10 Times John Oliver Changed the World
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VOICE OVER: Peter DeGiglio
WRITTEN BY: Don Ekama
John Oliver has become more than just a comedian - he's a catalyst for change. From saving the last Blockbuster to naming sewage plants and fighting for net neutrality, we'll explore how his comedic investigations have made real-world impacts across various social and political landscapes. Our countdown highlights moments where Oliver's sharp wit and investigative comedy sparked meaningful conversations, raised millions for charities, and even influenced policy changes in unexpected ways! What's your favorite John Oliver moment? Share in the comments!
10 Times John Oliver Changed the World (The John Oliver Effect)
Welcome to WatchMojo, and for our main story today, we’ll be looking at the most significant real-world ripples made by the sharp and comedic investigations of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”
Keeping the Last Blockbuster Open
Since Blockbuster declared bankruptcy in 2010, its many stores have steadily disappeared. By April 2018, only three remained in the U.S., two in Alaska and one in Bend, Oregon. To save the one in Anchorage, Alaska from closing, John Oliver launched an unusual effort to draw customers. His show spent $7,000 to purchase underwear Russell Crowe wore in “Cinderella Man” and donated it to the store, aiming to double it as a museum for the actor. This strategy worked… for a while. The Anchorage Blockbuster remained open, until July 2018, when it also closed its doors. The famous underwear was then sent to the last remaining Blockbuster in Bend, Oregon, where it continues to attract enough visitors to keep the lights on.
Having a Sewage Plant Named After Him
John Oliver is famous for his humorous tangents. In August 2020, while discussing the flaws in Connecticut’s jury selection system that excluded residents from minority neighborhoods, Oliver suddenly directed his vitriol at the town of Danbury. In response, Danbury’s mayor, Mark Boughton, joked about renaming their sewage plant after Oliver, as both were “full of crap.” But nothing is ever just a joke with John Oliver. He took Boughton up on it, offering to donate $55,000 to local Connecticut charities if the plant was officially renamed. The town followed through, and in October, Oliver attended the opening ceremony of the John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant. This stunt also inspired local organizations to raise nearly $100,000 for Danbury’s United Way food pantry.
Raising Money for the United States Postal Service
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted countless industries, and the United States Postal Service was chief among them. In May 2020, John Oliver highlighted all the issues the USPS was facing, many of which existed long before the pandemic, and aimed to secure critical funding for the agency. Partnering with Stamps.com, Oliver launched a line of “Last Week Tonight”-branded stamps, featuring fan-favorite mascots from the show. Viewers could purchase a sheet of stamps for $14, with $11 going directly to the USPS. By July, the initiative had raked in over $4 million for the USPS, along with an additional donation of $450,000 for a fund supporting postal workers affected by natural disasters.
Boosting Donations to the Society of Women Engineers
John Oliver proves that taking down a controversial organization can also be the perfect opportunity to elevate a more well-meaning, albeit lesser-recognized one. In the first season of his show, Oliver took on the Miss America beauty pageant, challenging their claim of being the “world’s largest provider in scholarships for women.” He then spotlighted three lesser-known organizations offering female-only scholarships, including the Society of Women Engineers. Oliver encouraged viewers to donate to these groups instead, emphasizing the greater impact they posed. This little shoutout had a large ripple effect. In just two days after the episode aired, the Society of Women Engineers received $25,000 in donations, about 15% of its expected annual total.
Winning Free Speech Protections for Contract Chicken Farmers
“Last Week Tonight” segments are known for leaving you both informed and a little uncomfortable. One such segment from May 2015 left people concerned about the conditions under which meat is sourced. It revolved around poultry farming, shedding light on how contract chicken farmers allegedly face retaliation from large poultry processors when they speak out about unfair treatment. This issue had been raised repeatedly in Congress, with hopes of passing reforms to protect farmers, but the poultry industry always managed to lobby lawmakers in their favor. However, after the “Last Week Tonight” episode aired, it generated enough attention that ultimately led to the passage of an Agriculture spending bill in Congress, which included free speech protections for the farmers.
Judge Cites John Oliver in Guam Tax Refund Suit
This season 2 episode focused on the U.S. Island territories, particularly how residents are denied full constitutional rights and the ability to vote in presidential elections. John Oliver traced the issue back to the so-called “Insular cases,” which led to the Supreme Court decision that denied the territories any meaningful representation. The segment resonated not only with regular viewers, but also with legal professionals. A few months later, Ninth Circuit Appeals Court Judge Marsha S. Berzon cited Oliver’s video in a class-action lawsuit filed by Guam residents against their government’s tax-refund program. In her ruling, Judge Berzon cited the ongoing criticism surrounding the “Insular cases” since the Supreme Court first considered them.
