John Oliver points out the hilarious absurdity of TV anchors trying to talk their way around Scaramucci's lewd comments

HBO's John Oliver does not have to use the same caution tip-toeing around lewd language as cable news hosts, and he used that fact to his hilarious advantage in his return to Last Week Tonight on Sunday. In addressing recent graphic comments made to The New Yorker by White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, Oliver insisted that "there is just no point in being coy anymore."

"'I'm not Steve Bannon, I'm not trying to suck my own c--k.' That's what he said, to a reporter, on the record," Oliver explained. But not everyone gets to use that kind of language on air, with many anchors needing to insert "expletive" or "blank" as awkward verbal censors.

Oliver, though, tipped his hat to those who found ways to address the comments bluntly — or with anatomical bewilderment, as was expressed by Gayle King on CBS This Morning. Watch below. Jeva Lange

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up