John Oliver really did not want to talk about the U.S. election last night.
The HBO comedian opened Sunday’s episode of Last Week Tonight on HBO by saying he’d planned to “give everybody a break” from America’s divisive presidential election. But, that was jettisoned by the recent developments involving the FBI’s renewed investigation of Hillary Clinton’s private email server. (That came as a result of newly-discovered emails found during an unrelated investigation into disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner’s sexting scandal.)
“With a heavy heart we must begin with the 2016 election,” Oliver said, before launching into a rant that gave voice to many Democrats’ dismay and revulsion over Weiner’s role as a possible election spoiler.
“It seems Anthony Weiner is forcing the nation to re-litigate the entire email controversy, and putting Hillary Clinton’s chances of winning the presidency in serious danger . . . Carlos Danger,” Oliver said, referring to Weiner’s former online alias while the comedian also broke into a quick dance to the song “Danger,” by Mystikal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_TSJnrvMo4
Oliver then aptly summed up the reaction of many Democrats to the surprise, last-minute election twist by playing a video clip in which Vice President Joe Biden learns for the first time that the newly discovered Clinton emails were found as part of Weiner’s separate investigation.
“Oh God,” Biden said, sighing. “I shouldn’t comment on Anthony Weiner. I’m not a big fan.”
Making matters more frustrating, Oliver noted, is the fact that FBI director James Comey’s letter to Congress said he was not sure if the new emails are even significant, while various experts don’t expect the issue to be fully resolved before Election Day, on Nov. 8.
“So, to recap, the grinding hell of this election has thrown in yet another twist with the election potentially hanging in the balance, all thanks to the fact Anthony Weiner allegedly sexted with a 15-year-old girl.”
Oliver reminded viewers that one month ago, when Donald Trump tweeted that Americans should “check out” a sex tape of a former Miss Universe contestant (a sex tape that didn’t exist, either), Oliver said the election had sunk to a low, and that if you looked up you’d only see rock bottom. “Well if you look up now,” Oliver said, “you will see absolutely nothing. We have burrowed through, not just rock bottom, but through the core of the earth and we’ve come bursting out the other side, startling kangaroos. And we’re currently hurtling toward outer space where there is no up, down, light or darkness – just an endless void in which death comes as sweet, sweet relief. Please let this thing be over soon.”