The latest issue of New York Magazine has a cover story with our collective dream boyfriend, John Oliver. Oliver’s wildly popular HBO show, Last Week Tonight, has just returned from its winter/holiday hiatus, and Oliver is happily promoting the latest season. That’s one thing I love about John Oliver – he’s actually friends or friendly with many of the New York journalists and late-night comedy hosts, so it never feels like he’s doing everyone a favor by doing press. It just feels like he’s a witty bon vivant just stopping by to say some charming and hilarious words about whatever you want to discuss.
This New York Mag piece is half-serious, like they’re really trying to profile Oliver as a “real journalist,” but he deflects in much the same way Jon Stewart always deflected – Oliver insists they’re just doing comedy and not journalism, and he’s actually kind of pissed off that LWT is used as a “news source.” Oliver spends a lot of time saying nice things about Jon Stewart and how much he (Oliver) learned from working with Stewart. But my favorite parts were when Oliver talked about being an American now, and having an immigrant’s crush on America and all of that. You can read the full piece here. Some highlights:
On naming his son “Hudson” because he can see Hudson River from his office: “It was either Hudson or Window. It didn’t occur to me until recently actually that my son is going to have an American accent. Because I guess in my head that’s never how I’ve heard my child speak, and I think it’ll be odd that I’m going to sound different from him. And he’ll hear me have to change my voice for automated machines. You probably don’t have to do that. On the automated phone lines, all the time — “No. 4.” “I’m sorry, I didn’t understand that.” “No. 4.” “I don’t understand that,” and I have to say “No. 4” like a kind of a sedated John Wayne. And it feels like such a defeat. There’s almost a smugness in there: “Ohhh, No. 4.”…It is a really, really powerful way to break someone down. But Hudson’s going to be just able to say “No. 4” and be understood. He’ll belong here, whereas one of the things that I like the most is that I don’t really fit in, and there’s a kind of comfort in that. If you’ve never felt like you fit in really anywhere in your life, as you grow up, it’s almost reassuring to go somewhere you definitely don’t fit in. Like America.”
Whether he’s interested in British politics: “Oof. I’m happy to have disengaged from that. If you’ve lived with three decades of the white noise of a specific kind of bigotry, then a new noise is preferable. America still has that new-car smell for me.”
Political satire in Britain versus America: “Well, America’s has generally been better. There is no one in England that is or has been as good as Jon Stewart.”
He’s fallen in love with America: “I still have the immigrant’s crush. America is fundamentally the best idea for a country. Not to get all Statue of Liberty about it, and this is hard as a British person to say, but the principles by which the British were kicked out of this country are the best principles. And however flawed that initial Constitution was — and the fact it needed to have amendments out the wazoo to make any kind of coherent sense — freedom of speech is still the best idea. I can call people chicken f–kers on television. I don’t take that for granted.”
Whether he felt that way about America before he came here: “When you’re not from here, America has an iconic, mysterious allure, and you want to know what it’s like; whether the confidence the country projects is misplaced or not. Then you get here and you realize it is slightly misplaced but that it’s also a more complicated country than anyone gives it credit for. America is viewed overseas as this coherent mass of people who are proud to be American and thus agree with each other on everything, and of course nothing could be further from the truth. This is as fractured a country as you’re likely to find, but that’s what’s great about it.”
My favorite part is where he’s talking about the plurality of Americans, that we don’t all agree on everything and that we’re really not a “coherent mass of people.” He’s the best! And I wish he was more interested in British politics, so then he could explain the British political system on Last Week Tonight.
Here’s the latest “big segment” Oliver did on voting rights/voter fraud. It’s long but worth it!
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Love him.
Ditto.
So very much.
-TheRealPinky
Hear, hear!
“America is viewed overseas as this coherent mass of people who are proud to be American and thus agree with each other on everything, and of course nothing could be further from the truth. This is as fractured a country as you’re likely to find, but that’s what’s great about it”
How much time have I wasted around here trying to properly articulate this?
Man, he is the BEST.
