Release Date
PremieredLast Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 8 released on February 14, 2021.
Your Progress
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Sign In to Track ProgressSeasons
February 14, 2021: Next Pandemic
Main story: What could cause the next pandemic, what we can do to avoid it, and why you shouldn’t kiss pigs; plus, fallout from Trump’s second impeachment trial.
February 21, 2021: Meatpacking
Main story: Working conditions in the meatpacking industry; plus, the Texas power crisis in the wake of severe winter weather.
February 28, 2021: Raids
Main story: How few guardrails there are on the use of police raids; plus, New York governor Andrew Cuomo faces multiple scandals.
March 7, 2021: Unemployment
Main story: The many obstacles that impede access to unemployment benefits; plus, Fox News freaks out over Dr. Seuss; Texas lifts its mask mandate; Neil Cavuto really loves Adele.
March 14, 2021: Tucker Carlson
Main story: Where Tucker Carlson came from and why he’s admired by white nationalists; plus, reaction to the Biden COVID-19 relief bill.
March 21, 2021: Plastics
Main story: How plastics are harming the planet, and why recycling isn’t the solution you think it is; plus, the Atlanta mass shootings and hate crimes against Asian-Americans.
April 4, 2021: Debt
Main story: How national debt works and why it might be more helpful that you think; plus, Giuliani freaks over Lil Nas X; Amazon’s anti-union tactics; Peeps and Pepsi form an unholy alliance.
April 11, 2021: Long Term Care
Main story: Why nursing homes and assisted living facilities need fixing; plus, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program; Matt Gaetz and Venmo; R.I.P. Yahoo! Answers.
April 18, 2021: Bankruptcy
Main story: Why people file for bankruptcy and how difficult the process can be; plus, a look at police brutality in the U.S.
May 2, 2021: Vaccine Misinformation
Main story: Why some people don’t want to get the COVID-19 vaccine; plus, when governments try to tweet; Dana Perino grew up on a ranch.
May 9, 2021: Hair
Main story: The ways Black hair can be a target of discrimination; plus, the race for governor in California, and GOP voter suppression.
May 16, 2021: Stand Your Ground
Main story: why “stand your ground” laws were created, who they protect, and, crucially, who they don’t. Plus, a look at the past week’s events in Israel.
May 23, 2021: Sponcon
Main story: why the integrity of local news is so important; plus, how some red states are trying to overturn Roe v. Wade and why the Venus Veil is so much more than a blanket. (It's not.)
June 6, 2021: Asian Americans
Main story: Examining the diverse group of people who fall under the term “Asian American,” and the history of the model minority stereotype. Plus, Jair Bolsonaro is jeopardizing the national and global health.
June 13, 2021: Prison Heat
Main story: How the failure to air-condition prisons can cause health issues for incarcerated people; plus, a look at the NYC mayoral candidates.
June 20, 2021: PACE
Main story: How PACE, a program meant to pay for environmentally-friendly home renovations, is fundamentally flawed and can put people at risk of losing their homes; plus, a look at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
June 27, 2021: Health Care Sharing Ministries
Main story: The limitations of Health Care Sharing Ministries, a faith-based alternative to health insurance; plus, the ItalyGate conspiracy theory.
July 25, 2021: Housing Discrimination
Main story: the long history of housing discrimination in the U.S., the damage it’s done, and, crucially, what we can do about it; plus, John is headed back to the studio and makes a new friend along the way.
August 1, 2021: Emergency Medical Services
Main story: how emergency medical services function in the U.S., why they can be so expensive, and what we can do to fix things.
August 8, 2021: Opioids III – The Sacklers
Main story: How the Sackler family has been handling lawsuits related to the opioid crisis; plus, Russia’s participation in the Tokyo Olympics.
August 15, 2021: Ransomware
Main story: ransomware attacks, why they’re on the rise, and what can be done about them; plus, the spread of the Delta variant.
August 22, 2021: Afghanistan
Main story: the end of America’s war with Afghanistan, and the humanitarian crisis being left behind; plus, why two attorneys are locked in a legal battle, and how they could come to a resolution outside of court.
September 12, 2021: Lukashenko
Main story: the longtime leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko; plus, what a new abortion law in Texas means for Roe v. Wade.
September 26, 2021: Voting Rights
Main story: the current attacks on voting rights, who’s behind them, and what we can do about it. Plus, how thousands of migrants were treated at the U.S. border last week, and why the Biden Administration needs to take a firmer stance on immigration reform; and a look at the federal duck stamp contest.
October 3, 2021: PFAS
Main story: PFAS—a class of chemicals linked to an array of health issues—and why their widespread use isn’t as magical as it may seem.
October 10, 2021: Misinformation
Main story: how misinformation spreads among immigrant diaspora communities; plus, AT&T’s involvement with far-right One America News.
October 24, 2021: Taiwan
Main story: Taiwan’s history of being governed by other countries, and its relationship with China; plus, why some cops are refusing vaccinations.
October 31, 2021: Homelessness
Main story: With homelessness increasing nationwide, John Oliver examines the way we discuss the unhoused; plus, a look at Biden’s spending plan.
November 7, 2021: The Power Grid
Main story: the state of the nation’s power grid; plus, how world leaders aren’t living up to their promises on climate action.
November 14, 2021: Union Busting
Main story: the mechanics of union busting, and why the companies who do it face so few consequences; plus, John checks in on the insurrection—the story that kicked the year off wrong.
