culture; this has been dubbed the "John Oliver effect".{{cite news |last1=Luckerson |first1=Victor |date=20 January 2015 |title=How the 'John Oliver Effect' Is Having a Real-Life Impact |website=Time |url=https://time.com/3674807/john-oliver-net-neutrality-civil-forfeiture-miss-america/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810231912/http://time.com/3674807/john-oliver-net-neutrality-civil-forfeiture-miss-america/ |archive-date=10 August 2015}}{{Cite book |last=Krutkowski |first=S. |title=Libraries Promoting Reflective Dialogue in a Time of Political Polarization |publisher=ACRL Publications |year=2019 |isbn=978-0-8389-4652-7 |editor-last=Baer |editor-first=A. |location=Chicago |pages=295–322 |chapter=The John Oliver Effect: Using Political Satire to Encourage Critical-Thinking Skills in Information Literacy Instruction |editor-last2=Schroeder |editor-first2=R. |editor-last3=Cahoy |editor-first3=E. |chapter-url=https://pure.roehampton.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/1501377/Chapter_13._The_John_Oliver_Effect.pdf |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-date=6 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006112253/https://pure.roehampton.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/1501377/Chapter_13._The_John_Oliver_Effect.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Rp|pages=298–299}} This came from the show's fifth episode, which dealt with net neutrality, a subject that had previously been considered obscure and technical.{{cite news |last1=Brody |first1=Ben |date=26 February 2015 |title=How John Oliver Transformed the Net Neutrality Debate Once and for All |newspaper=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-26/how-john-oliver-transformed-the-net-neutrality-debate-once-and-for-all |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=10 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814011603/http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-02-26/how-john-oliver-transformed-the-net-neutrality-debate-once-and-for-all |archive-date=14 August 2015}} Oliver documented problems attributed to Internet service providers and argued that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) could resolve these concerns with upcoming changes to Internet regulation. Oliver then encouraged viewers to submit public comments through the FCC's website. The FCC's website promptly crashed.{{Rp|pages=299}}{{cite web |last1=Roppolo |first1=Michael |date=3 June 2014 |title=John Oliver's Rant About Net Neutrality Crashes FCC Site |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fcc-comment-page-crashes-after-john-olivers-rant-about-net-neutrality/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815023746/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fcc-comment-page-crashes-after-john-olivers-rant-about-net-neutrality/ |archive-date=15 August 2015 |access-date=27 August 2015 |website=CBS News}} Internal FCC emails revealed that the clip was being watched inside the agency.{{cite web |last1=Lecher |first1=Colin |date=13 November 2014 |title=Read the FCC's Internal Emails About John Oliver's Net Neutrality Segment |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/11/13/7205817/fcc-john-oliver-net-neutrality-emails |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821115920/http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/13/7205817/fcc-john-oliver-net-neutrality-emails |archive-date=21 August 2015 |access-date=27 August 2015 |website=The Verge}} The FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler publicly addressed the video.{{cite web |last=Risen |first=Tom |date=13 June 2014 |title=FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler: 'I Am Not a Dingo' |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2014/06/13/fcc-chairman-tom-wheeler-i-am-not-a-dingo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117024329/http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2014/06/13/fcc-chairman-tom-wheeler-i-am-not-a-dingo |archive-date=17 November 2015 |access-date=27 August 2015 |website=U.S. News & World Report}}{{Cite journal |last1=Bode |first1=L. |last2=Becker |first2=A.B. |date=2018 |title=Go Fix It: Comedy as an Agent of Political Activation |url=https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.12521 |journal=Social Science Quarterly |volume=99 |issue=5 |pages=1572–1584 |doi=10.1111/ssqu.12521 |s2cid=150056325 |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-date=6 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806190125/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ssqu.12521 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}

