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Post by X the Anonymous Zeus or Odin on Apr 28, 2014 2:48:10 GMT -5
So tonight was the first episode of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver's terribly named new show on HBO.
So far, not bad. It's basically the Daily Show on Sunday night with John Oliver and uncensored swearing. Which is a good thing as I felt Oliver was a breath of fresh air for the Daily Show last summer.
But of course, the most important question is this: Was it worth not getting a Bugle this week?
ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOT! I NEED MY ZALTZMAN FIX AND I NEED IT NOW! THOSE BAD FISH PUNS THAT CUTE GIRL MADE WHILE SHE WAS BUYING FISH AT THE BUTCHER SHOP WHILE I WAS THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR ME! I NEED MY PUNS!
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Hippo
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Post by Hippo on Apr 28, 2014 3:00:17 GMT -5
I haven't listed to The Bugle since when it was still owned by The Times... I have no opinion on the show, just saying.
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Post by King Charles’s Butterfly on Apr 28, 2014 6:22:37 GMT -5
Watched it over breakfast—I liked it a lot. It was like a slightly more sophisticated, slightly longer, slightly-more-refined Daily Show hosted by John Oliver. In other words, I liked it a lot.
I was pleased that it was mostly about actual events and that he spent a good portion of the show talking about the Indian election, which is seriously a big deal and totally ignored by the American media. It’s a bit more of a commentary on global events than a narrower, Daily Show-style commentary on the inanity of cable news, though that was the jumping-off point for his discussion of India and something he returned to by showing how Indian cable news is similarly inane.
I was disappointed that it was only a half-hour—I feel like Oliver could have easily gone on longer, but better to leave the audience wanting more than padding it out with less.
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Post by Great Unwashed on Apr 29, 2014 11:26:43 GMT -5
Mr Tiggles
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Post by ganews on May 4, 2014 22:22:22 GMT -5
The first episode wasn't too different from his TDS tenure, but that discussion of the death penalty tonight was amazing. I am completely won over.
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Post by flowsthead on May 5, 2014 3:54:12 GMT -5
The first episode wasn't too different from his TDS tenure, but that discussion of the death penalty tonight was amazing. I am completely won over. I completely wouldn't mind if he dropped the comedy show bit, and just had a sarcastic edge while he talked about the news. Oliver is so watchable.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2014 6:10:36 GMT -5
"The Death Penalty is like the McRib"
After two episodes I loved it. I do prefer John Oliver to both Stewart and Colbert. He just seems to have a bit more bite in him than the other two. I also like that the show is only one episode a week, it is much easier to keep up with than trying to watch 5 days out of 7. The death penalty bit was just amazing, I really don't know what is my favorite part of it, the McRib, the Obama noise, or TINY HAMSTERS EATING TINY BURRITOS. I was surprised when this weeks episode ended since there wasn't an interview of sorts, but am glad that they are not sticking to having an interview every week. The interviews have always been my least favorite part of TDS or CR, just seems pointless most of the time and would rather laugh at ripping into people who talk about "Nerd Prom".
Or maybe I just like this show so much because of the accent, it's probably the accent.
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Post by Douay-Rheims-Challoner on May 5, 2014 19:08:51 GMT -5
Piers Morgan should take notes from Oliver's Death Penalty bit, that is how you do outsider critique.
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Post by 🔪 silly buns on May 5, 2014 23:52:37 GMT -5
I really enjoyed the two episodes. It could go a little more serious if the writers want.
I vote for Trevor holding Mr. Tiggles. And all complaints about Mr. Tiggles must be made with Oliver's accent.
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Post by Douay-Rheims-Challoner on May 12, 2014 18:49:45 GMT -5
Well this show just had more penis than the entire run of Game of Thrones; had a bloody fantastic take down of overfunded, low content attack ads, a stirring opener about how social progress is becoming banal and that's a good thing, and an extended comedic bit on racist costumes.
And I didn't even get to Crimea.
Honestly, I'm beginning to think the weekly format really makes this show (that and no need to go through then motions of interviewing someone to hock their books.) They really have the time to put together a really excellent program, Last Week Tonight has been impressing me more than the two Comedy Central mainstays currently.
I guess time will tell and all that.
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Post by ganews on May 12, 2014 20:59:50 GMT -5
The unbleeped profanity is still jarring to me, though, given the history of fake news.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2014 0:29:33 GMT -5
That attack ad bit was insane. I was completely horrified and amused.
Also, "Who gives a shit? You don't need people's opinion on a fact."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2014 2:42:11 GMT -5
Civil union cheat code: up down up down be gay be gay start
Rolling sarcophagus
A failsafe question to ask yourself when drafting a law, "might child pronographers like this?"
I want my own sweater that says john oliver on it.
An interview this week, but glad that they are really more for internet viewing instead of taking a huge chunk out of the episode.
No show next week, that blows.
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Post by Douay-Rheims-Challoner on May 19, 2014 11:43:17 GMT -5
Even though this show is on HBO it is still structured expecting ad breaks which it tacitly acknowledged with that GM ad parody, but it more often resorts to comedic clippings from the news (like this week's assortment of Shame Ons.) it is the one respect its parent show origins are the most obvious but as long as they keep the 'ads' funny I do not mind.
Zakaria as a guest is good in that it indicates the show will have few guests and when they do they are relevant to the show - he's a good guy to call up about the Indian election - than just to hawk wares. In other words Zakaria was a bit like a mid-episode guest on the Colbert Report; as erratically Colbert has invited people who aren't his book/show/music hocking guests as people to give a perspective on a given story.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2014 12:40:31 GMT -5
I love the TV news montages in between segments, like this weeks one about all the national holidays. It just showcases the trivial bullshit that TV news has devolved into.
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Post by The Prighlofone on May 20, 2014 16:11:04 GMT -5
I like this show a lot so far. And of course, the climate change segment was amazing.
I'm a little disappointed neither Jon or Stephen have covered net neutrality/the FCC yet...I wonder if they will, or if John will. Somebody needs to.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2014 1:16:21 GMT -5
Probably my favorite episode yet, just because of Chris Cuomo is an asshole. Anyway, my favorite lines!
Hitler was a real nazi about intellectual property rights.
Is there anyone who is both into anti zionist conspiracy theories and smooth jazz?
Do you know how difficult it used to be to get coyote urine?
That is the equivalent of needing a babysitter and hiring a dingo.
National spelling bee, the hunger games of the mind....... DAMN STRAIGHT! BEE DAY MUTHA FUCKAS!(Okay, that last part was me)
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Post by Douay-Rheims-Challoner on Jun 2, 2014 10:50:02 GMT -5
I'm a little disappointed neither Jon or Stephen have covered net neutrality/the FCC yet...I wonder if they will, or if John will. What are you, psychic? But yeah great show. The opener about right-wing victories in Europe was hilarious, and also holy shit Tony Abbott. The suppository of wisdom. This show is great at narrowing in on the relatably absurd aspects of foreign politics.
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Post by The Prighlofone on Jun 2, 2014 10:51:40 GMT -5
I was super happy with last night's show. John did an excellent job. A friend of mine said Jon & Stephen might not have covered the net neutrality fight because Viacom is tying their hands...but then again, they may just not have talked about it yet and could do so this week. We'll see.
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Post by ganews on Jun 8, 2014 22:20:49 GMT -5
On FIFA: "Who makes a sports film where the heroes are the executives?!"
...Aaron Sorkin, with "Moneyball"?
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Post by X the Anonymous Zeus or Odin on Jun 9, 2014 3:25:37 GMT -5
On FIFA: "Who makes a sports film where the heroes are the executives?!" ...Aaron Sorkin, with "Moneyball"? But those were underdog executives! And they lost! Everyone loves a good underdog story and everyone loves seeing executives lose. It's win win.
