He can be funny, but his attempts at humor are often distracting because they're so contrived. Some people just seem naturally funny without really trying to be; Oliver seems moderately funny while trying really hard.
In any case, one thing I like a lot about John Oliver's show is that, even when playing for laughs, it seems to be more careful to get its facts right than most straight news shows are. The episode about daily fantasy sports from a few years ago was a good example. It was a fairly devastating critique of certain aspects of the industry, but unlike almost every other media criticism of DFS going around at the time, it didn't misrepresent the facts to make its point. It was accurate.
That's an example that stands out in my mind, but it seems to be the general rule with his show. The staff that puts the episodes together is impressively competent about its research and fact-checking.
In any case, one thing I like a lot about John Oliver's show is that, even when playing for laughs, it seems to be more careful to get its facts right than most straight news shows are. The episode about daily fantasy sports from a few years ago was a good example. It was a fairly devastating critique of certain aspects of the industry, but unlike almost every other media criticism of DFS going around at the time, it didn't misrepresent the facts to make its point. It was accurate.
That's an example that stands out in my mind, but it seems to be the general rule with his show. The staff that puts the episodes together is impressively competent about its research and fact-checking.
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