Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) - Law & Order

[Rhiannon12866]

Last edited Tue Sep 13, 2022, 02:27 AM - Edit history (1)

John Oliver discusses the wildly popular television franchise, what it’s been teaching us about law enforcement, and some tricks for how to get to sleep in two minutes flat.




And here's a "bootleg" version of the show which also contains John's comments on recent events: The President of Chile speaking on the day his country rejected a new constitution being upstaged by a mini Superman; the U.K. still reeling from the death of the Queen - and everyone feeling obligated to weigh in; the tepid response to Britain's new prime minister's announcements - including her salute to former PM Boris Johnson; dealing with the increase in Britain's energy bills; Sean Hannity does the opposite of an ad for Walmart. It won't last long, as usual:

[rampartc]

1. one of oliver's best shows

my wife watches law and order obsessively. when ice tea describes some new perversion, she always asks me "what is that" and i have to pretend to know while i quickly open a tab on the urban dictionary.

[William Seger]

2. I'd pretend I didn't know

[Rhiannon12866]

3. It was also particularly entertaining since it's impossible not to have seen the show at least once.

I haven't watched it in quite awhile, but I sometimes check the listings to look for a particular episode I'd like to see again - the "guest star" that they were investigating back in the day was none other than Stephen Colbert! It was Law & Order: Criminal Intent - and he played a master forger.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

4. I've never watched it, beyond a few seconds.

I stopped watching cop shows a long time ago, except for comedies like Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

I barely watch ANY drama shows, but especially cop shows. If I'm going to watch BS, it better be funny BS.

[William Seger]

6. Ditto, the only network shows I watch are late night comedy

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Yes, real life these days has become dramatic enough, so that may be it.

I tend to avoid anything graphic, though I do like mysteries. And the one "cop show" that I do like is "Monk."

[Buckeye_Democrat]

9. Yes! I indeed watched Monk years ago!

I also liked Columbo as a kid.

I tried watching Hill Street Blues when it first came out, since it was well-reviewed, but I couldn't last beyond a couple episodes.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Also, "Monk" is on at this hour when there's very little on.

I've seen most of them more than once at this point, so I don't have to pay close attention. And some I like better than others.

[William Seger]

5. Not impossible

I've seen a minute or two of it here and there, but never a whole show -- it just didn't interest me.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. Well, for awhile there were three versions, so it was on all the time.

It's been a long time, but if the Stephen Colbert episode was on again, I would watch that one.

[burrowowl]

11. Kick

[Rhiannon12866]

12. Thanks! Replaced the second video with one which works - for awhile...

[Behind the Aegis]

13. I have watched every episode of L&O and L&O:SVU.

While the original may gloss over some things, SVU is a very different animal and, frankly, Oliver should have pointed it out. That show has often talked about piss-poor training in regard to "sex crimes", the re-victimization of victims/survivors, the lack of counseling services available. This has been more recent since Hargitay took over directing and producing.

As for the "bad" defense attorneys, well, it is a drama and who the fuck wants to watch scumbags, we KNOW are scumbags, get away? There is enough of that in the real world!

[Rhiannon12866]

14. It appeared to me that he was mainly talking about SVU, and you're right, all three are quite different

And isn't that the only one of the three still on? I used to watch, but it's been awhile. And I'm interested how it may have changed with Hargitay taking over. There were certain "teams" that I liked better than others - the one I usually skipped were the shows with Jeff Goldblum, LOL. And I don't know if you caught my post above, but I used to watch Law & Order: Criminal Intent - and I keep waiting for a repeat of the episode with Stephen Colbert as a master forger!

[Behind the Aegis]

15. L&O, the original, came back this last season.

There is also a new one with "Elliot Stabler" and I can't think of the name off the top of my head. As for SVU, there is more a focus on the victims and the fact that the "higher ups" are more concerned with appearances than actually getting the crime solved. The violence in the interrogation room, like what they showed with the "Elliot" and "Olivia" clips on his show, aren't really factors anymore. Some officers get really upset, but they rarely allow the upset person to act on it. Also, the focus tends to be more on the victim and trying to help them navigate the situation. It is an idealized version of what should happen, but it does make people feel better. In the interview with Hargitay, you can see the comments she has received over the years and there is some truth to it. There is more of an honesty to the situation. They even address scumbags pleading out and the victims/survivors' reactions.

SVU really has changed quite a bit. But, in the end, it is still just entertainment and not a documentary.