That is true for pretty much every single country in the world.
I think when people comment on America they don’t mean American people in general, but American politicians and American foreign policy.
It’s not though, Locke. It’s just not.
Just on the most basic level there is no European country even close to as large as the US is. Russia is close in size, but you have to include the part that is in Asia. Every other country in the EU union is tiny by comparison.
The differences in climate, political persuasion (varies by region) and the vast amount of micro-cultures–none of that exists in one singular European country. I don’t understand why so many non-Americans have this urge to compare their country when there is no European equivalent for the US. I’m reminded of the last thread on this topic where someone said that the US is just ghost towns and abandoned houses. LOL.
Man, these arguments are so exhausting.
I don’t know if it’s comparable. But you do have countries like Spain, Belgium, Cyprus or the clusterfuck that is Bosna and Herzegovina whose differences are more extreme than in the US, or at least I think they are.
I really don’t think climate is an important factor, I mean, my country has 3 different climates and we are tiny.
But then again, my only knowledge of the US is from the media, I’ve never been there, so I’m probably wrong. It’s just that we as people always have the urge to compare the unknown to the things we know.
Well, how about China? Or India? Or Zimbabwe? Nigeria? I find it quite odd that when someone even dares to imply that US might not be the most diverse (and amazing) place in the world, the main argument is “well, Europe…”. For now, let’s disregard the fact that for some unknown reason a country is being compared to a continent.
There is an entire world beyond western borders! And a lot of countries have plenty of diversity. For example, India speaks a multitude of languages and has quite a few significant cultures. Most African countries were formed from various tribes with their own different cultures (and on top of that they all were shifted in various ways based on colonial cultures). And the list goes on…
Yeah, I’ll second Kitten. People do tend to homogenize Americans and I think Hollywood is a big part of that. Hollywood sends out this narrow range of images of Americans that go on to impact pop culture around the world. People in other countries that are relatively homogenous really do not understand the variety of culture/religion/race/ethnicity absorbed into a country cobbled together by immigrants from very far away.
And I almost think Europeans tend to be more likely to do so because you’re all relatively familiar with American culture–after all, it derives from yours–but you really do lack the reference points for comparison. For example, your religious persuasions are limited: you retained the traditional denominations that Americans largely left behind. The US has a vast array of decentralized non-denominational versions that have spawned a million wonky offshoots. You might have equally strong schisms in Europe, but you lack our plurality. While you were engaged in wars, the United States was absorbing immigrant populations and industrializing. For centuries, your states endorsed a single religion; the United States, by virtue of the plurality of religions within the 13 colonies, could not.
I don’t think that’s something to be offended by…it’s just a fact. Do we ask you to acknowledge the variety of the original 13 colonies? Or recognize the difference between the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest? All real differences but come on.
Me too! So glad the show is back on, my dvr has missed him.
Please can we have more John Oliver coverage? If only a fan-club breakdown of the latest LWT episode each week!
All my friends look at me strangely when I mention my John Oliver crush, I need to vent with my like-minded CBers!
I’m here to talk LWT with you!
YES!
I’m not hugely familiar with US politics, but I’m really getting interested in this election cycle (even if it was initially triggered by BernieLove and the circus of Republican craziness) and his deconstruction of the photographic ID rule was fantastic.
It’s loading the dice against minority groups in such a sneaky, poisonous way.
Also, new show obsession – Samantha Bee’s Full Frontal.
This election cycle is a little depressing for me because of the lack Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert election coverage. Thankfully, I at least get a weekly dose of Oliver! I haven’t seen Samantha Bee’s new show, but I’ve heard it’s hilarious and I want to make sure I support her work.
The photo ID laws are ridiculous. It’s a solution to a problem that has never existed. I live in Virginia, which is one of the states that require ID to vote. I work with low income individuals/families, and I’ve seen how ridiculous and long the process is to get a government issued ID. The conservatives would like to limit our democracy by putting up barriers for people to vote and it’s sickening.
It’s the dimples, isn’t it? I find them irresistible.