The day after the broadcast, the FCC had received over 45,000 comments on net neutrality; in total, it received 3.7 million comments on the subject, by far the most for any issue in the agency's history.{{cite web |last1=Kastrenakes |first1=Jacob |date=16 September 2014 |title=FCC Received a Total of 3.7 Million Comments on Net Neutrality |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/16/6257887/fcc-net-neutrality-3-7-million-comments-made |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905160733/http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/16/6257887/fcc-net-neutrality-3-7-million-comments-made |archive-date=5 September 2015 |access-date=27 August 2015 |website=The Verge}}{{Cite journal |last1=Brewer |first1=Paul R. |last2=Young |first2=Dannagal G. |author-link2=Dannagal Young |last3=Lambe |first3=Jennifer L. |last4=Hoffman |first4=Lindsay H. |last5=Collier |first5=Justin |date=2018 |title='Seize Your Moment, My Lovely Trolls': News, Satire, and Public Opinion About Net Neutrality |url=https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/viewFile/8081/2306 |url-status=live |journal=International Journal of Communication |volume=12 |pages=1408–1430 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421002948/http://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/viewFile/8081/2306 |archive-date=21 April 2018 |access-date=6 August 2023}}{{Rp|page=1414}} Reporters detected a shift in the FCC's stance: Before Oliver's segment, The New York Times described an FCC proposal that would leave net neutrality "all but dead",{{cite news |last1=Wyatt |first1=Edward |date=23 April 2014 |title=F.C.C., In a Shift, Backs Fast Lanes for Web Traffic |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/technology/fcc-new-net-neutrality-rules.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701015851/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/technology/fcc-new-net-neutrality-rules.html |archive-date=1 July 2015}} but the paper later said that Wheeler showed "a steady shift toward stronger regulation".{{cite news |last=Lohr |first=Steve |date=4 February 2015 |title=F.C.C. Plans Strong Hand to Regulate the Internet |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/technology/fcc-wheeler-net-neutrality.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906105247/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/technology/fcc-wheeler-net-neutrality.html |archive-date=6 September 2015}} A study conducted in 2018 found that viewers of Last Week Tonight and The Colbert Report were generally more familiar with net neutrality than non-viewers; Last Week Tonight viewers were also more likely to support strict regulation to ensure net neutrality.{{Rp|page=|pages=1421–1422, 1424}} In the end, the FCC enacted robust net neutrality rules that classified the broadband Internet service as a public utility.{{cite news |last1=Ruiz |first1=Rebecca R. |last2=Lohr |first2=Steve |date=26 February 2015 |title=F.C.C. Approves Net Neutrality Rules, Classifying Broadband Internet Service as a Utility |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/technology/net-neutrality-fcc-vote-internet-utility.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226212654/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/technology/net-neutrality-fcc-vote-internet-utility.html |archive-date=26 February 2015}} Oliver was credited with transforming the net neutrality debate.

