'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' returns after winning two Emmy Awards with 'A History of Chuck E. Cheese,' a tale of the Retail Apocalypse

I got two unexpected surprises this morning. First, I found that the video I wanted to feature today, Plastic Recycling is a Myth – Here’s How We Fix That, had playback on other sites disabled by PBS Terra. Shoot! I was looking forward to revisiting the plastic questions from Treasures of the Earth: Power. That was the unpleasant surprise. The pleasant surprise was that Last Week Tonight with John Oliver uploaded A History of Chuck E. Cheese: Last Squeak Tonight with John Oliver (Web Exclusive). I wasn't expecting any new content until the show returned to HBO next week for its season premiere. I may not be religious, but the saying that when one door closes, another door (or at least a window) opens holds true in this case. Besides, it's been two months since I posted 'Bankrupt - Ruby Tuesday' by Bright Sun Films, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse, so it's time to re-examine the subject. Take it away, John Oliver!

Last season, we made a hard-hitting piece on homeowners associations. And then, we made this. For those of you who are under 35 and will never own a home. Season 11 starts February 18th!

I've blogged repeatedly about Chuck E. Cheese this decade, beginning with Chuck E. Cheese, GNC, and Tuesday Morning all file for bankruptcy, tales of the Retail Apocalypse during the pandemic, then Company Man explains the rise and fall of Chuck E. Cheese's, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse and pandemic, Business Insider and CNBC explain the rise and fall of Chuck E. Cheese, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse and pandemic, The rise, fall, rise, and fall again of Chuck E. Cheese, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse, and Bright Sun Films presents 'Bankrupt - Chuck E Cheese's', a tale of the Retail Apocalypse. All of these have been serious recountings of the pizza chain's history and problems, so it was time for a re-examination of the tale through comedy. I have to say, it was fun. In fact, it may be too much fun. Oliver and his studio audience are having almost too good a time! That written, welcome back! I missed you.

Now follow over the jump for the Emmy Awards Last Night with John Oliver won that I previewed in Pete Davidson hosts as 'Saturday Night Live' returns.

Outstanding Scripted Variety Series
A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)

The experts at Gold Derby think Last Week Tonight with John Oliver will beat Saturday Night Live in this revamped category and I agree.

And it did. Watch John Oliver: 75th Emmy Awards Winnerview.

John Oliver from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver talks to Albert Lawrence backstage at the 75th Emmy Awards after winning the Emmy for Outstanding Scripted Variety Series and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series[.]

I agree with Oliver; Lauren Boebert's bad girl behavior at "Beetlejuice" deserved a featured segment and it's a shame she didn't get one because of the WGA strike. Darn. Here's to her misbehaving enough to earn a spot this season

Speaking of the writers, their award is next.

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah - Dan Amira, Lauren Sarver Means, Daniel Radosh, David Angelo, Nicole Conlan, Devin Delliquanti, Zach DiLanzo, Jennifer Flanz, Jason Gilbert, Josh Johnson, David Kibuuka, Matt Koff, Trevor Noah, Joseph Opio, Randall Otis, Zhubin Parang, Kat Radley, Scott Sherman, and Ashton Womack (Comedy Central)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Daniel O'Brien, Owen Parsons, Charlie Redd, Joanna Rothkopf, Seena Vali, Johnathan Appel, Ali Barthwell, Tim Carvell, Liz Hynes, Ryan Ken, Mark Kramer, Sofia Manfredi, John Oliver, Taylor Kay Phillips, and Chrissy Shackelford (HBO)
Late Night with Seth Meyers - Alex Baze, Seth Reiss, Mike Scollins, Sal Gentile, Jermaine Affonso, Karen Chee, Bryan Donaldson, Matt Goldich, Dina Gusovsky, Jenny Hagel, Allison Hord, Mike Karnell, John Lutz, Seth Meyers, Ian Morgan, Amber Ruffin, Mike Shoemaker, Ben Warheit, and Jeff Wright (NBC)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert - Ariel Dumas, Jay Katsir, Delmonte Bent, Michael Brumm, Aaron Cohen, Stephen T. Colbert, Paul Dinello, Glenn Eichler, Gabe Gronli, Barry Julien, Michael Cruz Kayne, Eliana Kwartler, Matt Lappin, Caroline Lazar, Pratima Mani, Felipe Torres Medina, Opus Moreschi, Carley Moseley, Asher Perlman, Tom Purcell, Kate Sidley, Brian Stack, John Thibodeaux, and Steve Waltien (CBS)
Saturday Night Live - Alison Gates, Streeter Seidell, Kent Sublette, Gary Richardson, Will Stephen, Celeste Yim, Bryan Tucker, Rosebud Baker, Dan Bulla, Michael Che, Mike DiCenzo, Alex English, Jimmy Fowlie, Martin Herlihy, John Higgins, Steve Higgins, Vannessa Jackson, Colin Jost, Erik Kenward, Ben Marshall, Lorne Michaels, Jake Nordwind, Ceara O'Sullivan, Clare O'Kane, Ben Silva, Asha Ward, Auguste White, Pete Schultz, Megan Callahan-Shah, Dennis McNicholas, Josh Patten, and KC Shornima (NBC)

