More John Oliver on coronavirus

At the end of Science of the Vernal Equinox, I told my readers to "Stay tuned for the last entry of the ninth year of this blog, which I plan to be an update of John Oliver on coronavirus.  Yes, the pandemic is moving that fast."  Here it is, Coronavirus II: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO).

As the spread of coronavirus worsens in the US, John Oliver discusses how the government is handling the outbreak, how they’re not, and what we can do to help.

Both the blank set and the lack of a studio audience make this a much more serious episode, even though the writing is pretty much the same with barbed comments.  Without a live audience, the jokes fall a little flat.  Also, John Oliver is a little more serious in his delivery.  Finally, this is the entire episode.  There is no "And now, this" transition into or out of the main segment.  It's very unusual.  Welcome to comedy in a time of plague.

Stay tuned for a double celebration of Nowruz (Persian New Year) and this blog's ninth birthday.  The latter, at least, will be a happy occasion.  I'm not as sure about the first.