Yes! dimples are my kryptonite.
I love him. Thank you, Mr.Oliver.
I will forever love John Oliver. I wish his show was more than once a week.
“with our collective dream boyfriend, John Oliver”
ouch, the sarcasm is biting but the mocking is spot on. he is no looker and that is the nice way to say it.
I don’t think that was mocking at all. He is amazing and it’s unfortunate you can’t see past your ungenerous assessment of his outward appearance.
+1
+2
I also think his outward appearance is quite cute.
I think he’s super-cute and crush-worthy but to each her own
What sarcasm?????
You missed the point.
-TheRealPinky
I don’t think it’s sarcasm at all. Not a single episode goes by that I don’t think at least twice that I’d marry this guy in a second. I feel the same way about Stephen Colbert, and I’m developing a girl crush on Samantha Bee too. Clever=hot.
When America was first getting together it was called “The great experiment. ” The idea of it and the intention of it is pretty amazing. Somewhere down the line it got messed up. I love America and my state, it could be worse. It’s absolutely not perfect, and it’s a work in progress.
My family escaped communism and came to this country when I was 2 and I have been thankful ever since. The freedoms available to us are nothing short of amazing especially during turbulent times. I will say, however, that I believe our democracy is threatened by how fractured we have become as a populace – no one bothers to listen, collaborate or compromise. All of these things are essential in a free society …. you will never have the majority of people agree on anything and somewhere along the road you have to compromise to get things done. We are no longer capable of doing that and it’s not the government – it’s the people who are broken.
I agree. The idea of America and what we stand for is honorable. We by in large believe in justice,freedom and the right to liberty. It’s human error that makes it difficult. There has been mistreatment of human rights in our history and other shameful behavior. However,I think the American people are good people and am thankful for the rights I have.
Great guy. And his is simply FANTASTIC in Last Week Tonight. He slowly becoming the British version of Jon Stewart in American television.
He come from a long tradition of lampooning politicians, politics and the status quo since the free press was accidentally invented.
And he is wrong. One can say ‘chicken F****** on British TV, but only after the watershed.
We’ve had prime time TV shows were the PM did unspeakable things to a pig – which BTW eerily turned out to be very close to the truth. Try doing that to a sitting POTUS or ex-POTUS!!!
His brand of comedy is very close to Ben Elton and spitting image. Most people’s recollections of 80s/90s politics is due to spitting image – a satirical political comedy show made with puppets!!
I love Last Week Tonight but I have to say, I’m a bit tired of John Oliver’s forever boner for the US. He has so much disdain for his native country (the UK) which I find odd.
You can love your new country without shitting on the old one.
It sounds a bit like the kind of thing you hear some Americans say: “USA is the greatest country in the world”, “there’s so much optimism” blablabla.
No wonder Americans love him if he says that sort of things.
Personally and while there are great things about America I would hate to live in the US with the racial tensions, the guns everywhere, etc.
I’m happy to be European.
“I would hate to live in the US with the racial tensions, the guns everywhere”
Having spent half my life in various parts of Europe, and various parts of the U.S., I can assure you this is a vastly misguided sentiment.
Not that you should suddenly want to jump ship and move to the U.S., but racial tension is deeply entrenched in Europe (though we mostly seem to be in denial abut it) and while gun control is a serious issue in the U.S., it’s not nearly as common a theme as you’d expect.
Meda portrayal is deeply flawed.
Thank you! I’ve pointed that out several times. I’m from the American South, and I’ve been shocked by the in-your-face racism of some Europeans (not all of course), especially directed at the Romani or “gypsies”, and even other Europeans from neighboring countries LOL! And don’t get me started on countries outside of Europe. Incidentally, growing up in the South, I honestly never heard anyone in my sphere of influence using derogatory terms or speaking badly of other races. I was blissfully unaware of any racism or racial tension. I’m not saying it didn’t exist, it’s just that I never observed it, to my recollection. But I think nowadays it’s a different story, unfortunately.