A Ninth Circuit Court judge cited a Last Week Tonight segment about the lesser constitutional rights of residents of US territories in a ruling in favour of the residents of Guam.{{cite web |last1=Rubino |first1=Kathryn |date=27 August 2015 |title=The Ninth Circuit Hearts John Oliver |url=http://abovethelaw.com/2015/08/the-ninth-circuit-hearts-john-oliver/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829212442/http://abovethelaw.com/2015/08/the-ninth-circuit-hearts-john-oliver/ |archive-date=29 August 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015 |website=Above The Law}}{{cite web |last=Proctor |first=Katherine |date=26 August 2015 |title=9th Cir. Rips Guam for Keeping Tax Refunds |url=http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/08/26/9th-cir-rips-guam-for-keeping-tax-refunds.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150830013143/http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/08/26/9th-cir-rips-guam-for-keeping-tax-refunds.htm |archive-date=30 August 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015 |website=Courthouse News Service}}{{efn|See: {{cite web |title=U.S. Territories: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CesHr99ezWE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/CesHr99ezWE |archive-date=22 December 2021 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |access-date=28 August 2015 |date=8 March 2015}}{{cbignore}}}} Members of Congress credited Oliver with helping to win a vote to enforce protections for chicken farmers who speak out about industry practices, after a Last Week Tonight segment on the subject.{{cite web |last1=Capriel |first1=Jonathan A. |date=19 June 2015 |title=Comedian Influences Ag Bill, Members of Congress Say |url=http://www.shfwire.com/comedian-influences-ag-bill-members-congress-say/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816004523/http://www.shfwire.com/comedian-influences-ag-bill-members-congress-say/ |archive-date=16 August 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015 |website=Scripps Howard Foundation}}{{cite web |date=18 June 2015 |title=Ag Spending Bill Contains Big Win to Protect Rights for Chicken Farmers After Viral John Oliver Video Brought Attention to Their Plight |url=https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ag-spending-bill-contains-big-win-protect-rights-chicken-farmers-after |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908031214/https://pingree.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ag-spending-bill-contains-big-win-protect-rights-chicken-farmers-after |archive-date=8 September 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015 |website=Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, 1st District of Maine |publisher=United States House of Representatives}}{{efn|See: {{cite web |title=Chickens: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9wHzt6gBgI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/X9wHzt6gBgI |archive-date=22 December 2021 |url-status=live |website=YouTube |access-date=28 August 2015 |date=17 May 2015}}{{cbignore}}}} A Washington, D.C., council member proposed a resolution in Oliver's honour after he aired a segment on the district's struggle to attain statehood.{{cite web |last=Giambrone |first=Andrew |date=5 August 2015 |title=The John Oliver Effect |url=https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/445974/the-john-oliver-effect/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910045014/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2015/08/05/the-john-oliver-effect/ |archive-date=10 September 2015 |access-date=10 December 2021 |website=Washington City Paper}}{{efn|See: {{cite web |title=Washington DC Statehood: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z4j2CrJRn4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/4Z4j2CrJRn4 |archive-date=22 December 2021 |url-status=live |website=YouTube |access-date=28 August 2015 |date=2 August 2015}}{{cbignore}}}} A study published in 2022 found that "calls for action" by Oliver in seasons seven and eight of Last Week Tonight raised over $5 million for charities and other causes.

