The Strangest Hotel John Oliver Ever Stayed In

John Oliver recalls visiting a hotel in rural Missouri that was themed around English authors and reveals where he wishes where he was when Osama bin Laden was killed.
Original airdate: August 24, 2012
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[@allysonbeaulieu7351]

“everything’s going to be fine” he says naievely in 2012

[@gilbertplays]

In the Philippines, we we're beginning an era of prosperity and hope before 2016 ended that.

[@nugsnjugs9954]

​@@gilbertplays the election coming up looks tense, hopefully the mayor of Manila wins, from an outsiders perspective she looks promising. Prayers from California.

[@nikkyboy1067]

Comedy is best as an escape. You sneak in the punches when people relax. Without the ability to relax, it isn't comedy

[@SnepBlepVR]

THIS.DID.NOT.AGE.WELL.

[@mushroomking311]

@@SnepBlepVR in what way?

[@brandondavidson4085]

John Oliver: "Everything is going to be fine" *cut off his bangs, produced several seasons of a show about how bad things are* Also John: *spends thousands of dollars of HBO's money to raise awareness for these issues*

[@willrfrench]

This was all a part of his ten year plan. “Everything is going to be fine.” *does actual work to make that happen*

[@MrJjones543]

*hundreds of thousands of dollars

[@insi6358]

Job Security

[@kevind3974]

At this point it’s a few million without a question. He’s done some big donations plus the organizations, sites, places, events, and lobbying cost a varying amounts of money some being only a few thousand to others definitely hitting the three digit marks. he dos at least one of these plus a or a few random souvenirs from one of his topics per episode.

[@ChickSage]

He's just ensuring that everything will be fine.

[@Patrick_3751]

"Kim Jong Ill, who became Kim Jong Very Ill, now Kim Jong Dead." The audience should have laughed way harder at that!!! LOL

[@83gemm]

As he noted, it had JUST happened. But yeah, that was gold and it’s a shame they felt uncomfortable

[@badjokezach6359]

Agreed, laughed my ass off

[@aveuch]

It was 2012 kpop, kbbq, and kimchi hadn't become mainstream at that point. Kdramas were still very much underground.

[@diegolarrea7932]

John Oliver in 2016: "everything is going to fine" Me watching this in 2021: "you sure about that Johnny boy?"

[@bunkigoongold]

It was aired in 2012

[@diegolarrea7932]

@@bunkigoongold then it aged even worse

[@felixvelariusbos]

Genuinely trying to remember what disaster had happened in 2012 that would have prompted him to say that and coming up blank. 2012 might as well have been 50 years ago at this point.

[@JimRFF]

@@felixvelariusbos I legitimately think it was just a reference to the idiots that thought the Mayan calendar was gonna destroy the world for christmas that year

[@falsemcnuggethope]

@@JimRFF Maybe they Mayans were right after all

[@andromedaplease]

John understands the irony behind this set in 2021

[@letfireraindown]

This just reminds me more and more that John Oliver and John Cena are the exact same age... and just realized that I share my birthday with both of them

[@bretthoomana2541]

Happy birthday?

[@johnzilla9991]

Same here!

[@norahhitt104]

You, Cena and Oliver should do a buddy comedy together about birthday shared together and gone wrong, sorta hangover less hangover

[@MissMTurner]

They're both about a month older than me. And it always makes me chuckle at the comparison between the two.

[@willimacdo]

In these days of Covid it was strange to hear Oliver say "over the year people have died" and be setting up for a joke.

[@nope53926]

He said that and I had to check the date this was posted, even in 2023 that is a risky joke.

[@falsemcnuggethope]

@@nope53926 you can tell this is old because John doesn't have gray hair

[@opheliaismyname9180]

Technically, James Bond is an author, but not a fiction author. Fleming pinched the name from a naturalist who wrote a book on birds

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

I don't believe in birds.

[@TaylorMaurandbhangra]

Ironic. Especially given how much John Oliver identifies with birds on a regular basis..

[@samnelson2343]

I wonder whether anybody ever pointed this out to him. (It is still a vary niche author so i can see his bewilderment but an excellent observation - for which thanks) Dunno of you'll get this notification. Either way. Still ya

[@derekchristenson5711]

I came here to make sure that someone had commented on this! I hope that's who the hotel operator was thinking of... I hope... LOL

[@frederikmathisen7357]

And the character himself was actually inspired by Christopher Lee's real life spy career in World War II

[@jonathanperry8331]

Everything's going to be fine. 😂😀 This aged well.

[@optimusprime2105]

My first thoughts exactly

[@Francisc0_1]

It aged very well! We got through that stuff now. We’ll get through this.

