Last Week Tonight With John OliverIt has a long history of using comedy monologues to draw attention and to discuss political and cultural issues. This show excels at making complex ideas and conflicts more accessible to general audiences. Oliver discussed the long-running NBC franchise last week. Law & Order. He reflected on the show’s relationship with the police and how the procedural’s popularity has apparently skewed public perception of law enforcement. This was a topic that caught the attention many, including Law & Order: SVUDiane Neal, a NBC alum, was enraged by the segment days later.
It seems that Diane Neal really connected with John Oliver’s appeal. Neal took to Twitter about the topic after it went viral and also asked people who were victims of sex crimes for their stories about law enforcement. Neal wrote to the person who shared her story, and she didn’t hesitate to share her thoughts.
Yes. If #OliviaBenson were a real person, there would be more justice. I’m embarrassed to admit, I used to think the way it worked on the show was like real life. But then I discovered the hard way that I was wrong. We are grateful that you shared your true story. #iamsorry https://t.co/5ztHNfHnNwSeptember 12, 2022
On his show, John Oliver specifically called out the show for misrepresenting the police force’s response to sexual assault cases. On Law & OrderOliver asserts that Oliver’s assertions do not accurately reflect the true attitude of the police. During His Last Week Tonight monologueHe said:
Government and press reports have repeatedly shown that New York’s actual sex crimes unit is set up to fail victims of sexual assault, and its case closure rate is a long way from Elliot Stabler’s fictitious 97%. The NYPD’s official figures show that they only close about a third of sexual assault cases.
Those stats are admittedly damaging, and it’s interesting to see a cast member from the show speak out about how Law & OrderThe numbers are portrayed by the producers. One must applaud Diane Neal, who is open about her past show and its shortcomings.
This is not the first time that John Oliver’s material has attracted widespread attention. Famously, Hotstar censored Oliver’s piece on India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also went after the WWE’s labor practices, which prompted a negative reaction from wresting organization, and Oliver remains a controversial figure in China following his comments on the President of People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping. Clearly, Oliver is no stranger to controversy, so I’m sure he had no reservations when it came to going after L&O.
Regardless of the host’s criticisms though, Dick Wolf’s Law & Order franchise isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. They are all doing well in viewership. Mariska Haagitay just teased the crossover event between them. Law & Order spinoff shows SVU Organized CrimeThis will take place this month. Diane Neal’s SVU, it’s heading for its 24th season, so it’s popularity clearly isn’t dying down.
Only time will tell if John Oliver’s think piece generates any long-term discussions about Law & OrderIts merits. He certainly has given Diane Neal and us a lot of things to consider.
Last Week Tonight Sunday airs on HBO. HBO Max subscribers can stream past episodes. Additional features include the Law & Order They will all be returning to NBC for their respective seasons starting at 8 p.m. on September 22nd. ET. Our 2022 TV schedule contains more information on upcoming programs.