John Oliver at Pabst Theater
Erik Ljung
Since skipping the pond some five years ago, British humorist John Oliver has made a name for himself in America with memorable correspondent pieces on The Daily Show, a recurring role as under-qualified and disgruntled Professor Ian Duncan on Community, and his growing role in stand-up comedy. His time on American soil and proximity to the political sphere has granted Oliver a unique glimpse of his new country, and its strengths and shortcomings in its dwindling role as a world empire. The pseudo pundit shared his American experience—and a surprising amount of physical comedy—with a packed Pabst Theater crowd Friday night.
Following a hysterical half-hour opening set by little-known comic Mike Lawrence, the guest of honor came out looking a mite less rigid than usual, adorned in a button-down flannel instead of his standard suit. After heckling his own photographer and briefly talking about his newfound experience as a puppy owner, Oliver said hello to Milwaukee—again. “I’ve been to Milwaukee before to interview some of your crazy people,” he said. “Of which you have an abundance.”
Correspondent segue in place, Oliver then launched into a series of tales of his U.S travels, and his observations supporting his hypothesis of America’s soon-to-be-lost top spot in the world pecking order. It was all preceded by a warning, however: “I love this country. I need you to remember that when I’m saying some of the things I say.”
Some of what he said included remarks about the overly vast reach of modern technology, evidence of racial imbalance, a checklist of symptoms to tell if the United States needed an intervention, and his opinion of America being the Elvis of countries (during the Vegas years). He railed on America’s economic policy and its collective unwillingness to accept facts. After each diatribe he piled on the paying populace’s home country, he repeated the same assuring mantra: “Everything is going to be fine.”
For each insult Oliver offered that was taken in stride (save for an elderly couple who left mere moments into Oliver’s performance), the comedian countered with slices of oddball Americana that captured his heart. He spoke glowingly of WWE wrestler John Cena’s announcement of Osama Bin Laden’s death (or, as Oliver called it, his “fuck-eulogy”) to a Tampa arena last year. He flashed a bookish British smirk while running down the list of Republican presidential candidates and their qualifications. He waxed appreciative of an Idaho library sign being donated an exclamation point by a local pizzeria, and marveled at a man’s inspiration to courageously throw a hot dog at Tiger Woods.
The Pabst was taken on a brisk, 75-minute tour of John Oliver’s America, a country he’s experienced in a way the audience never could. Though negative at its base, the message stressed through each light-hearted jab was one of collective optimism and appreciation for the small, crazy, and beautiful parts of American life. Before bowing out, Oliver treated onlookers to a rigid rendition of R. Kelly’s “Ignition,” and a scathing take regarding Tim Tebow’s over-emphasis on religion, which brought about the biggest ovation of the evening.
