John Oliver’s Emmy Speech: A Tribute to His Dog and a Trump Election Warning

John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight” won the Emmy for outstanding scripted variety series, beating out “Saturday Night Live.” During his acceptance speech, Oliver’s tribute to his recently deceased family dog took a memorable turn. As he began thanking the dog, who had been present at his wedding and helped the family through tough times like the pandemic and pregnancies, Oliver was interrupted by the orchestra music signaling him to wrap up.

Responding to the interruption, Oliver jokingly commented, “Perfect choice of music,” before continuing his tribute. He added, “We had to say goodbye to her. I feel like Sarah McLachlan right now. She was an amazing dog.” Despite the increasing volume of the music, Oliver lightheartedly shouted, “Fuck you! There you go,” drawing laughter from the audience. He concluded by dedicating the award to all dogs, declaring them all deserving of treats.

“Last Week Tonight” is now in its 11th season on HBO, and the show has won a total of 30 Emmys since its premiere in 2014. On the red carpet before the ceremony, Oliver shared that he wouldn't miss making jokes about Donald Trump if he lost the upcoming election. He described Trump as a comedy “gift” that no one asked for and would gladly give up. However, Oliver warned that the election could be close, and if Trump loses, he may not handle it well, citing concerns about the potential aftermath.