[@user-sk4nt5bm5r]

You are on the internet and not dead. You are doing fine.

[@stabbedwestward725]

Everything is going to be fine. Maybe not for us, but humanity has pretty much stumbled into an upward trajectory through history

[@janeallgood9833]

hey that's not bad. how many people died over the last 12 mo-my god!!

[@lundylow]

Hearing John say "everything's going to be fine" sounds wrong. My coworker asked me if I'd seen John's latest episode, and I said no, because I need to be mentally prepared. "Hi! Here's a thing you may or may not have heard of! Here's why it's awful! And guess what? It's even worse than that! And you can't really do anything about it!" So with that conversation in the back of my brain, this recommendation, specifically the opening line, is eerie.

[@SailHatinSoap]

FACKIN TRUE M8

[@Adam-zv8jz]

But like some of them are really light hearted like the cereal one and the duck stamp are funny without the hard truth in many other episodes.

[@evanbelton1297]

That's why I stay away from those kinds of shows. Helps me sleep at night.

[@pacmanshooter247]

That is so true. Sometimes I keep an episode open in a tab for 3 weeks before I bring up the strength to watch it. Yes, its always interesting and important and just funny enough to somehow bear it but a lot of the time its just such a fucking reminder how insanely powerless.... so yeah... just.... yeah. I get it.

[@DisgruntledHippo]

The Kim Jung bit is incredible.

[@poopboobfoot3478]

the "i know everything is a bit rough right now in america" part is wack bc this could apply to any time in america ever

[@poopboobfoot3478]

hm...2012. yeah i guess it sucked back then

[@theruoc147]

John’s standup is underrated.

[@CaseyWinehouse]

I think it’s rated perfectly.

[@therockphilosopher1678]

I think John Oliver is the most American British guy ever

[@travisinthetrunk]

To be fair, James Bond was an author on the subject of ornithology.

[@theangryholmesian4556]

He always was a cunning linguist.

[@theholk]

But then again, James Bond was born in Wattenscheid, Germany. No really. I'm serious :D

[@asterix7842]

Not what he’s most known for, though.

[@spyone4828]

@@asterix7842 Actually it is. I mean, the fictional character is best known for being a government agent, but the James Bond who wrote books on ornithology is best known for being the author of the book Birds of Jamaica, which is clearly visible briefly during the movie Dr. No.

[@rallymaniac92]

Man don't we all just feel so embarrassed that we judged that hotel owner over our own ignorance!

[@donutchan8114]

John Oliver in casual wear is an aesthetic I can get behind

[@helenl3193]

"That just happened. That was a joke; deal with it."😎 Chef's kiss

[@nethkenm]

Missed opportunity for that hotel: the "unknown author" room 😂😂😂😂

[@nth.aurora]

John looks like he was 20 year younger in this

[@Ghoddal]

Well, it's ten years old

[@iamtheuberscoot]

While I do think John's standup is a little underrated, his sense of humor and delivery do really shine best in the form of desk pieces like he does on LWT. I remember the summer he stepped in to host the Daily Show-- he was hysterical, he really seemed to come into his own as a comic behind a desk, in my opinion at least. I've been watching LWT since it premiered because I was so certain he'd nail the format as soon as the show was announced.

[@trent_k]

My favorite version of him was his time recording the Bugle with Andy Zaltzman, they had a great back and forth

[@zenosol234]

i.. i just want to know what the rest of the names in the hotel were.. and what was said in the rooms about the fictional characters.

[@MLIOGJXNUYAT]

When bin Laden's death was announced, I was having drinks in a hotel lounge with a large group of military and military contractor people during a conference. The TV was off. Suddenly, phone notifications were pinging everywhere. It was surreal.

[@SAJe_53]

Not only was he sleeveless, he was downright shirtless and pulling it off like Oliver could never do. Can you believe they are the exact same age?

[@jamirimaj6880]

wow this guy is funny, i hope he lands a tv show and hits big time in the future...

[@greenghost2008]

I forgot he used to have emo hair

[@dianetirina6058]

Who didn’t have an emo haircut, ‘twas the wild 2000s 🤣

[@libbybollinger5901]

Honestly, this haircut was better

[@nabinnyc]

that nervous laughter was ON POINT

[@oversonder]

"I was in rural Missouri" First mistake.

[@alvarocastillo9858]

I was there sitting next to John Cenas wife behind the announcers. I’m the kid with two arm casts in a black polo!

[@maryrosekent8223]

John, I want to thank you once again for throwing your lot in with us!

[@jacksonjones2220]

I needed this tonight

[@Lastbornschwab7]

John oliver is a treasure.