Have you ever actually watched the show through? He’s not anti-UK. He’s really anti-David Cameron (but that’s a political position). He’s also totally up-front about stuff England has done wrong (it’s negative treatment of Scotland, colonialism in India, etc.) But all that stuff is true. You really can’t tell the difference between talking about true, historical stuff and bashing something?
And truthfully, I think it’s a little willfully blind to talk about racial tensions as a US thing. Europe isn’t looking too hot right now with the far-right wingers threatening refugees and whatnot.
Mm, no, I totally get it. I think you probably won’t if you haven’t truly relocated to different countries. The weird thing for me is after I left the US, I had both a bigger appreciation for certain things about it but also a stronger hatred for other things. Overall I don’t want to live there again and I talk plenty of trash about it, but I am genuinely grateful they issued me a passport and let me call that place home for a good 14 years. There is just unmatched opportunity there and I’ve never really lived anywhere else with such a strong rule of law. I totally agree with Oliver that Americans did do it right and the United States is truly a product of the Enlightenment, however flawed.
I think that happens with a lot of people who move to a different country and like it there. Ther’s a guy in my country who writes a fairly popular blog who movd here from the US and he loves it here. When you read his blog he makes it sound like things were really bad in America. He says that having free healthcare and education and very low street crime is better even if unemployment is very high. It’s especially weird to hear because we’re, as a nation, incredibly pessimistic and generaly think that we have it the worst.
Having said that, if a comedian from my country moved to the US or somewhere else and shat all over us on TV, I would mind. I know it’s irrational, I know it’s comedy, but I would mind.
Yeah, expat communities aren’t a great barometer because they all left for a reason. Everywhere I’ve lived has a mix of positives and negatives and choosing where to live is just a cost-benefit calculus for what you’re looking for at that particular point in time.
Actually, in one country I lived in, it was a thing to recruit American expats and ghostwrite books for them about how horrible the US was. That was irritating not so much for patriotic reasons…just have no patience for stupidity and that drivel offered nothing to the world.
Greenieweenie, can I ask you in a polite whisper, was the country you mention China? It’s just that I heard a similar story from a fellow who worked in Shanghai for a while.
Greenieweenie, I’d like to add a guess or two to the mix: While Lambda’s guess is a good one, I’d like to submit Russia, or even France to the guesses. I remember about a decade or so ago when, at any given time, several of the books on the bestseller list in France were of the “Here’s What’s Wrong With America” variety! Gawd! The world loves to dissect America’s problems.
@Lambda, yes totally! It was actually so funny reading some Chinese ghostwriter’s views of the US that were more appropriate for 70s-era isolation. But after a while, it was just an exercise in fiction and stupidity. And since it was written in English, it wasn’t even intended for a domestic audience. Just a waste of time all around–some press pandering to the government.
Myrto, You haven’t been to the U.S. right?
I totally get what he’s saying because my family has so many immigrants in it. My in laws are all immigrants. My brother in law is an immigrant. And they really are among the most patriotic people I know. We forget so much that there are still millions of people willing to risk their lives to get here because it’s better than what they have now. That’s why I’ve never understood genuine anti-immigrant animus (I’m not talking about debating over the finer points of it, but the overall anti-immigrant animus). Immigration is a sign that your country is viable and fruitful and desirable to people. That’s a positive. And plenty of people still see the US as the best option for them. Shouldn’t that be a point of pride for the nation?
yes
Good points!
I’ll never, ever forget being in a “Waffle House” (it’s a diner we have in the South) about a week after 9-11, and the table of Brazilians directly in front of me put money in the jukebox and played “God Bless the USA” and proceeded to sing passionately along to it. I had to choke back tears.
Prior to watching the voting segment I had no idea that you can vote in the US without an ID. Or that people don’t have a national ID card in the US.
Isn’t just being registered and a signature a bit to loose of a proof it’s really you who is voting without a picture ID?
Here it’s illegal not to have an ID card after the age of 16 and you can’t vote without it. It’s also used instead of a passport for most european countries.