Latest Trailers and Teasers
Season 12 Trailer
Season 11 Trailer
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Season 8
Release Date
PremieredLast Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 8 released on February 14, 2021.
Your Progress
Track your watching progress by signing in
Sign In to Track ProgressFebruary 14, 2021: Next Pandemic
Main story: What could cause the next pandemic, what we can do to avoid it, and why you shouldn’t kiss pigs; plus, fallout from Trump’s second impeachment trial.
February 21, 2021: Meatpacking
Main story: Working conditions in the meatpacking industry; plus, the Texas power crisis in the wake of severe winter weather.
February 28, 2021: Raids
Main story: How few guardrails there are on the use of police raids; plus, New York governor Andrew Cuomo faces multiple scandals.
March 7, 2021: Unemployment
Main story: The many obstacles that impede access to unemployment benefits; plus, Fox News freaks out over Dr. Seuss; Texas lifts its mask mandate; Neil Cavuto really loves Adele.
March 14, 2021: Tucker Carlson
Main story: Where Tucker Carlson came from and why he’s admired by white nationalists; plus, reaction to the Biden COVID-19 relief bill.
March 21, 2021: Plastics
Main story: How plastics are harming the planet, and why recycling isn’t the solution you think it is; plus, the Atlanta mass shootings and hate crimes against Asian-Americans.
April 4, 2021: Debt
Main story: How national debt works and why it might be more helpful that you think; plus, Giuliani freaks over Lil Nas X; Amazon’s anti-union tactics; Peeps and Pepsi form an unholy alliance.
April 11, 2021: Long Term Care
Main story: Why nursing homes and assisted living facilities need fixing; plus, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program; Matt Gaetz and Venmo; R.I.P. Yahoo! Answers.
April 18, 2021: Bankruptcy
Main story: Why people file for bankruptcy and how difficult the process can be; plus, a look at police brutality in the U.S.
May 2, 2021: Vaccine Misinformation
Main story: Why some people don’t want to get the COVID-19 vaccine; plus, when governments try to tweet; Dana Perino grew up on a ranch.
May 9, 2021: Hair
Main story: The ways Black hair can be a target of discrimination; plus, the race for governor in California, and GOP voter suppression.
May 16, 2021: Stand Your Ground
Main story: why “stand your ground” laws were created, who they protect, and, crucially, who they don’t. Plus, a look at the past week’s events in Israel.
May 23, 2021: Sponcon
Main story: why the integrity of local news is so important; plus, how some red states are trying to overturn Roe v. Wade and why the Venus Veil is so much more than a blanket. (It's not.)
June 6, 2021: Asian Americans
Main story: Examining the diverse group of people who fall under the term “Asian American,” and the history of the model minority stereotype. Plus, Jair Bolsonaro is jeopardizing the national and global health.
June 13, 2021: Prison Heat
Main story: How the failure to air-condition prisons can cause health issues for incarcerated people; plus, a look at the NYC mayoral candidates.
June 20, 2021: PACE
Main story: How PACE, a program meant to pay for environmentally-friendly home renovations, is fundamentally flawed and can put people at risk of losing their homes; plus, a look at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
June 27, 2021: Health Care Sharing Ministries
Main story: The limitations of Health Care Sharing Ministries, a faith-based alternative to health insurance; plus, the ItalyGate conspiracy theory.
July 25, 2021: Housing Discrimination
Main story: the long history of housing discrimination in the U.S., the damage it’s done, and, crucially, what we can do about it; plus, John is headed back to the studio and makes a new friend along the way.
August 1, 2021: Emergency Medical Services
Main story: how emergency medical services function in the U.S., why they can be so expensive, and what we can do to fix things.
August 8, 2021: Opioids III – The Sacklers
Main story: How the Sackler family has been handling lawsuits related to the opioid crisis; plus, Russia’s participation in the Tokyo Olympics.
August 15, 2021: Ransomware
Main story: ransomware attacks, why they’re on the rise, and what can be done about them; plus, the spread of the Delta variant.
August 22, 2021: Afghanistan
Main story: the end of America’s war with Afghanistan, and the humanitarian crisis being left behind; plus, why two attorneys are locked in a legal battle, and how they could come to a resolution outside of court.
September 12, 2021: Lukashenko
Main story: the longtime leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko; plus, what a new abortion law in Texas means for Roe v. Wade.
September 26, 2021: Voting Rights
Main story: the current attacks on voting rights, who’s behind them, and what we can do about it. Plus, how thousands of migrants were treated at the U.S. border last week, and why the Biden Administration needs to take a firmer stance on immigration reform; and a look at the federal duck stamp contest.
October 3, 2021: PFAS
Main story: PFAS—a class of chemicals linked to an array of health issues—and why their widespread use isn’t as magical as it may seem.
October 10, 2021: Misinformation
Main story: how misinformation spreads among immigrant diaspora communities; plus, AT&T’s involvement with far-right One America News.
October 24, 2021: Taiwan
Main story: Taiwan’s history of being governed by other countries, and its relationship with China; plus, why some cops are refusing vaccinations.
October 31, 2021: Homelessness
Main story: With homelessness increasing nationwide, John Oliver examines the way we discuss the unhoused; plus, a look at Biden’s spending plan.
November 7, 2021: The Power Grid
Main story: the state of the nation’s power grid; plus, how world leaders aren’t living up to their promises on climate action.
November 14, 2021: Union Busting
Main story: the mechanics of union busting, and why the companies who do it face so few consequences; plus, John checks in on the insurrection—the story that kicked the year off wrong.