Author: R J Adams

If there’s one thing truly pleasing about John Oliver’s show, “Last Week Tonight”, it’s his gentle way of easing Americans down to size (and I don’t mean by warning them off Big Macs).

Oliver admits to loving America, and why shouldn’t he?

Just because this writer finds much of it overbearing, arrogant, self-obsessive, given to violence, awash with ghastly smelly stuff that labors under the name of ‘food’, full of bugs – and much bigger things that can eat you – and clumps of semi-derelict buildings colloquially known as ‘towns’, there’s really no reason why every Englishman who comes here should feel the same way.

Tonight he beguiled us with a lesson in remembering that there are other countries out there besides the US, also with presidents. His subject for this show was French president, Francois Hollande:

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Anyone like to hazard a guess how many Americans have never heard of him?

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Tell the FCC to reclassify broadband internet as a “common carrier telecommunications service” by using this link: FCC Electronic Comment Filing System.

Nuf said?

It used to be Jon Stewart’s Daily Show, until the penis jokes and lurid references to bowel movements drove us away.

Does he think his audience is comprised of twelve year olds?

We tried Stephen Colbert, but all we got was a headache.

In desperation, HBO was purchased. Bill Maher used to be good for a laugh. He isn’t any more. His guests are mediocre; his jokes are frequently in poor taste; he’s now become a member of the elite he loves to criticize.

^{Bill Maher, Cara Santa Maria, Kirk Douglas, Anne Buydens at 2010 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter, (Carter was voted 5th on AskMen’s “Top 49 Most Influential Men of 2010” list).}

There is, however, one great comedian left in this country. Mind, he’s only here because he emigrated from Britain. It’s a brand new show on HBO. Sadly, only half an hour, for now.

He cut his teeth with Jon Stewart. He made a better job of hosting the ‘Daily Show’ last summer, while Stewart was away, than the regular host ever had.

His name is John Oliver.^[1]

He’s on HBO Sunday night. The show is “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”. The first one was great. If he stays away from penis jokes, bowel movements – and isn’t so loud he gives us a headache, I think we’ll be happy with him.

^{[1] “John Oliver on ‘Last Week Tonight,’ Turning Down CBS, and ‘Nauseating’ American Politics” Daily Beast, May 1st 2014}