HBO has renewed “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” through 2020.
The renewal for Oliver comes a week after HBO extended its another comedy-current events show, “Real Time With Bill Maher,” through 2020.
“Last Week Tonight” debuted on HBO in 2014, and has drawn strong critical praise since for its host’s satirical take on news, politics, and cultural issues. The show has been nominated for eight Primetime Emmy awards, and won two Creative Arts Emmys last weekend. Last year it won three Primetime Emmys, including for outstanding variety talk series.
An alum of “The Daily Show,” Oliver gained prominence filling in for the Comedy Central series’ former host Jon Stewart during Stewart’s leave of absence in 2013.
“We are thrilled to have John Oliver as an integral part of the HBO family and to continue to share his comedic brilliance with the world,” said HBO programming president Casey Bloys. “His extraordinary genius for rich and intelligent commentary is second to none.”
Oliver added, “First: I firmly disagree with everything Casey just said. Second: We’re very grateful to Richard Plepler, Casey and everyone at HBO for letting us continue to do whatever it is we actually do. And finally: We’d also like to thank our staff for all their hard work. We’re incredibly proud of all of you, and rather than tell you that to your face, we’d like to do it in the cold, dispassionate form of a press release.”
“Last Week Tonight” is produced by Avalon Television and Sixteen String Jack Productions. Executive producers are Oliver, Tim Carvell, Liz Stanton, Jon Thoday, and James Taylor. Paul Pennolino is the show’s director.
| source variety.com |