[@Zurich_for_Beginners]

James Bond was a author for bird watching book.

[@jatilq]

This needs to be put into a cartoon like the Bill Burr helicopter story.

[@scalwi]

I've stayed at that hotel; it is in St. Louis, not "rural" Missouri.

[@catherinemjburke]

Yep, not even suburban St. Louis…down the street from Forest Park

[@cameronmcknight1525]

WAIT, ALL OF MISSOURI ISNT RURAL? /sarcasm

[@silvasilvasilva]

To be fair...

[@leestauffenecker6227]

Thank you! I said the same thing. It’s not like it was a town like Camdenton or Branson West

[@LaughingSaint66]

You obviously don’t get out much if you don’t know that St. Louis is Rural Missouri😂😂😂

[@SRHtheHedgehog]

"I was in rural Missouri" Me, living in the Midwest: "yikes"

[@dontaskme7157]

I would have loved to see that hotel on a episode of hotel hell.

[@spencer0600]

Professor Duncan is pretty funny

[@sarcasticstartrek7719]

James Bond was named after an author, actually - Flemming was looking for a name that was boring and ordinary, and he came across a book on birds, by an author called James Bond.

[@stereoroid]

Oh John, if only you could have foreseen your next job … spending most Sundays telling Americans just how buggered things really are.

[@fritzstammen4535]

He probably does, he's saying things are buggered but it tends to work out

[@bronsoncarder2491]

I love watching johns stand up. Not because he's great at it, he's not. Lol But because he's clearly stoned and thats for some reason hilarious to me. Lol Has anyone ever called him on that? Having to be stoned to do stand up? Cause he's visibly high in every special I've seen him in. Lol

[@anitagee3362]

Spit out my tea with the "Shirtless" bit! 😆

[@safaiaryu12]

I have stayed at this hotel! I found it a lot of fun.

[@f1zz-k1d89]

I think so too…. I stayed at a british themed hotel with author themed rooms in missouri. but it was in st. louis, not rural missouri. are there two of these hotels???

[@Genericfakename]

@@f1zz-k1d89 was it in Clayton/u city? Was an English themed hotel there but never went inside so not sure if the rooms were author themed

[@robertmccleery859]

The Cheshire, correct?

[@safaiaryu12]

@@robertmccleery859 Yep!

[@Genericfakename]

yup thats the one i was thinking of as well, not particularly rural... but maybe the entire state of MO is considered rural by british standards

[@linksapprentice726]

John Oliver would make a great Arthur from a hitchhikers guide to the galaxy

[@DissociatedWomenIncorporated]

John Oliver forgot one notable happy death from the year before this performance - Jimmy Savile! 🎉🥳🎊🍾

[@sesa2984]

I have absolutely no memory of hearing about Bin Laden.

[@joelpaltzer8732]

Quick reminder that John Oliver and John Cena are the exact same age.

[@falsemcnuggethope]

By the minute?

[@3941602]

Remember when he said do it and begged a candidate to run

[@stacylarge5636]

Thank you from Missouri I've got my eye on you ♡

[@OsofoGriot]

Come such a long way from the Bugle with our Lord and saviour, Zaltor The Merciless

[@lilithmatriarch7509]

I don't remember where I was when I found out Bin Laden had been killed.

[@user-yo3vt7ft1p]

He looks so trim and young in this old clip. Older now, and still just as intelligently funny.

[@rosesmith6925]

I wonder how he feels about everything's going to be just fine now that he's spent years letting us know just how fucked up this country can get on HBO 😂😂😂

[@kategleason6481]

"It's worth to know at this point that he was sleeveless'

[@lh3540]

I'm not the only one that's like, "Oh, yeah...Bin Laden...no....no, we got bigger problems."

[@alindsey1013]

This is fucking amazing. I'm freggin dying 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@BigSteve_Gaming187]

From a guy who looks like someone you can trust fixing your computer to a guy who is now on every Froot Loops box who gives us researched facts packed with jokes and realizations. What a journey John Oliver has had... 😏

[@poopiepantsmcgee456]

Wow. That's really true. I haven't quite viewed it in that light. Death of opps became good long. Long ago

[@hellogoditsmesara3569]

John Oliver famous last words

[@baylinkdashyt]

Also: John Cena is a smart, and, by all accounts, really fantastic guy.

[@Tonyhouse1168]

I just wish I could SEE him :/

[@pleappleappleap]

If I'm not quite mistaken, John Cena is hyperintelligent. As in gifted.