Oliver maintains that he is not a journalist,{{cite magazine |last1=Robinson |first1=Joanna |date=13 May 2015 |title=John Oliver Rejects the Notion That He's a Respected Journalist |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/john-oliver-not-a-journalist |url-status=live |magazine=Vanity Fair |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909075740/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/john-oliver-not-a-journalist |archive-date=9 September 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015}} but reporters have contended that his show is a form of journalism.{{cite magazine |last=Poniewozik |first=James |date=17 November 2014 |title=Unfortunately, John Oliver, You Are a Journalist |url=https://time.com/3589285/unfortunately-john-oliver-you-are-a-journalist/ |url-status=live |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725193947/http://time.com/3589285/unfortunately-john-oliver-you-are-a-journalist/ |archive-date=25 July 2015 |access-date=30 April 2015}}{{cite news |last=Suebsaeng |first=Asawin |date=29 September 2014 |title=Last Week Tonight Does Real Journalism, No Matter What John Oliver Says |newspaper=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/last-week-tonight-does-real-journalism-no-matter-what-john-oliver-says |url-status=live |access-date=30 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602195007/http://www.thedailybeast.com/last-week-tonight-does-real-journalism-no-matter-what-john-oliver-says |archive-date=2 June 2017}}{{cite web |last1=David |first1=Bauder |date=26 September 2014 |title=Oliver Adds Journalism to His Comedy |url=https://apnews.com/article/4d8636485ad24c6e8bb7870976c49cd8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704065656/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ea1d53d73d0e4a199b65d19181660e9e/oliver-adds-journalism-his-comedy |archive-date=4 July 2015 |access-date=10 December 2021 |website=Associated Press}} The Peabody Awards honoured Oliver, saying his programme engages in "investigative reports that 'real' news programs would do well to emulate".{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Scott |date=16 April 2015 |title=Peabody Awards Go To John Oliver, Amy Schumer, Jane the Virgin |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-peabody-awards-john-oliver-amy-schumer-fargo-20150416-story.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010190536/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-peabody-awards-john-oliver-amy-schumer-fargo-20150416-story.html |archive-date=10 October 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015 |website=Los Angeles Times}} One example of Oliver's investigative work is a segment on the Miss America organization, which bills itself as "the world's largest provider of scholarships for women".{{cite web |last1=Rupar |first1=Aaron |date=24 September 2014 |title=John Oliver's Devastating Takedown of Miss America Has a Local Angle |url=http://www.citypages.com/news/john-olivers-devastating-takedown-of-miss-america-has-a-local-angle-video-6533952 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829084844/http://www.citypages.com/news/john-olivers-devastating-takedown-of-miss-america-has-a-local-angle-video-6533952 |archive-date=29 August 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015 |website=City Pages}} Oliver's team, which includes four researchers with journalism backgrounds,{{cite web |last1=Blake |first1=Meredith |date=4 February 2015 |title=Seven Things We Learned at Breakfast with John Oliver |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-john-oliver-last-week-tonight-season-2-20150204-story.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926194527/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-john-oliver-last-week-tonight-season-2-20150204-story.html |archive-date=26 September 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015 |work=Los Angeles Times}} collected and analysed the organization's state and federal tax returns to find that its scholarship programme only distributes a small fraction of the claimed "$45 million made available annually".{{cite web |last1=Chung |first1=Jen |date=22 September 2014 |title=Video: John Oliver Shreds Miss America's Claim To Be 'Leading Provider' Of Scholarships To Women |url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/video-john-oliver-shreds-miss-americas-claim-to-be-leading-provider-of-scholarships-to-women |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510013519/http://gothamist.com/2014/09/22/john_oliver_miss_america.php |archive-date=10 May 2015 |access-date=11 December 2021 |website=Gothamist}} Oliver said that at the national level, the Miss America Organization and Miss America Foundation together spent only $482,000 in cash scholarships in 2012. {{As of|2024|October|post=,}} the official YouTube video of Oliver's Miss America segment has been viewed more than 24 million times.{{cite web |last=Last Week Tonight with John Oliver |author-link=Last Week Tonight with John Oliver |date=21 September 2014 |title=Miss America Pageant |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDPCmmZifE8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829084847/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDPCmmZifE8 |archive-date=29 August 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015 |website= |publisher=HBO |via=YouTube}} The Society of Women Engineers said Oliver's reference to their scholarship led to $25,000 in donations over the subsequent two days.{{cite web |last1=Gregory |first1=Ted |date=24 September 2014 |title='John Oliver bounce' benefits Chicago-based women's engineering group |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-pageant-engineer-scholarships-20140923-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828031315/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-pageant-engineer-scholarships-20140923-story.html |archive-date=28 August 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015 |website=Chicago Tribune}}

Oliver also founded and legally incorporated a church, Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption, to demonstrate how easy it is to qualify as a church and receive tax-exempt status in the United States.{{cite news |last1=Respers France |first1=Lisa |date=17 August 2015 |title=John Oliver Forms His Own Church and Just Keeps On Winning |website=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/17/entertainment/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-feat/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820033420/http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/17/entertainment/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-feat/ |archive-date=20 August 2015}}{{cite web |title=John Oliver's Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption Church |url=http://www.ourladyofperpetualexemption.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827212918/http://www.ourladyofperpetualexemption.com/ |archive-date=27 August 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015 |website=Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption}} The church was created in conjunction with a segment on televangelists who have tax-free mansions and private jets funded by millions of dollars in donations, which are sent in the belief that money given to televangelists can result in God rewarding donors with money, blessings, and by curing diseases.{{cite web |date=17 August 2015 |title=John Oliver Starts His Own Church to Expose 'Predatory' Televangelists |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-oliver-exposes-televangelists-by-815767 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821010006/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-oliver-exposes-televangelists-by-815767 |archive-date=21 August 2015 |access-date=28 August 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{efn|See: {{cite web |title=Televangelists: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y1xJAVZxXg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/7y1xJAVZxXg |archive-date=22 December 2021 |url-status=live |website=YouTube |access-date=28 August 2015 |date=16 August 2015}}{{cbignore}}}} The next week, Oliver showed off the large quantity of donations posted to him, which included $70,000 in cash, a large cheque, and other gifts. The church's website stated that donations would go to Doctors Without Borders upon the church's dissolution.{{cite news |last1=Mandle |first1=Chris |date=24 August 2015 |title=John Oliver Inundated with Donations After Setting Up Fake Church to Make a Point About Tax-Dodging Televangelists |website=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/john-oliver-inundated-with-donations-after-setting-up-fake-church-to-make-a-point-about-taxdodging-televangelists-10469577.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828003157/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/john-oliver-inundated-with-donations-after-setting-up-fake-church-to-make-a-point-about-taxdodging-televangelists-10469577.html |archive-date=28 August 2015}}

