What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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T2 WHATS UP! February 18 - 24, 2018 BY KYLA BREWER TV Media A s 24-hour news chan- nels, websites and apps rise in populari- ty, the public is be- coming more invested in na- tional and international news. Indeed, broadcast journalists have become celebrities in their own right, for better or for worse. However, one of TV's most popular late-night hosts offers a comedic yet critical twist on the news of the week. John Oliver ("The Daily Show") returns with a satirical look at the headlines and more in the season premiere of "Last Week Tonight With John Oli- ver," airing Sunday, Feb. 18, on HBO. The late-night program features a mix of commentary, comedic sketches and inter- views as the intrepid host turns a critical eye to politics, corpo- rations and even the media. The opener kicks off the fifth season of the program, which premiered in April 2014. Last fall, HBO announced the show had been renewed for three more 30-episode seasons, so fans of the British comedian can expect to see him on the ca- ble channel until at least 2020. When the deal was announced by HBO executive Casey Bloys, the host responded in typical Oliver fashion: with tongue planted firmly in cheek. "We're very grateful to Rich- ard Plepler, Casey and every- one at HBO for letting us con- tinue to do whatever it is we ac- tually do," Oliver said. "We'd also like to thank our staff for all their hard work. We're in- credibly 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." For his part, Bloys had noth- ing but praise for the performer, saying: "His extraordinary ge- nius for rich and intelligent commentary is second to none." Oliver has worked his way up through the entertainment in- dustry since starting out as a standup comedian in the Unit- ed Kingdom. Before "Last Week Tonight," he was best known to North American au- diences for his work on Come- dy Central's "The Daily Show" as the program's senior British correspondent, and he later filled in as interim host when Jon Stewart ("Rosewater," 2014) went on hiatus. His work on "The Daily Show" was well received by critics and audiences alike, and the gig eventually led to his show on HBO. Thanks, in part, to his no-holds-barred ap- proach to lambasting politi- cians, corporations and more, Oliver has gained millions of loyal fans who tune in for his refreshing perspectives on cur- rent events, as well as quirky comedy sketches by him and other performers. Viewership for the show is on the upswing, with about 1.2 million live view- ers for last season's finale, which aired Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. Millions also tune in on the show's YouTube channel. Oliver was even named one of Time magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People in 2015. In its short life, "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" has had a marked influence on poli- tics and business, even as far back as its first season. A 2014 segment on net neutrality is widely credited with prompting more than 45,000 comments on John Oliver hosts "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" Real fake news continued on page T10 TV FEATURE B/Health Initiatives Research 2 x 5 Health Initiatives Research 479-575-9600 2233 N Green Acres Rd. Fayetteville, AR 72703 CREAD 2 is a clinical research study for people aged 50 to 85 who are experiencing increasing problems with their memory. Contact the study team to learn more.