[@allwynrodrigues2410]

Was there a room of author E.L.James u know the author of fifty shades of grey 🤔😏😏 cause im tryna see some 🤣🤣

[@alizamoon6842]

“I know everything is looking rough at the moment.” We were so naive, and we really, *really,* forgot to knock on wood.

[@papagrounds]

That's the future what Saint's Row predicted.

[@JustJanitor]

I lost it at pour some sugar on me

[@ShayanBahrainy]

I first watched this and thought he meant covid because it was uploaded two years ago, then I checked the description, and realized it was from 2012.

[@voodoochild1975az]

This needs to be edited with 2023 John walking on stage, slapping himself when he says everything is going to be fine....

[@stotch77]

He is very gorgeous to me

[@aplant9980]

You have Terrible taste in men but unfortunately I agree with you 🤝

[@stephjovi]

Well in hindsight, those deaths didn't help anyone. America plunged Libia into chaos, Bin Laden is gone, missed by nobody, but so are thousands of innocent people Afghans and Americans and the Taliban are still there. And there's no big difference between Kim Jong Il or Kim Jong Unb

[@weareallbornmad410]

What a giant surprise.

[@sawmaniac]

lol: At the moment everything looks bad. You ain't seen nothing yet in 2012.^^

[@bookbeing]

I want to stay at that hotel! On a sadder note, the Kadafi story is nothing for any American to boast about, rather his death is unfortunately another example of our over reaching and immoral foreign policy.

[@posthocprior]

This kind of looks like the guy from HBO with all the sad facts.

[@brianhalligan9268]

Knowing John is a wrestling fan he should not be surprised that there is more poetry in Cena’s delivery by this point they guy had been on live TV in front of thousands every week for almost 10 years at this point.

[@dogandchicken]

the optimism is killing me. i think our country’s marketing team may have jumped the gun.

[@j_bird27]

Upload John Pinette’s old stand up special please!

[@iSmartMan1]

Did he just describe Idiocracy at the end there?

[@acrobandit8643]

That awkward clap at 0:34🤦

[@logandunavant8633]

Was there a Sherlock Holmes room?

[@godlessgoth213]

I really hope they had an Aleister Crowley and Mcgregor matters rooms.

[@dionysuspicious]

I was actually 200 km away from Osama's home when he got killed

[@vice.nor.virtue]

This is one prophecy that's having a hard time coming true.

[@eddieford9373]

Now I'm going to find that video of John Cena

[@janehan1153]

The same John Cena who is exactly the same age as Oliver! I wonder if he knew already at this point

[@egnielson]

What is the best way to forward this video to 2021 John Oliver?

[@dmandaman5060]

I loved how he mentioned wwe

[@matrixphijr]

Now instead of Kim-Jong-VeryIll, we have Kim-Jong-the-unKimJong-the-very-much-like-his-dad-Kim-Jong.

[@TheActionBastard]

2021... sir, you were so wrong I can't even begin to find the words. :|

[@arthurmartin4616]

We were so innocent back in 2012. Hard to believe that was 11 years ago.

[@YudronWangmo]

John’s gotten a lot funnier since 2012.

[@TheCheesyNachos]

the first ten seconds is pretty much how he is on LWT

[@Dizz2K7]

John Cena really is amazing with words.

[@BrianFedirko]

Grrr8!

[@CalumCarlyle]

Susan Boyle and the chef that swears a lot aren't even English!

[@RabblesTheBinx]

Ramsay lived in England from the age of 9 and has openly stated that he considers himself English. "This is unbelievable cos there's a lot of similarities between Andy and I. We're both English, and we both studied in Paris, but there's one thing we don't share in common. I care about my customers. He clearly doesn't give a f***. What a shame."

[@3941602]

Get Russel Brand on

[@jwec9867]

It's worth mentioning Def Leapard are English but Family Guy made the same mistake soooo.

[@guidoguido2245]

Maybe another joke about "some English people he knows"

[@Primalxbeast]

So they were a very late British invasion band?

[@jwec9867]

@@Primalxbeast I don't think so.

[@Primalxbeast]

@@jwec9867 I was just joking.

[@jwec9867]

@@Primalxbeast Me too.

[@SonjaDawn]

Little did John Oliver know...

[@sharkrancher282]

This man understands the spirit of the United States better than every flag-fellating bigot who ever screeched " 'Merca! " through a megaphone.

[@abhishek2275]

So he wanted Zhong Xina to be the president? 🧐

[@itac.2280]

Makes sense this was aired in 2012 because he looks about 30 years younger

[@bengriffith585]

Lock step

[@KateBond642]

That's how when Castro died and I wished I was in Miami. My parents were born in the Soviet Union so I guess that explains it somewhat.