‘Last Week Tonight’ more than fake news

I can’t wait for Feb. 8.

That’s because its the day my favorite TV show finally returns to the air for its second season: John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight.”

Oliver’s show, which airs on HBO Sunday nights (with many clips available online), follows in the footsteps of the Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show” and Stephen Colbert’s “The Colbert Report.” But the show is more than just a copycat in the genre of humorous news and commentary programs in that Oliver’s show has a bit of a different feel.

While “The Daily Show” and the now off-air “Colbert Report” are nightly programs that include celebrity interviews and discussions on big news, Oliver’s weekly program often takes on a feature-like feel and is more than just a “Daily Show” recap. Oliver does a fantastic job highlighting issues that often get overlooked — like the Indian elections and how America is failing to watch and care for its roughly 4,800 nuclear bombs. He looked into shady laws behind police civil forfeitures, and he called into question Miss America’s claims over how much scholarship the organization gives out each year.

He touches on several important issues. On one episode, Oliver — whose wife is a veteran — looks into the red tape keeping translators in Iraq and Afghanistan from coming to the U.S. after helping American troops — even though those troops are calling for our government to help the translators.

Oliver has a full half-hour for his program and will use that for segments that last 13 to 15 minutes.

And Oliver takes the medium a step further, often calling people to action. He called on people to comment on the net neutrality issue and a few days later the site crashed. Since the U.S. Supreme Court won’t allow cameras in the courtroom, he filmed an all-dog Supreme court and called on people to use the footage to mash it up with scenes from the court’s audio recordings.

Yes, it’s entertainment, is at times a bit liberal-leaning and suffers from the limitations of other comedy/commentary show; however, Oliver makes you think and lets you have a bit of fun in the process.

 

SportsPlus

Mower County

100 years of serving: VFW Post 1216 to hold century celebration next weekend

Mower County

Assessment to gauge future approaches to health

Mower County

Statewide pheasant numbers similar to 2023

Mower County

Political campaign, advertisement signs not permitted on public highway rights of way

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Convictions: Aug. 19-Sept. 2

Business

Tidal Wave Auto Spa partners with Autism Friendly Austin for annual Charity Day event

Agriculture

3rd graders to experience local farming at annual Day on the Farm event

Albert Lea

FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Albert Lea to close next week

Mower County

Ikes hog roast fundraiser Wednesday

Mower County

Cedar Arts Fest features 17 artists, authors

Mower County

In Your Community: Mower County

Mower County

In Your Community: Duplicate Bridge

Mower County

In Your Community: St. Marks hosting variety show

News

Bringing back ‘bio supermarkets’: Program helps landowners restore vanished wetlands

News

Let the hues begin: Fall foliage colors coming to Minnesota in 3, 2, 1 …

News

Human remains believed to be hundreds of years old found on shores of Minnesota lake

News

A rare 1787 copy of the US Constitution is up for auction and it could be worth millions

News

Trump suggests tariffs can help solve rising child care costs in a major economic speech

News

Teen charged in Georgia school shooting and his father to stay in custody after hearings

News

Sluggish US jobs report clears the way for Federal Reserve to cut interest rates

News

Abortion rights questions are on ballots in 9 states. Will they tilt elections?

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Man gets prison time for weapons, drugs charges

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Austin man sentenced to five years for role in Albert Lea armed robbery

Business

Austin Utilities earns award for operational excellence