'The Interview': John Oliver Is Still Working Through the Rage

John Oliver shares insights into the creative process behind the hit show "Last Week Tonight," describing the comprehensive and collaborative production methods that make the show both informative and hilariously entertaining.

The show's collaborative writing and research process involves input from the entire staff to generate, research, and develop story ideas over several weeks

Each story idea goes through an extensive vetting process, including research, legal review, and footage gathering, before the writers work on crafting the narrative and comedy

John Oliver highlights the show's investigative depth, saying that initially, they tried to prepare the main story within a week but found it wasn't feasible due to the complex research required. Now, they spread their efforts over a six-week period, tackling six stories at once. Oliver emphasizes the importance of their collaborative environment—any member can pitch ideas via email. A researcher then checks the feasibility of a story, seeking a fresh angle or the right timing, often within a few days.

They are privileged, Oliver says, to have researchers consulting various field experts, ensuring the show is well-grounded and factually sound. Once a story passes the test, it enters a rigorous vetting stage, where they compile research data and collect video material. From this, the writers produce detailed story packets and work on joke-free initial outlines, which then evolve into full, comedy-injected scripts.

Oliver remarks that despite the complicated and often delicate nature of the topics they cover, they continually strive to produce content that resonates and entertains. The writers’ task, then, is to spin the sobering story outlines into engaging, humorous segments—a skill they've honed with time. Oliver also stresses the careful construction of pacing in "Last ...

John Oliver’s approach to comedy is deeply intertwined with social commentary, providing insight and relief in the face of complex and often challenging subjects.

Comedy as a tool for understanding

Oliver reflects on the role comedy plays in lightening the burden of heavy subjects for his audience. He incorporates absurd segments and humorous material related to the topics at hand with the intention of making the issues more accessible. By offsetting the gravity of the subjects his show tackles with levity, Oliver believes that viewers can better engage with and understand these important issues. Despite not elaborating on this in a provided transcript, the consistency and development of his show over time imply that humor remains an integral part of his approach.

Oliver describes feeling a range of emotions, including rage, when researching stories for his show, showing a personal and emotional reaction to the dark subject matter he often covers. He discusses using comedy as a coping mechanism and clarifies its importance in his life, "So the darkest moments of my life, I still find myself compelled to try and make jokes, either to take the weight off some of what's happening or to sometimes feel what's happening a bit more."

Personal experiences reinforcing belief in comedy

Oliver’s ...

"Last Week Tonight" may not define itself as journalism, but its relationship to the news media involves a unique blend of rigorous research and comedy for public dissemination, as analyzed by Lulu Garcia-Navarro and John Oliver.

While Last Week Tonight is not journalistic in nature, the show maintains a high standard of factual accuracy through extensive research and legal vetting

John Oliver stresses the importance of factual accuracy, explaining that the show dedicates a robust research team and legal oversight to its fact-checking process. Oliver clarifies that he is not a journalist and did not train as one. Nonetheless, he acknowledges the journalistic experience within his team and insists that the information presented is thoroughly rechecked. He believes the comedy on "Last Week Tonight" hinges on its truthfulness, for which the factual foundation is key.

Oliver pushes back on the characterization of the show as opinion journalism, arguing that the rigorous fact-checking process distinguishes it from traditional opinion-based commentary

Despite "Last Week Tonight" having a perspective that might influence its research, Oliver indicates the show's primary focus remains factual correctness. Oliver refutes the idea that the show might elude journalistic responsibility and is concerned that classifying it as op-ed or opinion-based could undermine the perception of its commitment to accuracy. He desires experts to regard the show's informat ...