While I'm featuring the Twitter image promoting Late Night with Seth Meyers for this nomination, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver has won this award seven years in a row, so I think it's a safe bet to call it to win an eighth consecutive time.

Again, the experts at Gold Derby agree. I like it when the experts and I agree.

We were right. Watch Writing for a Variety Series: 75th Emmy Awards.

The Team from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver accepts the Emmy for Writing for a Variety Series at the 75th Emmy Awards.

I appreciate not only the thanks for Oliver and his support during the strike, but also the expression of solidarity for the writers during the strike. I'm a union man, so that's important to me.

The rest of the writing staff got to express their gratitude in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: 75th Emmy Awards Thank You Cam.

The Writing Team from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver talks with the Emmys Thank You Cam after winning for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.

That was both touching and funny. Good work and congratulations!

I will have more awards show coverage, after marching music for the Nevada Democratic Primary and Republican Caucus tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Previous posts about the 2023 Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Awards

• Dove's 'Cost of Beauty' the sole PSA among the 2023 Emmy nominees for Outstanding Commercial
• 'The Territory' leads nominees for Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking at the 2023 Emmy Awards
• Barack Obama defends his Emmy against Hollywood all-stars narrating nature and science documentaries
• The music of 'Prehistoric Planet 2' earned the series its first Emmy nomination
• 'Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy' defends its Emmy for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special
• '100 Foot Wave' has the most nominations but experts think 'The U.S. and the Holocaust' and 'The 1619 Project' have best chances to win Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series at the Emmy Awards
• 'Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie' leads nominees for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special at the Emmy Awards
• 'Good Night Oppy' has six nominations at the News & Documentary Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary and Best Documentary
• HBO dramas and 'SNL' split the nominees for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series at the 2023 Emmy Awards
• 'Welcome to Wrexham' leads unstructured reality programs at the 2023 Emmy Awards
• 'Queer Eye' leads structured reality shows at the Emmys - again
• Primetime and Creative Arts Emmy Awards shows postponed indefinitely because of strikes
• Nixon saying 'Sock it to me' and Outstanding Talk Series Emmy nominees for Presidential Joke Day
• Celebrate Star Trek Day with two Emmy nominations for 'Star Trek: Picard'
• Pete Davidson hosts as 'Saturday Night Live' returns
• A late celebration of RuPaul's birthday with the Emmy nominations for 'Drag Race'
• 'Jeopardy!' leads game show nominees at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• 'Weird' leads television movies with eight nominations at the Emmy Awards for World Television Day
• Trevor Noah, Wanda Sykes, and Chris Rock, comedians nominated at the Golden Globes, Grammys, and Emmys
• 'Succession' vs. 'The Last of Us' split drama guest acting nominees at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards plus Gold Derby predictions
• Golden Globes, Critics Choice, and Emmy screenplay and writing nominees for National Screenwriters Day
• 'Beef' leads limited series at the Emmy Awards
• 'Ted Lasso' leads comedies in nominations, but 'The Bear' may win more Emmy Awards
• 'Succession' leads drama series nominees, followed by 'The Last of Us' and 'The White Lotus'
• The '2023 Emmys Celebrates Diversity With Most Winning Actors of Color' for the week of MLK Day
• Colbert, Meyers, and Kimmel return from the Emmys to take closer looks at the Iowa Caucus
• Barack Obama among diverse winners in front of the camera and microphone at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards
• 'Trump' brags about his cognitive abilities as 'SNL' returns after winning 2 Emmy Awards
• Michelle Obama vs. Bernie Sanders at the Grammy Awards
• The real Nikki Haley crashes the fake Trump town hall plus Weekend Update mocks Taylor Swift conspiracy theories on 'SNL'