John Oliver says he's not really quitting, it was just a joke. Photo/AP
John Oliver says he's not really quitting, it was just a joke. Photo/AP
US TV host John Oliver has announced he is "done" with hosting his show after achieving his "one and only goal" of having a "koala chlamydia ward" named after him.
Oliver's odd objective was revealed when he purchased Kiwi actor Russell Crowe's groin protector from the film Cinderella Man at the movie star's recent divorce auction.
After paying US$7000 (NZ$9980) for the piece of memorabilia, Oliver donated the jockstrap to the only surviving Blockbuster Video store in America in hopes it would boost business.
John Oliver announced he purchased Russell Crowe's leather jockstrap in an April episode of the show.
But Oliver also wound up with the winning bids on Crowe's director chair from American Gangster, the vest he wore in Les Miserables, and a hood he wore in Robin Hood. "It was 4am, and you know what happens when you start online shopping late at night," Oliver explained of the binge bidding, on an episode of Last Week Tonight that aired back in April.
We’ve achieved a koala chlamydia ward, so there’s nothing left for us to accomplish. pic.twitter.com/wll7kQwaF0
— Last Week Tonight (@LastWeekTonight) May 7, 2018
In response, Crowe tweeted, "I think this is such a wonderful random act of kindness that I am planning now on how to best used the @iamjohnoliver money he spent on groin protectors and such. Given he's often shown genuine love for Australians and Australia, it's got to be something special."
"Absolutely incredible," Oliver called that response, joking that he has never shown "genuine love" for Australians or Australia. "At most, I've shown morbid curiosity for it, the way a nine year old pokes a dead frog with a stick," he described.
Crowe then tweeted a video of the Irwin family unveiling The John Oliver Koala Chlamydia Ward at Australia Zoo.
"Thank you so much to Russell Crowe for your amazing donation to help these koalas," the Irwins said. "And a big thank you to John Oliver ... for buying some of Russell's incredible things in his auction. You are helping in the fight against chlamydia, and a plaque has been organised in your honour."
Russell Crowe showed John Oliver some love. Photo / Getty Images
Oliver was gobsmacked. "Are you not entertained?" he asked his cheering audience.
"Back when this show started, I wrote down my one and only goal for it ... a koala chlamydia ward. What I'm saying here is, we have accomplished everything we set out to do on this show, so we are f***ing done here."
Oliver then began to pack a box of his belongings from his desk.
"My work here is done," he announced, and he exited the stage.
Loyal fans of the TV host took to social media to ensure the move was in jest.
One user tweeted: "Cue nervous laughter ... He is joking?"
Another said, "Part of me knows John Oliver is joking. but at the same time [I] need verification that this is not the last episode of #LastWeekTonight."
Despite his protestations, Oliver has long had an affinity with Australia. He has regularly ran segments on issues affecting the country including a brilliant homage to Australia's gun control laws versus America's zero response to never-ending shootings in the country.
He also made blistering comment on the 2017 postal survey to determine whether Australians would support a marriage equality bill.
He also had a memorable crack at former Aussie deputy PM Barnaby "family values" Joyce.