Funding Doctors Without Borders Through His Fake Church
In August 2015, “Last Week Tonight” tackled televangelists and their controversial practice of soliciting donations from viewers, often for personal gain. To highlight this absurdity, and the fact that these donations are tax-exempt, Oliver established his own parody church, Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption. Mirroring the tactics of the preachers, Oliver asked viewers to send in donations in return for blessings. In its brief, nearly month-long existence, the church reportedly received thousands of dollars and also a few unsavory items. The stunt was a demonstration of how “disturbingly easy” it is to create such a setup and coax people into handing over their cash. Unlike the televangelists, though, Oliver didn’t pocket the proceeds, he donated them to Doctors Without Borders.
Children’s Book Proceeds Donated to Pro-LGBTQ Charities
Donald Trump was a frequent target of “Last Week Tonight,” but in March 2018, John Oliver shifted his focus to his vice president, Mike Pence. Oliver called out Pence for his anti-LGBTQ views, including his support for conversion therapy. Around that time, Pence and his family planned to release a children’s book about their pet rabbit Marlon Bundo. Oliver and his team hopped in first, dropping their own book “A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo,” which portrayed Marlon as a gay rabbit, a clear jab at Pence’s views. It became an Amazon bestseller, moving over 180,000 copies in the first two days. To top it off, Oliver donated all proceeds to pro-LGBTQ charities like The Trevor Project and AIDS United.
John Oliver Rips Into FIFA
John Oliver made FIFA a recurring punching bag on his show, and for good reason. His attacks began in the first season, when he condemned FIFA’s poor handling of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He also criticized their plans to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar amid allegations of bribery and human rights violations. In 2015, Oliver doubled down after a massive corruption scandal led to the arrests of several FIFA officials. This time, he called for FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s resignation, and just days later, Blatter, facing increasing pressure, decided to step down. This episode led to a brief exchange between Oliver and Jack Warner, a former FIFA VP and Trinidadian politician, who was fighting extradition to face the corruption charges.
Crashing the FCC Over Net Neutrality
One of the earliest “Last Week Tonight” segments to go viral was from 2014 when John Oliver took on the Federal Communications Commission over proposed rules that threatened net neutrality. Oliver accused the FCC and its then-chairman Tom Wheeler of enabling internet service providers to create “fast lanes” for companies that could pay, leaving smaller businesses and regular users with slower speeds. During the segment, Oliver implored viewers to direct their rage at the FCC over the proposed changes. This led to an avalanche of comments that overwhelmed and crashed the agency’s servers. This unprecedented wave of public pressure ultimately influenced the FCC’s decision to adopt net neutrality regulations in February 2015.
What is your favorite corporate takedown by John Oliver? Explain it to us in the comments below. And now… this!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and for our main story today, we’ll be looking at the most significant real-world ripples made by the sharp and comedic investigations of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”
Keeping the Last Blockbuster Open
Since Blockbuster declared bankruptcy in 2010, its many stores have steadily disappeared. By April 2018, only three remained in the U.S., two in Alaska and one in Bend, Oregon. To save the one in Anchorage, Alaska from closing, John Oliver launched an unusual effort to draw customers. His show spent $7,000 to purchase underwear Russell Crowe wore in “Cinderella Man” and donated it to the store, aiming to double it as a museum for the actor. This strategy worked… for a while. The Anchorage Blockbuster remained open, until July 2018, when it also closed its doors. The famous underwear was then sent to the last remaining Blockbuster in Bend, Oregon, where it continues to attract enough visitors to keep the lights on.
Having a Sewage Plant Named After Him
John Oliver is famous for his humorous tangents. In August 2020, while discussing the flaws in Connecticut’s jury selection system that excluded residents from minority neighborhoods, Oliver suddenly directed his vitriol at the town of Danbury. In response, Danbury’s mayor, Mark Boughton, joked about renaming their sewage plant after Oliver, as both were “full of crap.” But nothing is ever just a joke with John Oliver. He took Boughton up on it, offering to donate $55,000 to local Connecticut charities if the plant was officially renamed. The town followed through, and in October, Oliver attended the opening ceremony of the John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant. This stunt also inspired local organizations to raise nearly $100,000 for Danbury’s United Way food pantry.
Raising Money for the United States Postal Service
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted countless industries, and the United States Postal Service was chief among them. In May 2020, John Oliver highlighted all the issues the USPS was facing, many of which existed long before the pandemic, and aimed to secure critical funding for the agency. Partnering with Stamps.com, Oliver launched a line of “Last Week Tonight”-branded stamps, featuring fan-favorite mascots from the show. Viewers could purchase a sheet of stamps for $14, with $11 going directly to the USPS. By July, the initiative had raked in over $4 million for the USPS, along with an additional donation of $450,000 for a fund supporting postal workers affected by natural disasters.
