Posted in: Comedy Central, HBO, TV | Tagged: comedy central, John Oliver, the daily show

The Daily Show: Ronny Chieng, John Oliver Discuss Learning Reporting

The Daily Show guest host Ronny Chieng on what he learned from alum and Last Week Tonight host John Oliver about being a correspondent.

Prodigal son John Oliver has returned home as a guest of The Daily Show guest host Ronny Chieng as the two reminisced about the time when they met for a mentoring session as Chieng was starting out on the Comedy Central variety series. Oliver joined the show in season 12 during the Jon Stewart as a writer and correspondent for 962 episodes, occasionally guest hosting. After eight seasons, Oliver left The Daily Show in 2013 to host his own news/commentary comedy series, Last Week Tonight, for HBO, becoming a staple of the premium network's weekly comedy programming for 10 seasons running while winning several Emmys in the process. The two had an exchange about Oliver's time from being a staff writer and the scary experience of being a guest.

The Daily Show: John Oliver on Ronny Chieng's Questions About Being a Correspondent

Chieng – Well, well, well, look who's come crawling back where it all started

Oliver – I know. It's pretty weird to be back. I do not like being in that guest room at all. That was the one room when I worked here you were not allowed to go in, and I don't like being in it now. It feels like I'm doing something wrong by being inside it.

Chieng – You never snuck in to see a guest?

Oliver – No. We were never allowed to really be in there because it had to be kept nice for the guests. And it never really occurred to me that one day I might be that. And I still don't feel…I put my bag in there and then stood in the corridor for the rest. I don't want to be there at all.

Chieng – But this place brings so many memories. You were here; you were in this building.

Oliver – I was very much in this building. This was the reason I came to America, and I was here for eight years.

Chieng – People don't know this, but we have very similar backgrounds because we both joined the show. I moved to America to do the show, just like you. When I first joined the show, 'The Daily Show' alumni network was so strong that I asked to meet up with Mr. Oliver. I was like, 'There's no way this guy is going to let me meet up with him,' and you were like, 'No, come before work.'

Oliver – There's nothing I like more than talking to people who have questions about how to make field pieces. It's such a narrow set of skills, and all of your questions were great. I remember you were leaving and thinking, 'Oh, you're going to be fine' Even though you don't have the answers yet, all your questions are right, so you're going to be fine. You do not have a problem. I will say, before we make it too sincere, you do have that unique skill set of not minding being a dick to people. At the end, that is the secret sauce.

For more of the duo talking about immigration and finding a proper place for satire, you can check out the video below. Last Week Tonight returns to HBO in 2024.

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