Oliver's February 2016 segment on presidential candidate Donald Trump received 62 million views on Facebook and 23 million on YouTube within a month, and was reportedly the "most watched piece of HBO content ever".{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=Shane |date=30 March 2016 |title=John Oliver's 'Donald Drumpf' Segment Broke Every HBO Viewing Record |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/politics/john-olivers-donald-drumpf-segment-broke-every-hbo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401165346/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/03/john-olivers-donald-drumpf-segment-broke-every-hbo.html |archive-date=1 April 2016 |access-date=11 December 2021 |website=Paste}} A network spokesperson said that this was "a record for any piece of HBO content".{{cite web |last1=Stelter |first1=Brian |date=30 March 2016 |title=Even John Oliver Enjoys a Drumpf Bump |url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/03/30/media/john-oliver-donald-trump/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331201056/http://money.cnn.com/2016/03/30/media/john-oliver-donald-trump/index.html |archive-date=31 March 2016 |access-date=31 March 2016 |website=CNNMoney}} In 2018 on Last Week Tonight, Oliver presented the children's book A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, a parody of Marlon Bundo's A Day in the Life of the Vice President. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo featured Marlon Bundo, the pet rabbit of 48th US Vice President Mike Pence, in a gay relationship.{{Cite news |date=22 March 2018 |title=John Oliver's Gay Rabbit Book Parody Outsells Mike Pence's Original On Amazon |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/22/john-oliver-gay-rabbit-book-parody-outsells-mike-pence-original-amazon |url-status=live |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322073829/https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/22/john-oliver-gay-rabbit-book-parody-outsells-mike-pence-original-amazon |archive-date=22 March 2018}} During the 2023 Reddit API controversy, the major subreddits r/pics, r/gifs, and r/aww, among others, protested at Reddit's API policy changes by only allowing content containing Oliver.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=17 June 2023 |title=Two of the Biggest Reddit Communities Reopened in the Funniest Way Possible |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/17/23764729/reddit-users-pics-gifs-subreddits-john-oliver |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617205723/https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/17/23764729/reddit-users-pics-gifs-subreddits-john-oliver |archive-date=17 June 2023 |access-date=17 June 2023 |work=The Verge}}{{Cite web |last=Fung |first=Brian |date=23 June 2023 |title=Reddit Users Bombard Site with John Oliver Pictures in Latest Protest Over New Policy |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/23/tech/reddit-john-oliver-protest/index.html |access-date=5 August 2023 |website=CNN Business |language=en |archive-date=5 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705050746/https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/23/tech/reddit-john-oliver-protest/index.html |url-status=live }}

