Retractions: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Web Exclusive)

Synopsis

John Oliver greets viewers with a 'hello there' as he addresses the absence of a new episode of Last Week Tonight. He reflects on the importance of accuracy in his statements and takes the opportunity to retract previous claims. Oliver humorously admits to mistakenly stating that the United States purchased Alaska from grizzly bears for 450 pounds of salmon. He clarifies that Alaska was actually purchased from the Russian Empire in 1867 and became a state in 1959. He emphasizes that Alaska is the largest and least densely populated state in the U.S., countering the misconception that it is a wasteland. Additionally, he acknowledges a previous comment about MySpace being 'back' and corrects it by stating that MySpace is not actually back, despite its technical existence. The segment features references to grainy footage of Prince performing at the Superbowl, highlighting the blend of humor and factual correction in Oliver's presentation.