We must identify ourselves when we register but not when we vote. The people at my polling place recognize me. Voter fraud in this country is extremely rare, despite the right-wing claims otherwise.
Well, the people in my polling place regognize me too and I still have to show my ID. You are also automatically registered to vote in the place you live, you have to separately register only if you want to vote in a different place.
We did have a few cases of dead people voting. And of course they vote for the right wingers.
It does happen, though. The consensus in Atlanta is that the 2009 mayoral election was swung by “ghost voters” (the person who came in a distant second in the first election defied all the polls and won the runoff by 700 votes – in a city of 450,000 people). This was done to allow the candidate favored by the city’s establishment to win, because he would be much better for business than the reform candidate who came in first. And boy oh boy, has their investment paid off! Mayor Reed cannot give the breaks to real estate developers fast enough. A billionaire is getting a new stadium for his team, financed by the city of Atlanta of course, among many many other projects. Grrr.
The issue of national ID cards in the US is actually a deeply cultural and philosophical issue. For countries that have already “succumbed” to the national ID requirement, it seems silly that anyone would object. But to others, national ID cards are just a restriction on freedom and a way for a government to control a person and their free movement, track them through their life etc. It harkens back to the time in some European countries where you had to produce your “papers” to the authorities. I myself don’t have strong feelings against the idea of national ID cards, but that’s because we have reached a point where in all practical terms due to modern technology we have no privacy and can’t move about freely without being tracked. So national ID cards in my mind don’t necessarily add much more to it. There is no true “off the grid” anymore. But I understand the sentiment behind the aversion to being “registered” with the government.
May we take a moment for the Supreme Court bulldog on LWT who is now out of a job?
Oliver has covered elections in India, New Zealand, and several South American countries so he probably would still cover Britain.
That voter fraud piece is everything. My 87 year old aunt spent her recent birthday in a nursing rehab for a back injury, at which time, her driver’s license expired. She won’t have a valid ID until I take a day off from work to take her to the registry for a new one ( she doesn’t actually still drive) but she will vote on Super Tuesday. All those rules would prevent her from doing so.
He’s absolutely right.
Anyone who wants more John Oliver should listen to his podcast with Andy Zaltzman, The Bugle. It’s on a bit of a hiatus, but the archives are gold. Gold!
Coming back on may 11th thank god!!!
Thank you for that tidbit of information. I’ll check it out ASAP!
I adore him! That’s all.
I was in the middle of watching that segment. And it pissed me off because I have been denied the right to vote despite having my drivers license and my passport. I was denied because the address wasn’t in the district I was trying to vote in, because apparently people don’t move. Screw America. And I type that while I live comfortable in France. Like a peasant but comfortable.
Wow, this is a petulant and silly complaint. But why should you be allowed to vote in an area you don’t live? Where people vote is actually critical you know, and not just for the local elections on the ballot. Your vote for national elections has significant impact depending on where you live since the US is an indirect democracy, i.e. we have an electoral college.
It’s your responsibility as a citizen who wants to vote to update your voter registration. I’m sure you managed to change your electricity bill fine so you shouldn’t have a problem changing your voter registration.
To each his own as far as loving the country one emigrated to.
Personally I love Britain, India and 3 East African countries (Uganda and Kenya and Rwanda). Would (and have) happily live in those countries.
” America is viewed overseas as this coherent mass of people who are proud to be American and thus agree with each other on everything, and of course nothing could be further from the truth.”
That’s because everyone outside of America is a coherent mass of people who all agree that America is a coherent mass of people who are proud to be American and thus agree with each other on everything.
“This is as fractured a country as you’re likely to find,”
The Syrians say hi.
This is my favourite comment of the day.
So, it is your prejudice that makes us prejudiced?
He hasn’t yet realized that America is actually a corporatocracy and has been for a long while. He’s fallen for the PR that it isn’t.
So very much this.
As desperately as I want to emigrate to the UK, I agree with him that the US is great in theory!
Love him so much. I would consider taking him for a second husband in a heartbeat. Smart and funny and and and English accent. Unbeatable.