John Oliver Takes on Oscars’ Lack of Diversity and Hollywood Whitewashing

Norman Weiss February 22, 2016, 7:26 am

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John Oliver takes on Oscars’ lack of diversity and Hollywood whitewashing

On Last Week Tonight’s “How Is This Still a Thing?” segment, this year’s nominees were called “whiter than a Yeti in a snowstorm fighting Tilda Swinton.” The segment went on to show how white actors have taken on minority acting roles throughout Hollywood history — even on The Walking Dead’s porn parody.

Oscars are counting on Chris Rock for a ratings boost

When Rock first hosted the Academy Awards in 2005, many critics called his performance a bust. But it took nine years, until Ellen DeGeneres hosted in 2014, for an Oscarcast to beat Rock’s ratings. Now the Academy is hoping that, even with the diversity controversy, Rock’s presence boosts the ceremony after last year’s disappointment.

President Obama meets his SNL impersonator Jay Pharoah

Pharoah recently got some face time with the president in the Oval Office. PLUS: Ryan Reynolds mocks Kanye West’s SNL rant.

White House responds to petition calling for President Obama to visit Bill Maher’s Real Time

The Maher petition surpassed the 100,000-signature threshold warranting a White House response, with more than 321,000 people signing up. In response, the White House released a statement saying: “We’ll keep in mind Bill’s open invitation for a presidential appearance and give it the respectful consideration that Bill and his large audience deserve.”

The Simpsons spoofs the 2016 presidential election

Presenting The Debateful Eight, a political nightmare.

Girls‘ Season 5 premiere was packed with many Hollywood wedding clichés

Here are all the wedding tropes Lena Dunham, who wrote and directed the premiere, used on Sunday’s episode.

NBC’s Friends reunion was a bust

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Donald Trump gets the Game of Thrones treatment

Check out Winter is Trumping. PLUS: Peter Dinklage sports a “George: Please stop killing characters” T-shirt.

The Walking Dead boss had long-planned Sunday’s surprise

“It was a story I was interested in pursuing for a long time, even before I was running the show,” says showrunner Scott M. Gimple. PLUS: Andrew Lincoln on last night’s episode, Danai Gurira was kind of thrown when she first read the script, and why she deserved better than this.