Entertainment NOW

TV Media Weekly | February 17 - 23, 2018 By Kyla Brewer TV Media A s 24-hour news channels, websites and apps rise in popularity, the public is becoming more invested in national and international news. Indeed, broadcast journalists have become celebrities in their own right, for better or for worse. How- ever, one of TV's most popular late- night hosts offers a comedic yet critical twist on the news of the week. John Oliver ("The Daily Show") returns with a satirical look at the headlines and more in the season premiere of "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver," airing Sunday, Feb. 18, on HBO. The late-night pro- gram features a mix of commen- tary, comedic sketches and inter- views as the intrepid host turns a critical eye to politics, corporations and even the media. The opener kicks off the fifth season of the program, which pre- miered in April 2014. Last fall, HBO announced the show had been re- newed for three more 30-episode seasons, so fans of the British co- median can expect to see him on the cable channel until at least 2020. When the deal was an- nounced by HBO executive Casey Bloys, the host responded in typical Oliver fashion: with tongue plant- ed firmly in cheek. "We're very grateful to Richard Plepler, Casey and everyone at HBO for letting us continue to do whatever it is we actually do," Oli- ver said. "We'd also like to thank our staff for all their hard work. We're incredibly proud of all of you, and rather than tell you that to your face, we'd like to do it in the cold, dispassionate form of a press release." For his part, Bloys had nothing but praise for the performer, say- ing: "His extraordinary genius for rich and intelligent commentary is second to none." Oliver has worked his way up through the entertainment indus- try since starting out as a standup comedian in the United Kingdom. Before "Last Week Tonight," he was best known to North Ameri- can audiences for his work on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" as the program's senior British correspondent, and he later filled in as interim host when Jon Stewart ("Rosewater," 2014) went on hiatus. His work on "The Daily Show" was well received by critics and au- diences alike, and the gig eventual- ly led to his show on HBO. Thanks, in part, to his no-holds-barred ap- proach to lambasting politicians, corporations and more, Oliver has gained millions of loyal fans who tune in for his refreshing perspec- tives on current events, as well as quirky comedy sketches by him and other performers. Viewership for the show is on the upswing, with about 1.2 million live viewers for last season's finale, which aired Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Millions also tune in on the show's YouTube channel. Oliver was even named one of Time magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People in 2015. In its short life, "Last Week To- night With John Oliver" has had a marked influence on politics and business, even as far back as its first season. A 2014 segment on net neutrality is widely credited with prompting more than 45,000 comments on the Federal Commu- nications Commission's (FCC) elec- tronic filing page, and another 300,000 comments in an email in- box dedicated to a proposal that would allow "priority lanes" for certain internet traffic. Shortly after another piece about underfunded public defenders in New Orleans aired, thousands of dollars were donated by the show's fans. Oliver and pal Mike Meyers ("Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me," 1999) famously urged Cana- dians to vote against then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the 2015 federal election. In one of the show's most headline-grabbing episodes, the host interviewed ac- cused whistleblower Edward Snowden. Purportedly armed with "full creative freedom" from HBO, Oli- ver has also taken on big tobacco companies, televangelists, debt buyers, coal mining and, of course, President Donald Trump. In fact, Trump has been a frequent topic for the comedian, who has been unabashedly critical of the current administration. While such opin- ions likely put Trump's supporter's off, Oliver has nonetheless estab- lished himself as one of the heavy hitters of the modern late-night landscape. For all of his efforts, Oliver and his team have been handsomely rewarded, both in ratings and in accolades. In fact, to say the show is acclaimed may be an under- statement. In its short, four-season existence, it has earned nomina- tions for no fewer than 44 major awards, from Emmys and Critics' Choice Awards to GLAAD Media Awards and Writers' Guild of America Awards. For its inaugural season, the show even won a pres- tigious Peabody, which recognizes enlightening and invigorating work. Other notable wins include back-to-back Emmys for Out- standing Writing in a Variety Se- ries in 2016 and 2017, a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Talk Show in 2016, and a Dorian Award for TV Current Affairs Show of the Year in 2016. "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" was also recognized with a Television Critics Association Award for Achievement in News and Infor- mation in 2015, though Oliver has insisted that his show is comedy, not journalism. In spite of his in- tent, commentators from such mainstream media outlets as The New York Times, Time and The Huffington Post have described Oliver's work as journalism. No matter how you look at it, fans and critics can look forward to another season of insightful com- mentary and hilarious, off-the-wall comedy when Oliver and his crew return to the airwaves in "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver," Sunday, Feb. 18, on HBO. John Oliver in "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" Satire at its best: 'Last Week Tonight With John Oliver' returns to HBO 2 | Cover story A/Grindstone Charley's B/Norris Insurance 1 x 4" GVC Mortgage 5 x 2"

• Cover