Out of all of Jon Stewart’s descendants, only John Oliver has managed to stay on the air – the first to leave is the last one standing. Not only has Oliver survived, he’s thrived. Last Week Tonight’s hybrid of humor and investigative reporting has netted 26 Emmys and two Peabody Awards among many other accolades, and the series has made John Oliver the defining voice of comedic anger in an unjust world. The impact of Oliver on the topics he examines has been uncreatively named “The John Oliver Effect,” and his segments have led to tangible political action, including the ending of unfair bail requirements in New York City, crashing the FCC website with complaints about Net Neutrality, and pressuring lawmakers to place major limitations on civil forfeiture laws.
There is no shortage of complicated and important political issues that could use an inquisitive comedian to dissect them in a digestible way for millions of people to gain a greater understanding of the problems facing their communities. Both The Problem with Jon Stewart and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver only work because their respective hosts are equal parts passionate and entertaining – but right now, Last Week Tonight doesn’t have contemporaries, and The Problem with Jon Stewart has a long way to go before it hits anything resembling “The John Oliver Effect.” Jon left late night a master, but he returns as John’s student.
Top Image: Comedy Central
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