John Oliver has finally discovered a popular television program that offers a nuanced but entertaining discussion of complex issues. No, it's not his "Daily Show" — it's "WWE Raw."
Oliver was thrilled to discover a WWE storyline Wednesday in which xenophobe manager Zeb Colter rants about immigrants coming to the U.S. to take Americans' jobs — just as the British-born Oliver is taking Jon Stewart's for the summer.
Also read: Piers Morgan, Immigrant With Job No American Wants, Faces Deportation
Oliver played footage of ringside commentators debating the finer points of who should be allowed to live in the United States, as two wrestlers pummeled each other.
"What beautiful dream of television is this? Not only was that technically more articulate a debate than anything we've seen in Congress, but it came with half-naked men fighting," said Oliver. "It's like CSPAN with elbow drops."
And then the commentators really blew his mind — by giving him a namedrop to go with the elbow drops. When Oliver learned that Colter was upset that he had taken Jon Stewart's job, he started trash talking back. Fortunately, WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley was on hand to help.
"Hey Zeb. You got a problem with immigrants? Now you've got a problem with me," Foley said. "Immigrants do our toughest, dirtiest jobs. Do you have what it takes — the gall, the stones — to step into a basic cable talk show's host chair if your boss goes away for the summer?"
Your humble correspondent made the same joke six months ago that Foley made Wednesday. But then again, he has the whole wrestling thing, too.
Watch the video: