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Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Season 4
Oliver hiding behind a desk and peering over the top. Small text at the top reads: "Scary times call for a scared man." Text on the desk says: "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season premiere, Sun Feb 12 11 pm HBO"
Promotional poster for the season
No. of episodes30
Release
Original networkHBO
Original releaseFebruary 12 (2017-02-12) –
November 12, 2017 (2017-11-12)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 3
List of episodes

The fourth season of late-night talk and news satire television program Last Week Tonight with John Oliver originally aired between February 12 and November 12, 2017, on HBO in the United States. The season was produced by Avalon Television and Sixteen String Jack Productions; the executive producers were host John Oliver, Tim Carvell, and Liz Stanton, with Paul Pennolino as director. Last Week Tonight aired on Sundays at 11 pm, and had a total of 30 episodes. The season was generally well received, winning four Emmy Awards, one GLAAD Media Award, one TCA Award, and one WGA Award. The show continued to release the main stories of each broadcast on its YouTube channel after each episode aired.

Production

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Season four aired from February 12 to November 12, 2017.[1][2] The season was produced by Avalon Television and Sixteen String Jack Productions;[3] it aired on HBO in the United States at 11 pm on Sundays.[4] Host John Oliver, Tim Carvell, and Liz Stanton were the executive producers on the season. Writers included Oliver, Carvell, Raquel D'Apice, Josh Gondelman, Dan Gurewitch, Geoff Haggerty, Jeff Maurer, Brian Parise, Scott Sherman, Ben Silva, Will Tracy, Jill Twiss, Seena Vali, and Juli Weiner. Paul Pennolino directed the season.[3]

Promotional material for the season showed Oliver on the sets of other popular HBO shows at the time like Game of Thrones and Silicon Valley.[1][5] Similar to the previous season, Oliver explained that coverage of the Trump presidency would remain minimal, as he expected other late-night shows to discuss immediate events.[6] He continued that the in-depth pieces they were preparing did not concern "party politics";[7] however, Oliver clarified that Last Week Tonight would cover issues influenced by the Trump administration.[8]

Reception

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Critical reception

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The fourth season garnered an approval rating of 100% based on 6 reviews on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.[9] Some critics described the show as necessary comic relief from the activities of the Trump administration, with Les Chappell writing in The A.V. Club, "Now that 2017 is proving to be just as bad ... we need Oliver’s confusion and outrage to guide us more than ever."[10][11] Others also praised the season's continued quality and thorough coverage of current events.[11][12] Last Week Tonight was listed on Slant Magazine's list of the best shows of 2017.[13]

Ratings

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Season four of Last Week Tonight received notably good ratings in Canada: the season premiere had twice as many viewers in Canada than the previous season's first episode, despite airing simultaneously with many nightly news channels. Val Maloney writing in Media in Canada attributes this ratings spike to Canada's interest in the Trump presidency.[14] In April 2024, HBO announced that the full episodes of seasons one through eight would be released on the Last Week Tonight YouTube channel.[15]

Awards

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See also: List of awards and nominations received by Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

For season four, Last Week Tonight received a rare second Peabody Award for "crafting a form that pushes both comedy and journalism in new, fresh, and publicly important directions".[16] Last Week Tonight received nine Emmy nominations for season four, winning Outstanding Variety Talk Series, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series, Outstanding Interactive Program, and Outstanding Picture Editing For Variety Programming for "Border Patrol".[3] This season was the second in a row to receive the award for Outstanding Variety Talk Series, beating regular winners The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.[17] Additionally, the show received Outstanding Talk Show Episode at the GLAAD Media Awards for "Australia Marriage Equality",[18] the TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sketch/Variety Shows,[19] and the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Comedy-Variety Talk Series.[20]

Episodes

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See also: List of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		Main segmentOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
901
False or misleading statements by Donald Trump
February 12, 2017 (2017-02-12)1.19[21]
Main article: Trump vs. Truth
Guest: Actor Thomas Kopache
912
Vladimir Putin and Russia–United States relations
February 19, 2017 (2017-02-19)1.25[22]
Guests: Singers and dancers Olivia Cipolla, Michaela Sprague, Nicole Medoro, Mishay Petronelli and Wesley Faucher
923
Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
February 26, 2017 (2017-02-26)0.72[23]
Other segment: Immigration policy of Donald Trump
934
Tibetan sovereignty debate and Human rights in Tibet
March 5, 2017 (2017-03-05)1.28[24]
Other segment: Presidency of Donald Trump
Guests: 14th Dalai Lama
945
American Health Care Act
March 12, 2017 (2017-03-12)1.12[25]
Other segments: International Women's Day, Wikileaks' March 2017 CIA disclosures
Guests: Actors Thomas Kopache, Rob Corddry
956
United States federal budget
March 19, 2017 (2017-03-19)1.03[26]
Other segments: Trump Tower wiretapping allegations, La Paz traffic zebras
967
Cannabis in the United States
April 2, 2017 (2017-04-02)1.18[27]
Other segments: Trump Tower wiretapping allegations, United Kingdom invocation of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, La Paz traffic zebras
Guest: Actor and puppeteer Noel MacNeal
978
Gerrymandering in the United States
April 9, 2017 (2017-04-09)1.15[28]
Other segments: 2017 Shayrat missile strike, Bill O'Reilly sexual harassment lawsuits
Guest: Actor Thomas Kopache
989
2017 French presidential election
April 16, 2017 (2017-04-16)1.18[29]
Other segments: Sean Spicer Hitler–Assad controversy, political positions of Donald Trump, 2017 Nangarhar airstrike
9910
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner
April 23, 2017 (2017-04-23)1.19[30]
Other segments: 2017 North Korean missile tests, 2017 Turkish constitutional referendum
Guest: Actor Gilbert Gottfried
10011
Net neutrality in the United States
May 7, 2017 (2017-05-07)1.18[31]
Main article: Net Neutrality II
Other segments: Eight Mile Style v New Zealand National Party, American Health Care Act of 2017
10112
Kidney dialysis and DaVita Inc.
May 14, 2017 (2017-05-14)1.36[32]
Other segments: Dismissal of James Comey, Bill English
10213
Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections
May 21, 2017 (2017-05-21)1.42[33]
Main article: Stupid Watergate
Other segments: Donald Trump's disclosure of classified information to Russia, Comey memos, Transportation Security Administration
Guests: Sesame Street penguins (performed by actors and puppeteers Pam Arciero, Tyler Bunch, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, and John Kennedy)
10314
United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
June 4, 2017 (2017-06-04)1.22[34]
Other segments: 2017 London Bridge attack, Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections
10415
2017 United Kingdom general election and Brexit negotiations
June 11, 2017 (2017-06-11)1.24[35]
Other segment: James Comey's testimony before Congress
Guest: Lord Buckethead
10516
Coal mining in the United States and Bob Murray
June 18, 2017 (2017-06-18)1.28[36]
Other segment: American Health Care Act of 2017
Guest: Actor and puppeteer Noel MacNeal
10617
Vaccine safety
June 25, 2017 (2017-06-25)1.31[37]
Other segments: Lawsuit over coal segment from episode 105, possible existence of Trump–Comey recordings, Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017
10718
Local news and Sinclair Broadcast Group
July 2, 2017 (2017-07-02)1.14[38]
Other segments: Donald Trump's Twitter comments about Mika Brzezinski, Trump administration's travel ban, the Hall of Presidents wax museum in Gettysburg
Guests: Actors Steve Schirripa, Campbell Scott, Anna Kendrick, Michael McKean, James Cromwell, and Laura Linney
10819
Alex Jones and InfoWars
July 30, 2017 (2017-07-30)1.76[39]
Other segments: Donald Trump administration's proposed transgender military ban, Anthony Scaramucci, Health Care Freedom Act of 2017
Guests: Actors Jack McBrayer, Gilbert Gottfried
10920
United States Border Patrol
August 6, 2017 (2017-08-06)1.75[40]
Other segments: Presidency of Donald Trump, Stephen Miller
Guests: Actor Will Arnett
11021
2017 North Korea crisis
August 13, 2017 (2017-08-13)1.93[41]
Other segment: Charlottesville car attack
Guests: Musician "Weird Al" Yankovic
11122
Nuclear waste
August 20, 2017 (2017-08-20)1.76[42]
Other segments: Departure of Steve Bannon, Donald Trump's response to Charlottesville
11223
Pardon of Joe Arpaio
September 10, 2017 (2017-09-10)0.97[43]
Other segments: 2018 United States federal budget, rescinding of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
11324
Mergers and acquisitions
September 24, 2017 (2017-09-24)1.25[44]
Other segments: 2017 NFL U.S. national anthem protest, Tom Price and Steven Mnuchin private jet scandals
11425
Forensic identification
October 1, 2017 (2017-10-01)1.27[45]
Other segments: Trump administration's tax reform proposal, aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
Guests: Actors Josh Charles, Shannon Woodward, Josh Lucas, Samira Wiley, Robert John Burke
11526
Confederate monuments and memorials
October 8, 2017 (2017-10-08)1.30[46]
Other segments: Trump's response to Hurricane Maria's impact on Puerto Rico, Trump's feud with Rex Tillerson, Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations
Guest: TV host Stephen Colbert
11627
2017 Equifax data breach
October 15, 2017 (2017-10-15)1.25[47]
Other segments: Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations, United States withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
11728
National Flood Insurance Program
October 29, 2017 (2017-10-29)0.96[48]
Other segments: Opioid epidemic, Roy Moore, Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey
11829
Economic development incentives
November 5, 2017 (2017-11-05)1.01[49]
Other segments: Mueller special counsel investigation, The Inspectors
11930
Presidency of Donald Trump
November 12, 2017 (2017-11-12)1.20[50]
Guests: Actors Thomas Kopache, Jack McBrayer, Tom Hanks, actor and puppeteer Noel MacNeal, Sesame Street penguins (performed by actors and puppeteers Ryan Dillon, Frankie Cordero, Peter Linz and Carmen Osbahr)

References

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  25. ^ Porter, Rick (March 16, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: The Walking Dead rebounds a little, Feud slips". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  26. ^ Porter, Rick (March 21, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: Into the Badlands returns lower, but also higher". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 21, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
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  28. ^ Porter, Rick (April 11, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: Homeland ends with season high, Casey Anthony strong for ID". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 15, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  29. ^ Porter, Rick (April 18, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: The Leftovers premiere improves, NBA playoffs dominate". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  30. ^ Porter, Rick (April 25, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: Silicon Valley suffers without Game of Thrones as lead-in". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  31. ^ Porter, Rick (May 9, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: MTV Movie & TV Awards down, Real Housewives of Atlanta improves". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  32. ^ Porter, Rick (May 16, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: Into the Badlands improves, Naked and Afraid XL leads a quiet day". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  33. ^ Porter, Rick (May 23, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: Twin Peaks return comes in low for Showtime". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  34. ^ Porter, Rick (June 6, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: The Leftovers ends on up note, Fear the Walking Dead premieres to series low". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  35. ^ Porter, Rick (June 13, 2017). "Sunday cable ratings: Fear the Walking Dead ties low, Claws has decent premiere". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  36. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (June 20, 2017). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.18.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  37. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (June 27, 2017). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.25.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  38. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (July 5, 2017). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.2.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  39. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (August 1, 2017). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.30.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  40. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (August 8, 2017). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.6.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  41. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (August 15, 2017). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.13.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  42. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (August 22, 2017). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.20.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  43. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (September 13, 2017). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.10.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  44. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (September 26, 2017). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.24.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
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  49. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (November 7, 2017). "ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.5.2017". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
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