John Oliver is in awe of the Super Bowl — and says the rest of the world is, too

(Image credit: Late Show)

published 30 January 2015

An avid soccer fan, John Oliver told David Letterman on Thursday's Late Show that he's been "brainwashed" into embracing American football's Super Bowl. "I'm on a green card, and if I don't watch the Super Bowl, I get ejected," he joked, added that he actually loves the big game, "because it's peak America, isn't it? It's when America Americanized itself to the full American extent."

After listing off all the ways America's pro football championship game embodies the American spirit, Oliver went global. "You've got to understand how intimidating the Super Bowl is to the rest of the world," he told Letterman. "Because when you beam that around the world, everyone else is thinking, 'If they are capable of this, what else can they do?'" You hear that, State Department? Peace through football? Walk softly and carry a big ball? —Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.