For a college student, watching TV is usually a physical expression of accepting defeat. It is the result of not going to the gym, not being social, not doing homework, or not reading a book. There is rarely a noble pursuit in watching TV. This is why even people who study TV in college say they are film majors, because saying “I major in TV” is something only your drunk roommate would say the night after she failed a midterm while half asleep on the floor. However, while TV is not often respected as “high culture,” there are diamonds in the rough. One of these diamonds is "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," something I personally find to be informative, hilarious, and a great way to procrastinate on this essay. Here are the reasons you should be watching it too.
1. He’s not that funny, but that adds to his charm.
If Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert have one flaw, it’s that they’re goddamned perfect. They make hilarious jokes and deliver them with enough charm to arouse a Leprechaun, and while you laugh, in the back of your mind, you’re hurting with jealousy because why can’t you be them. John Oliver is not them. He’s an awkward British man who you know has probably once said “thanks for the groceries” to a bagger at Ralph’s. He’s not always devastatingly clever, but he delivers all his jokes and impersonations with such ferocity and passion that you can’t help but root for him. He’s like the Jennifer Lawrence of late night talk shows, if Jennifer Lawrence didn't just pretend to be awkward.
2. But he knows how to make a situation hilarious.
He may not be 100 percent smooth, but he knows how to make you laugh anyway. He often lets the ridiculousness of America’s institutions and its members speak for themselves, and it takes nothing more than him laughing in disbelief at a video of a man throwing a pile of papers in the air and punching them to get you laughing as well. I’ve had to pause the show multiple times to compose myself. His sections at the end are often hilarious as well.
3. It’s damn good journalism.
It’s technically a comedy show, and he’s done one too many raccoon impersonations for many people to take you seriously if you quote him as an end-all source of political knowledge, but the show at its core is investigative journalism. He researches issues thoroughly, spans across institutional problems while also narrowing in on personal anecdotes from individuals, is always clear about what his sources are (usually the actual laws and corporations he’s criticizing), provides counterexamples, tries to understand the opposing side, and comes up with reasonable solutions to the problem. If you lean far to the right, you probably won’t agree with him on a lot of issues, but you won’t get the impression that he has an agenda. He criticizes Democrats pretty often as well. All of his opinions are backed up by evidence or logic. So even if you disagree with him, the show will make you think about issues like infrastructure and Washington D.C. statehood like you never thought you would before.
4. He takes action.
In most cases, John will end the episode with something funny, like redoing a political ad to reflect the truth or something along those lines. But occasionally, he’ll do something that actually ends up having a significant effect on the situation. For example, at the end of an episode exposing how ridiculous it is that televangelists can get away with stealing money from people who need it without it being taxed, he created his own church called “Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption” to prove a point about how easy it is to make a church in order to scam people. It was a huge hit and demonstrated the problem beyond just talking about it.
5. He’s on HBO, so he can say whatever he wants about anyone.
Another great thing about John Oliver is that he has the freedom to do or say practically anything he wants, being as his show airs on the same network that provides you with "Game of Thrones," our generation’s classic “holy sh*t you can show that on TV?” program. He doesn’t have to tiptoe around insulting the corporations that fund his advertising, because he doesn’t have any. It gives the show an extra air of honesty, knowing he doesn’t have to worry about who he’s offending.
6. Somehow, it’s all completely free on YouTube.
The disadvantage of HBO is that you have to pay to watch your movies and shows, or illegally stream a grainy version of them that takes 45 minutes to load the first half. But "Last Week Tonight’s" episodes are on YouTube for free. It sounds too good to be true, and in some way, I know it probably is, but I’ve gotten away with being able to watch countless episodes without any advertisements or having to pay. Even if none of the above reasons applied and this was just a show following two twin brothers in Arkansas fighting over the last piece of bacon for 30 minutes, it’s still worth it, because it takes you away from your midterm for free. Go television!