Boosting Donations to the Society of Women Engineers
John Oliver proves that taking down a controversial organization can also be the perfect opportunity to elevate a more well-meaning, albeit lesser-recognized one. In the first season of his show, Oliver took on the Miss America beauty pageant, challenging their claim of being the “world’s largest provider in scholarships for women.” He then spotlighted three lesser-known organizations offering female-only scholarships, including the Society of Women Engineers. Oliver encouraged viewers to donate to these groups instead, emphasizing the greater impact they posed. This little shoutout had a large ripple effect. In just two days after the episode aired, the Society of Women Engineers received $25,000 in donations, about 15% of its expected annual total.
Winning Free Speech Protections for Contract Chicken Farmers
“Last Week Tonight” segments are known for leaving you both informed and a little uncomfortable. One such segment from May 2015 left people concerned about the conditions under which meat is sourced. It revolved around poultry farming, shedding light on how contract chicken farmers allegedly face retaliation from large poultry processors when they speak out about unfair treatment. This issue had been raised repeatedly in Congress, with hopes of passing reforms to protect farmers, but the poultry industry always managed to lobby lawmakers in their favor. However, after the “Last Week Tonight” episode aired, it generated enough attention that ultimately led to the passage of an Agriculture spending bill in Congress, which included free speech protections for the farmers.
Judge Cites John Oliver in Guam Tax Refund Suit
This season 2 episode focused on the U.S. Island territories, particularly how residents are denied full constitutional rights and the ability to vote in presidential elections. John Oliver traced the issue back to the so-called “Insular cases,” which led to the Supreme Court decision that denied the territories any meaningful representation. The segment resonated not only with regular viewers, but also with legal professionals. A few months later, Ninth Circuit Appeals Court Judge Marsha S. Berzon cited Oliver’s video in a class-action lawsuit filed by Guam residents against their government’s tax-refund program. In her ruling, Judge Berzon cited the ongoing criticism surrounding the “Insular cases” since the Supreme Court first considered them.
Funding Doctors Without Borders Through His Fake Church
In August 2015, “Last Week Tonight” tackled televangelists and their controversial practice of soliciting donations from viewers, often for personal gain. To highlight this absurdity, and the fact that these donations are tax-exempt, Oliver established his own parody church, Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption. Mirroring the tactics of the preachers, Oliver asked viewers to send in donations in return for blessings. In its brief, nearly month-long existence, the church reportedly received thousands of dollars and also a few unsavory items. The stunt was a demonstration of how “disturbingly easy” it is to create such a setup and coax people into handing over their cash. Unlike the televangelists, though, Oliver didn’t pocket the proceeds, he donated them to Doctors Without Borders.
Children’s Book Proceeds Donated to Pro-LGBTQ Charities
Donald Trump was a frequent target of “Last Week Tonight,” but in March 2018, John Oliver shifted his focus to his vice president, Mike Pence. Oliver called out Pence for his anti-LGBTQ views, including his support for conversion therapy. Around that time, Pence and his family planned to release a children’s book about their pet rabbit Marlon Bundo. Oliver and his team hopped in first, dropping their own book “A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo,” which portrayed Marlon as a gay rabbit, a clear jab at Pence’s views. It became an Amazon bestseller, moving over 180,000 copies in the first two days. To top it off, Oliver donated all proceeds to pro-LGBTQ charities like The Trevor Project and AIDS United.
John Oliver Rips Into FIFA
John Oliver made FIFA a recurring punching bag on his show, and for good reason. His attacks began in the first season, when he condemned FIFA’s poor handling of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He also criticized their plans to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar amid allegations of bribery and human rights violations. In 2015, Oliver doubled down after a massive corruption scandal led to the arrests of several FIFA officials. This time, he called for FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s resignation, and just days later, Blatter, facing increasing pressure, decided to step down. This episode led to a brief exchange between Oliver and Jack Warner, a former FIFA VP and Trinidadian politician, who was fighting extradition to face the corruption charges.
Crashing the FCC Over Net Neutrality
One of the earliest “Last Week Tonight” segments to go viral was from 2014 when John Oliver took on the Federal Communications Commission over proposed rules that threatened net neutrality. Oliver accused the FCC and its then-chairman Tom Wheeler of enabling internet service providers to create “fast lanes” for companies that could pay, leaving smaller businesses and regular users with slower speeds. During the segment, Oliver implored viewers to direct their rage at the FCC over the proposed changes. This led to an avalanche of comments that overwhelmed and crashed the agency’s servers. This unprecedented wave of public pressure ultimately influenced the FCC’s decision to adopt net neutrality regulations in February 2015.
What is your favorite corporate takedown by John Oliver? Explain it to us in the comments below. And now… this!
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