John Oliver made it clear he has no interest in following Jay Leno’s suggestion that modern late-night hosts avoid political content to appeal to a broader audience.

Oliver’s Response

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the Last Week Tonight host dismissed Leno’s remarks about late-night comedy “cozying too much to one side or the other.” Oliver said comedy can’t be for everyone and is inherently subjective: “When you do stand-up, some people try to play to a broader audience… others decide not to, which is equally legitimate.”

“I guess I don’t think it’s a question of what you should do because I don’t think comedy is prescriptive in that way. It’s just what people want,” he added.

Oliver’s Approach

Oliver emphasized that his show focuses on systemic issues rather than partisan politics. “Our last few shows were about gang databases, AI slop, juvenile justice, med spas, air traffic control,” he explained. “They have a point of view, but I hope they reach across political persuasions.”

Leno’s Criticism

Leno, 75, recently claimed current hosts — including Oliver, Seth Meyers, and Jon Stewart — “shoot for just half an audience.” During his tenure, Leno aimed to spread jokes evenly across political lines to keep a wide appeal.

Stewart’s Take

Oliver isn’t the first to push back. Jon Stewart mocked Leno on his Daily Show podcast, parodying his stance: “‘Why do you have to make jokes about things you believe? Why do you have to talk about things you actually think?’”

Common Ground

Despite their differences, Oliver and Leno share one goal: bringing people together on core issues, even if solutions differ. “You want people to at least be able to agree on the problem,” Oliver said, “even if you disagree on the solution.”