# British (Social) Takeover: The John Oliver Effect - Link: https://chatterblast.com/blog/british-social-takeover-the-john-oliver-effect/ - Published: 2015-12-02T17:08:02-05:00 - Author: chatterblastteam From interviews with the likes of [Edward Snowden](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEVlyP4_11M) and [Stephen Hawking](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPV3D7f3bHY), while tackling some of our world’s most complex social and political issues, John Oliver, host of HBO’s _Last Week Tonight,_ is continuing in the path of his mentor Jon Stewart in blurring the lines between _comedy and journalism_. In Stewart’s 16-year run as host of Comedy Central’s _The Daily Show_, a lot of his success was supported by the dawn of the Internet and digital journalism. However, in this new era of media consumption, Oliver is seeing _his_ success through **social media** — _especially_ YouTube. And Oliver’s segments aren’t just getting clicks: some of them are causing **actual change**. In honor of _Last Week Tonight _completing its successful second season this past week, here are three segments from the previous season that have had a real-life impact. 1. ### **󠀁[Chickens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9wHzt6gBgI)󠁿 (4.8 million YouTube views)** In May, _Last Week Tonight_ blasted poultry processors like Tyson Foods and Perdue Farms over unjust treatment of their farmers. Each year, a tiny provision in the House Appropriations bill _defunds_ the Department of Agriculture’s effort to finalize rules meant to protect the farmer, [led by those in Congress who are _lobbied_ by the biggest poultry processors](https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000000460&cycle=2014). However, two months after this segment aired, the House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2016 Agriculture bill, which _did not_ include the aforementioned provision for the first time _in years._ 2. ### **󠀁[U.S. Territories](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CesHr99ezWE)󠁿 (4.6 million YouTube views)** In March, _Last Week Tonight_ aired a segment that addressed the lack of rights and representation of those living in U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. [Insular Cases](http://today.law.harvard.edu/insular-cases-constitutional-experts-assess-status-territories-acquired-spanish-american-war-video/), which are a series of opinions by the U.S. Supreme Court about the status of U.S. territories, hold that full constitutional rights _do not_ automatically extend to all places under U.S. control. Many of these territories have _huge_ U.S. military presences, yet those living in the territories do not have some of our most _principle_ rights, including the right to vote for President. Judge Marsha S. Berzon, a Ninth Circuit judge who was appointed by Bill Clinton, cited the _Last Week [casino](http://www.svenskkasinon.com/) Tonight_ segment while ruling on a case brought by the people of Guam on tax refunds. She cited that Insular Cases have been “_the subject of extensive judicial, academic and popular criticism_,” accompanied by a YouTube link of the_ Last Week Tonight_ segment. 3. ### **󠀁[Canadian Election](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V5ckcTSYu8)󠁿 (6.1 million YouTube views)** Just in October, _Last Week Tonight_ aired a segment detailing the upcoming Canadian election. Oliver lampooned all of the candidates participating to an extent, but saved the _worst for last_ for incumbent Stephen Harper, who had held office for the previous 10 years. He even went as far as giving a straight-forward message to his Canadian viewers with the aid of comedian (and Canadian) Mike Myers: “_Don__’ t vote for Stephen Harper_.” For much of the 78-day election, polling statistics [were fairly equal between the competing parties](http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-grenier-polls-oct8-1.3262692). However, Justin Trudeau, who represented the Liberal Party and was Harper’s primary opponent, won in a stunning landslide with over _40 percent_ of the popular vote on Election Day. Although Oliver scoffs at the notion that he’s a journalist, the definition of journalism contradicts his assertion. [Oliver even admits](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7Nh7IBzJiw) that he and his team spend _countless_ hours researching stories to make sure they get it right. > “_In 18 minutes, he did what we”ve been trying for 30 years to do and that is > just reach a general, broader audience. The story that he told, I cannot tell > you how hard that is to tell to someone that is not really familiar with it_,”, > who was featured in the segment on chickens. “_If you”ve got a problem and you > want it fixed, call John Oliver_,” he says. “_That”s my theory now_.” However, his impact _isn__’t_ felt on Sunday nights. It’s felt on **Monday** mornings and the subsequent days as the Internet buzzes about Oliver’s latest manifest. That’s because what he and HBO are doing is _unprecedented_ for any late-night talk show: Instead of uploading short clips that provide nothing more than a quick laugh, the morning after the show airs, lengthy and typically _controversial_ clips from the previous night’s show (usually upwards of 20 minutes) are posted to YouTube for his fans and click-hungry content sites to feed on and share. It’s the **sharing** that’s driving the change; he’s making it so that law makers, judges and politicians _can__’t_ ignore the problems he’s talking about. Oliver has taken a style of comedy/journalism/whatever you want to call it, turned it on its head, and launched it into a _perfect storm_ for the Internet and social media. And in a recent and [oddly symbolic turn of events](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/04/business/media/jon-stewart-signs-production-deal-with-hbo.html?_r=0), it isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. [⌊tumblr_inline_nmq1y9Ud6T1smi5rc_500⌉⌊tumblr_inline_nmq1y9Ud6T1smi5rc_500⌉[ Are you a fan of John Oliver? Tell us your favorite _Last Week Tonight_ moment in the comments below!