WARNING: This story contains graphic language.
On Sunday’s Last Week Tonight, John Oliver took on the National Rifle Association (NRA) and its streaming network, NRA TV.
The host introduced the segment by describing the group as an organization that “feels about guns the same way the rest of us feel about Nutella.”
Following the Feb. 14 mass shooting that took 17 lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., many companies have cut ties with the NRA.
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Companies like Delta, Hertz and Avis have agreed to stop providing discounts to members of the NRA, but tech companies such as Amazon, Apple and Roku still continue to stream NRA TV.
“So that is an uncomfortable situation for Apple and Amazon, but it’s a f***ing miracle for Roku,” said Oliver. The host then impersonated an employee from the lesser-known streaming player. “’Harry! Get in here! Someone just called us a big tech company!’” he cheered.
With many companies talking about boycotting the NRA, Oliver addressed what NRA TV is for those who may have been confused by the channel.
After showing clips that feature country singer Charlie Daniels and feature spokeswoman Dana Loesch, Oliver said that the channel’s motive is “trolling your attention.”
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Oliver told his audience that NRA TV airs news programming, but “there’s honestly not really much point in us showing you any of that because it’s essentially just Fox News on a much lower budget.”
The host also mentioned that NRA TV also features content directed at women with a show titled, Love at First Shot.
“The NRA’s actually making a big push for women, and they are pretty clear about their motivations,” Oliver said before showing clips from Love at First Shot. “You can kind of understand why Love At First Shot functions as a kind of QVC for firearms, showcasing products like mag loaders, targets, gun cases and handbags,” said Oliver.
After showing a clip of a woman buying a bag with a pocket designed to carry a gun, Oliver said, “Girl, you don’t even need a gun because people are going to die when they see that bag.”
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Oliver went on to assure his audience that NRA TV tackles much deeper issues and shared a clip that featured nature shots accompanied by a dark voiceover that included lines like “Death is an undeniable fuel of life.”
“That is less Planet Earth and more deranged letter from a serial killer,” Oliver said.
After showing his audience many clips from the channel, Oliver said that NRA TV is basically one long infomercial asking questions such as, “Do you have ISIS sympathizers in those hard to reach places? Are you tired of getting 9/11-ed? There’s got to be a better way.”
He sarcastically concluded, “Try the AR-15. Available at way too many stores near you.”
Oliver went on to say,”The whole point here is, the answer to the question, ‘What the f**k is NRA TV?’ is, it’s just a vessel to sell America guns. That’s pretty much it. Does it work? It’s honestly hard to tell, they won’t reveal their ratings,” Oliver said.
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“If the NRA is a ferocious bear charging at you, NRA TV is that bear’s ridiculous hat,” he said.
He concluded, “The real truth here is, hat or no hat, it is imperative that everyone keep their eyes on that f***ing bear.”
Watch Oliver criticize NRA TV in the video above.
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