John Oliver

Person · 7 cases · 2012–2025 · British-American comedian and television host

How John Oliver spread

Oliver moved from British television to The Daily Show, then reached online audiences through clips from his HBO show.

Most often
Kept it going 4 of 7
Topics
Politics & civic 2 · Culture 1, Entertainment 1
20261985200620132014201411 yrsALS Ice Bucket Challenge · Kept it going · Jun 15, 2025HBO Max: The Re-Rebrand · Pushed back · May 18, 2025The Da Vinci Code · Kept it going · Jan 9, 2022Gritty · Carried it · Sep 30, 2018Harambe meme · Kept it going · Jan 1, 2018Pumpkin Spice Latte · Pushed back · Oct 17, 2017Yes We Can (will.i.am) · Kept it going · Sep 4, 2012Start1985First big push2006New audience2013New audience2014Breakout2014TVYouTubeOpen web

  1. 1985

    StartTV

    Oliver made his first on-screen appearance as Felix Pardiggle in the BBC drama Bleak House. ocregister.com

  2. 2006

    First big pushJul · TV

    After Ricky Gervais recommended him, Oliver joined Jon Stewart's Daily Show as its Senior British Correspondent. independent.co.uk

  3. 2013

    New audienceJun · TV

    Oliver guest-hosted The Daily Show for eight weeks while Stewart directed a film. en.wikipedia.org

  4. 2014

    New audienceApr 27 · TV

    Oliver launched his own weekly HBO show, Last Week Tonight. time.com

  5. 2014

    BreakoutJun 1 · YouTube

    His net neutrality segment spread on YouTube and encouraged viewers to comment on proposed FCC rules. blogs.lse.ac.uk

Gritty

Carried it

56
It me. #Gritty

101M impressions

HBO Max: The Re-Rebrand

Pushed back

45
What is dead may never die. HBO Max coming this summer. Same app, new-ish name.

10B impressions

Harambe meme

Kept it going

53
Harambe lives: Killed zoo gorilla gets a second life online

Peaked 85 days in

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pushed back

47
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte, official anniversary photo

850M impressions

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Kept it going

34
Doing the ALS Ice Bucket ChallengeOpen

$100M donated to ALS Association

The Da Vinci Code

Kept it going

34
First-edition cover of The Da Vinci Code, Doubleday, 2003

85M sold

Yes We Can (will.i.am)

Kept it going

31
Yes We Can (will.i.am): cover art

700K views

Picture: Neil Grabowsky / Montclair Film Festival, CC BY 2.0, cropped