In May 2018, actor Russell Crowe donated approximately $80,000 to the Australia Zoo wildlife hospital for the creation and naming of "The John Oliver Koala Chlamydia Ward".{{Cite news |author= |date=8 May 2018 |title=Russell Crowe Names Koala Chlamydia Clinic After John Oliver |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/may/08/russell-crowe-names-koala-chlamydia-ward-after-john-oliver |url-status=live |access-date=2 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901001507/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/may/08/russell-crowe-names-koala-chlamydia-ward-after-john-oliver |archive-date=1 September 2020}} Oliver had previously bought in an auction several film props that had been used by Crowe, including his jockstrap from Cinderella Man, which he sent to one of the last Alaskan Blockbuster Video shops for exhibition.{{cite web | last=Sharf | first=Zack | title=John Oliver Bought Russell Crowe's Jockstrap to Help Save One of America's Last Blockbuster Video Stores | website=IndieWire | date=2018-04-16 | url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/john-oliver-russell-crowe-jockstrap-blockbuster-auction-1201953041/ | access-date=2023-10-17}}{{Cite web |last=Lieu |first=Johnny |date=7 May 2018 |title=Congratulations, John Oliver, On the Koala Chlamydia Ward Named After You |url=https://mashable.com/2018/05/07/john-oliver-koala-chlamydia/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918121649/https://mashable.com/2018/05/07/john-oliver-koala-chlamydia/ |archive-date=18 September 2018 |access-date=2 September 2020 |website=Mashable |language=en}} Crowe then donated the proceeds from the auction towards the establishment of the Chlamydia Ward named after Oliver, calling it "a cool way" to honour him.{{Cite news |last=Kwai |first=Isabella |date=8 May 2018 |title=Everything You (and John Oliver) Need to Know About Koala Chlamydia |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/world/australia/koalas-chlamydia-john-oliver.html |url-status=live |access-date=2 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919105610/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/world/australia/koalas-chlamydia-john-oliver.html |archive-date=19 September 2020}} Covering the story on his show, Oliver admitted admiration for the gag: "Well played, Russell Crowe. Well played indeed. That may honestly be the greatest thing I've ever seen." Crowe visited the ward in early 2020, posing with the nameplate bearing Oliver's name.{{Cite tweet|last=Crowe|first=Russell|author-link=Russell Crowe|title=Where am I now?|user=russellcrowe|number=1230342111318310912|access-date=11 December 2021|archive-date=20 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220040640/https://twitter.com/russellcrowe/status/1230342111318310912|url-status=live}}

{{Main|John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant}}

File:John Oliver Memorial Sign.jpg]]

In August 2020, the mayor of Danbury, Connecticut, Mark Boughton, announced in a Facebook video his intention to rename the Danbury Water Pollution Control Plant as the "John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant" as a comedic symbol of his displeasure at Oliver's hyperbolic insult to the city during a segment concerning alleged racial disparities in a jury selection process.{{Cite web |last=Bowker |first=Brittany |date=31 August 2020 |title=John Oliver Offers to Donate $55,000 if Danbury Actually Names Sewer Plant after Him |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/31/arts/this-connecticut-city-got-another-shout-out-last-week-tonight-with-john-oliver/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924184709/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/31/arts/this-connecticut-city-got-another-shout-out-last-week-tonight-with-john-oliver/ |archive-date=24 September 2021 |access-date=21 February 2023 |website=Boston Globe |language=en-US}} After reporting that Connecticut jury rolls had excluded two entire towns, Oliver said, "If you're going to forget a town in Connecticut, why not forget Danbury?" Oliver then humorously offered to "thrash" the entire town, including its children.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f2iawp0y5Y |title=Juries |date=17 August 2020 |last=Last Week Tonight with John Oliver |type=Television broadcast |publisher=HBO |access-date=21 February 2023 |via=YouTube |archive-date=21 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221215910/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f2iawp0y5Y |url-status=live }}