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Post by The Prighlofone on Jun 9, 2014 4:37:03 GMT -5
Not really a sports guy so this episode wasn't quite on the level the last two were on, but John is still keeping up his consistency.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2014 6:08:26 GMT -5
I was disappointed in this episode, but mostly because I've been very interested in the Qatar World Cup story since Qatar won the bid a few years ago. The main thing that really pisses me off about the whole situation is the working conditions for the migrant workers. Which was only touched on a little bit. Other than a few stories here and there about it, lots of nothing. There has been a big thing about having a re-vote about the 2022 world cup being held in Qatar, and even sponsors have "voiced concerns", but only because of the bribery. NOTHING about the workers that are dying. Seriously fuck the sponsors for "voicing concerns" only on bribery, when they don't even likely give a shit just want to look like they do. THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING. Sepp Blatter has actually gone on record saying the Qatar World Cup was a mistake......... because of the heat. It just shows how fucked up FIFA and just corporations are in general that shit like bribery(which anyone who actually follows this stuff well enough knew the second Qatar got it that it was through bribery, that is how transparent this shit is) and Qatar being too hot in the summer is more important than human beings DYING. One of the sports sites I actually visit posted a story about this one report on the number of deaths that will be caused from building the stadiums in Qatar, and they got an email a media relations department working for the organizers of the Qatar world cup: deadspin.com/the-organizers-of-the-qatar-world-cup-are-very-mad-at-u-1550619295 Just read the email that is copied into that story, it's just mind boggling how fucked up things are with the whole situation. So yeah, I know a lot can't be done in 13 minutes and Oliver did at least make points about the lives that are being lost, but I am a little disappointed since this was the main segment for the week. There also wasn't that many great lines, so I will only post one zinger for this week, but what a zinger it was! Best line the show has done so far, could have ended the episode right there. Speaking of Germans losing things, it was the 70th anniversary of D-Day this week.
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Post by Douay-Rheims-Challoner on Jun 9, 2014 8:51:15 GMT -5
Not really a sports guy so this episode wasn't quite on the level the last two were on, but John is still keeping up his consistency. It was kinda weird to hear him say soccer. Like not a s big a point as @taxman re: Qatar deaths (is the Troubles a term people use now for 9/11? That confused me), but I figured that beared mentioning.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2014 14:54:17 GMT -5
I try not to let troll comments get to me, but sometimes there are ones that just get under my skin like this one on a post about the FIFA piece: Yes this is what we need more of, pointless whining and cynicism.
They may watch the show, but they clearly don't fucking listen.
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Post by flowsthead on Jun 9, 2014 17:47:26 GMT -5
I thought it was great until the end. The Right Said Fred parody song was fine for the first couple of lines, but it got boring fast, and I just skipped it.
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Post by The Prighlofone on Jun 9, 2014 18:09:20 GMT -5
I try not to let troll comments get to me, but sometimes there are ones that just get under my skin like this one on a post about the FIFA piece: Yes this is what we need more of, pointless whining and cynicism. They may watch the show, but they clearly don't fucking listen. It's like that woman who criticized Colbert's WHC routine in 2006: "I doubt the President hasn't heard these criticisms before..." Yes, lady, but the problem is he doesn't LISTEN. And he's kinda forced to when a comedian is bashing merrily away at his presidency right before his eyes.
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Post by X the Anonymous Zeus or Odin on Jun 9, 2014 18:20:31 GMT -5
It's like that woman who criticized Colbert's WHC routine in 2006: "I doubt the President hasn't heard these criticisms before..." Yes, lady, but the problem is he doesn't LISTEN. And he's kinda forced to when a comedian is bashing merrily away at his presidency right before his eyes. Hold up... People actually think Bush heard those criticisms before? I figured he was kept in a bubble of ignorance.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2014 19:11:30 GMT -5
I try not to let troll comments get to me, but sometimes there are ones that just get under my skin like this one on a post about the FIFA piece: Yes this is what we need more of, pointless whining and cynicism. They may watch the show, but they clearly don't fucking listen. It's like that woman who criticized Colbert's WHC routine in 2006: "I doubt the President hasn't heard these criticisms before..." Yes, lady, but the problem is he doesn't LISTEN. And he's kinda forced to when a comedian is bashing merrily away at his presidency right before his eyes. I was more talking about how the commenter watched but didn't really listen, if he thinks Oliver is just whining and being cynical.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2014 6:16:46 GMT -5
I'm a day late, but I had to seek out this thread and chime in with the fact that he seems to be going farther than Stewart or Colbert. You can take HBO's money and deliver a good show, but he's taking their money and delivering an EXCELLENT show, an essential show because of the way Oliver tackles important global issues that other US networks gloss over quickly. Could he do the same thing for 4 days a week? Maybe, but probably not. The fact that it's a weekly show is really working in favor of it on so many levels...
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