Screenshot: HBO
HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is dark tonight, October 19, 2025. The show is taking a one-week hiatus before returning for the first of its final four episodes of the season.
The Season 12 finale is set for Nov. 15, wrapping up what’s been one of Oliver’s most politically charged runs in years. The show is expected to launch its thirteenth season in February 2026.
Over the past eight months, Last Week Tonight has tackled a wide range of subjects, opening with an episode on DOGE and Elon Musk’s influence on Donald Trump’s presidency, and later touching on topics including online content moderation, tipping culture, ICE detention centers, and AI-generated “slop.”
The show’s most recent episode, which aired Oct. 12, examined Bari Weiss, David Ellison, and CBS News—continuing a season-long focus on media influence and threats to free speech in the U.S.
While much of Season 12 has reflected the turbulence of Trump’s second term, Oliver and his team have also carved out space for sillier diversions, including a May segment on absurd minor league baseball team names that led to a multi-episode arc featuring dozens of clubs competing for the chance to be rebranded by Last Week Tonight. The Erie Seawolves ultimately won, unveiling their new identity—the Erie Moon Mammoths—in July, with Oliver and crew on hand for their debut.
Last Week Tonight returns next Sunday, Oct. 26 on HBO and HBO Max.