As a response to Boughton's video, Oliver embraced the idea enthusiastically, promising to donate $55,000 to Danbury charities if the city renamed the sewage plant after him.{{Cite web |last=Kiefer |first=Halle |date=23 August 2020 |title=Danbury, Connecticut Names Sewage Plant After John Oliver |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/08/danbury-connecticut-names-sewage-plant-after-john-oliver.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828012829/https://www.vulture.com/2020/08/danbury-connecticut-names-sewage-plant-after-john-oliver.html |archive-date=28 August 2020 |access-date=29 August 2020 |website=Vulture}}{{Cite web |last1=Ramos |first1=Dino-Ray |date=23 August 2020 |title=Danbury Mayor Names Sewage Plant After John Oliver Following Last Week Tonight{{'}}s Story On Jury Selection In Connecticut |url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/danbury-mark-boughton-john-oliver-last-week-tonight-sewage-plant-1203021126/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824005925/https://deadline.com/2020/08/danbury-mark-boughton-john-oliver-last-week-tonight-sewage-plant-1203021126/ |archive-date=24 August 2020 |access-date=29 August 2020 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite news |date=31 August 2020 |title=John Oliver Says He'll Donate $55,000 if Connecticut City Names Sewage Plant After Him |work=The Guardian |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/aug/31/john-oliver-danbury-connecticut-sewage-plant |url-status=live |access-date=1 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901002045/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/aug/31/john-oliver-danbury-connecticut-sewage-plant |archive-date=1 September 2020}} After the city council voted 18–1 in favour of naming the plant after him, Oliver visited Danbury to attend the unveiling ceremony on 8 October 2020 in person, wearing a hazmat suit.{{Cite web |date=19 October 2020 |title=Danbury Renames Sewer Plant for Comedian John Oliver |url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/danbury-renames-sewer-plant-for-comedian-john-oliver/2347666/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021211944/https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/danbury-renames-sewer-plant-for-comedian-john-oliver/2347666/ |archive-date=21 October 2020 |access-date=20 October 2020 |website=NBC Connecticut |language=en-US}} Mayor Boughton had made Oliver's personal attendance a condition for the renaming, and Oliver complied, revealing footage of his trip on Last Week Tonight the following week.{{Cite web |date=7 September 2020 |title=City of Danbury Won't Waste John Oliver's Donation, on One Condition |url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/city-of-danbury-wont-waste-john-olivers-donation-on-1-condition/2329295/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023235258/https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/city-of-danbury-wont-waste-john-olivers-donation-on-1-condition/2329295/ |archive-date=23 October 2020 |access-date=20 October 2020 |website=NBC Connecticut |language=en-US}}

{{See also|List of awards and nominations received by John Oliver}}

Oliver won three Primetime Emmy Awards, one WGA Award, and one Grammy Award for his work at The Daily Show.{{cite web |title=John Oliver |url=http://www.emmys.com/bios/john-oliver |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317135550/http://www.emmys.com/bios/john-oliver |archive-date=17 March 2016 |access-date=26 February 2016 |website= |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences}}{{cite news |date=20 February 2010 |title=Winners Announced for 2010 Writers Guild Awards |publisher=Writers Guild of America |url=http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=3976 |url-status=dead |access-date=26 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421170738/http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=3976 |archive-date=21 April 2016}}{{Cite web |title=2010 Grammy Winners |url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/53rd-annual-grammy-awards |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701234906/https://www.grammy.com/awards/53rd-annual-grammy-awards |archive-date=1 July 2022 |access-date=7 May 2023 |website= |publisher=Grammy Awards}} For Last Week Tonight, he has received sixteen Emmy Awards, two Peabody Awards, eight PGA Awards, and six WGA Awards.{{cite web |date=2014 |title=Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) |url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/last-week-tonight-with-john-oliver |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121416/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/last-week-tonight-with-john-oliver |archive-date=19 January 2019 |accessdate=1 April 2020 |publisher=Peabody Awards}}{{cite web |last1=Hipes |first1=Patrick |date=26 February 2023 |title=PGA Awards: Everything Everywhere All At Once Takes Best Picture; The White Lotus, The Bear, The Dropout Top TV Heap – Complete Winners List |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/2023-pga-awards-winners-list-producers-guild-1235267002/ |access-date=26 February 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=26 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226082300/https://deadline.com/2023/02/2023-pga-awards-winners-list-producers-guild-1235267002/ |url-status=live }}WGA Awards:

• {{cite news |date=14 February 2015 |title=2015 Writers Guild Awards Winners Announced |publisher=Writers Guild of America |url=https://www.wga.org/news-events/news/press/2015/writers-guild-awards-winners-announced |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509012416/https://www.wga.org/news-events/news/press/2015/writers-guild-awards-winners-announced |archive-date=9 May 2023 |ref=none}}
• {{cite web |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |date=19 February 2017 |title=WGA Awards: Moonlight & Arrival Win Top Film Prizes; FX's Atlanta & The Americans Lead TV – Complete Winners List |url=https://deadline.com/2017/02/wga-awards-winners-list-live-blog-1201916660/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010626/http://deadline.com/2017/02/wga-awards-winners-list-live-blog-1201916660/ |archive-date=21 February 2017 |access-date=21 February 2017 |website=Deadline Hollywood |ref=none}}
• {{Cite web |date=11 February 2018|title=WGA Awards: The Complete Winners List |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/awards/2018-wga-award-winners-complete-list-1202694807/ |access-date=9 May 2023|website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=21 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221025116/https://variety.com/2018/film/awards/2018-wga-award-winners-complete-list-1202694807/ |url-status=live |ref=none}}
• {{cite news |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |date=17 February 2019 |title=WGA Awards 2019: Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Eighth Grade Win Screenplay Awards |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/wga-awards-2019-winners-1203141993/ |url-status=live |access-date=19 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218201923/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/wga-awards-2019-winners-1203141993/ |archive-date=18 February 2019 |ref=none}}
• {{Cite web |date=1 February 2020|title=2020 Writers Guild Awards Winners Announced |url=https://www.wga.org/news-events/news/press/2020-writers-guild-awards-winners-announced |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202083004/https://www.wga.org/news-events/news/press/2020-writers-guild-awards-winners-announced |archive-date=2 February 2020 |access-date=9 May 2023|website= |publisher=Writers Guild of America |language=en |ref=none}}
• {{Cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Hilary |last2=Chuba |first2=Kirsten |date=5 March 2023|title=WGA Awards: Everything Everywhere Wins for Original Screenplay, Women Talking Takes Adapted |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/writers-guild-awards-2023-winners-list-1235340028/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319180046/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/writers-guild-awards-2023-winners-list-1235340028/ |archive-date=19 March 2023|access-date=7 May 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |ref=none}} Oliver has also received nominations for his writing on the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear and for hosting Last Week Tonight.{{cite web |date=11 May 2011 |title=The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Announces the 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award nominations |url=http://emmyonline.com/day_38th_nominations |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816193911/http://emmyonline.com/day_38th_nominations |archive-date=16 August 2017 |access-date=16 August 2017 |website= |publisher=National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences}}{{cite news |date=20 January 2015 |title=Gay & Lesbian Entertainment Critics Name Boyhood Film of the Year; Transparent is Tops in TV With 5 Awards |work=Out |url=http://www.out.com/entertainment/popnography/2015/01/19/gay-lesbian-entertainment-critics-transparent-tv-boyhood-film-year |url-status=live |access-date=26 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122102303/http://www.out.com/entertainment/popnography/2015/01/19/gay-lesbian-entertainment-critics-transparent-tv-boyhood-film-year |archive-date=22 January 2016}}{{cite web |last=Bell |first=Crystal |date=6 April 2017 |title=Here Are Your 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards Nominations: See The Full List |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3000426/2017-mtv-movie-tv-awards-nominations/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501222917/http://www.mtv.com/news/3000426/2017-mtv-movie-tv-awards-nominations/ |archive-date=1 May 2017 |access-date=6 April 2017 |publisher=MTV}} In 2021, Oliver received the Great Immigrants Award from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=John Oliver |url=https://www.carnegie.org/awards/honoree/john-oliver/ |access-date=June 11, 2024 |website=Carnegie Corporation of New York}}

• {{Cite book |title=Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race |title-link=Earth (The Book) |publisher=Grand Central Publishing |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-446-57922-3 |location=New York |ref=none}}

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Category:1977 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century English male actors

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