After a five-month hiatus due to the Writers Guild of America strike, John Oliver returned to host his HBO show ‘Last Week Tonight’ on Sunday, October 1, 2023. He used his opening segment to recap some of the major news stories that he missed during the strike, and to praise the writers for their victory in securing a fair contract. He also slammed the studios for prolonging the strike and urged other workers in the industry to fight for their rights.
Oliver Congratulates Writers for Their Sacrifices and Achievements
Oliver began his show by saying that he wished he could have told his jokes at the time when the news happened, but he couldn’t because his writers were forced to strike for a fair contract for the last five months. He said that it was an immensely difficult time for them and for everyone else working on his show and many others who could no longer do their jobs.
He explained that the strike happened for good reasons, as the industry has seen its work severely squeezed in recent years. He cited stories about writers and actors whose work may be recognized, but who were not making enough to qualify for health insurance or afford basic needs.
He congratulated the writers for their sacrifices and achievements, saying that they eventually got a fair deal and that he was immensely proud of what their union accomplished. He also thanked the viewers for their patience and support during the strike.
Oliver Blasts Studios for Dragging Out the Negotiations
However, Oliver also expressed his anger at the studios for delaying the deal that could have been offered on day one. He said that he was furious that it took the studios 148 days to achieve a deal that they could have offered on day fucking one. He accused them of being greedy and disrespectful to the workers who create their content.
He said that he hoped that this might encourage others, from auto workers to Starbucks baristas to healthcare providers, whether they are in unions or would like to be, to find power in each other. He said that within their particular industry, he hoped that SAG-AFTRA and IATSE would take what the writers achieved and leverage it to win fair contracts for themselves too.
He said that it takes many people working hard to make film and TV, all of whom deserve a piece of the pie. He said that for the actors in particular, they cannot come back to work soon enough.
Oliver Recaps Some of the News Stories That He Missed During the Strike
After his rant about the strike, Oliver proceeded to recap some of the news stories that he missed during his absence. He joked about former President Donald Trump’s mugshot, King Charles’ coronation portrait, a policeman’s viral slide mishap, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s gun fetish, and a new version of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire” song.
He also teased some of the topics that he would cover in his upcoming shows, such as climate change, Afghanistan, abortion rights, and cryptocurrency. He said that he was excited to be back and that he had a lot of things to talk about.
