John Oliver launches ‘Junk’ auction raising $1.2M+ for public media by Nov 24

John Oliver just auctioned off decades of quirky show memorabilia to fight back. The Last Week Tonight host launched John Oliver’s Junk on November 17, 2025. This online auction features 65 unusual items from his HBO series. Every dollar raised goes directly to support public broadcasting.

Why John Oliver Is Auctioning Show Artifacts

Public broadcasting is in crisis. The Trump administration’s $1.1 billion budget cut to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting devastated local stations nationwide. Rural and tribal communities were hit hardest. Oliver dedicated his final 2025 Last Week Tonight episode to explaining the disaster.

He realized the show had accumulated bizarre props over 12 seasons of production. Rather than let them sit unused, Oliver seized the opportunity. The inspiration came from the Bob Ross estate, which recently raised $662,000 through an auction of three original paintings. If Bob Ross memorabilia could help, why not Last Week Tonight artifacts?

“We’ve actually accumulated a bunch of weird artifacts on this show over the years that we could definitely auction off to raise some much needed money.”

Oliver framed this auction as a direct response to Republican attacks on public media. Critics claim it has “liberal bias,” but Oliver pointed out a critical flaw in that argument. Showing America’s long history of racism or acknowledging that gay people exist isn’t bias—it’s reality.

What You Can Actually Bid On

The auction items reveal the show’s creative chaos over the years. Here’s what’s available:

Item	Description
Bob Ross Painting	Original 1987 work titled “Cabin at Sunset” (bidding at $51,000+)
Russell Crowe’s Jockstrap	Worn during “Cinderella Man” film; purchased for previous segment
LBJ Scrotum Sculpture	Gold-plated replica from presidential libraries segment
Mrs. Cabbage Oliver	The actual cabbage John “married” on stage during AI art segment
Golden Adidas Sneakers	Promised during FIFA segment if Sepp Blatter stepped down
Meet John Oliver	Trip to New York for in-person meeting with the host
Joel McHale Autographed DVD	“Mr. Bean” episodes signed by his “Community” co-star

The items span the show’s entire run. Some reference legendary guests. Others commemorate bizarre on-air stunts. All will funnel money directly to the Public Media Bridge Fund. This fund helps local broadcasters navigate the sudden federal funding gap.

Why Public Broadcasting Matters Beyond TV

You might think losing public TV is just about losing PBS specials. But that completely misses what’s at stake. Public broadcasting reaches 99% of Americans with local news, emergency alerts, and language-specific programming.

In nine counties nationwide, public broadcasting is the only local news source. In 47 others, it’s one of just two sources available. When hurricanes hit, local public radio broadcasts emergency alerts. During natural disasters, stations help people locate water, shelters, and critical resources. NBC News won’t do that work—they show national pictures.

Public media stations air programming in Haitian Creole, Navajo, Vietnamese, and dozens of other languages. They invented closed captioning in the 1970s. They do investigative reporting that local newspapers can’t afford anymore.

Despite all this, America spends less than $1.60 per capita on public broadcasting. Compare that to Norway, Sweden, and the UK—each spending nearly $100 or more per person. Research consistently shows strong public media correlates with healthier democracies. Yet Congress just gutted it anyway.

What Happens Next in December 2025

The auction ends November 24, 2025. Oliver hopes the money proves meaningful. However, he’s realistic about the challenge ahead.

115 public broadcasting stations serving 43 million Americans face closure by mid-2026 without intervention. The $1.1 billion cut removes more funding than many stations receive annually.

Oliver argued that the real solution requires long-term thinking. Congress should create dedicated funding—perhaps through a tax or licensing fee. This would insulate public broadcasting from political attacks.

Until that happens, initiatives like John Oliver’s Junk serve as band-aids on serious wounds. They raise awareness. They generate immediate funds for specific stations. But they can’t replace what Congress ripped away.

Can a Cabbage and a Jockstrap Save Public Media?

That’s really the question hanging over this auction. The items are hilarious. The cause is noble. But will it be enough?

Oliver’s goal isn’t to replace federal funding—that’s impossible. Instead, he’s raising awareness about what’s broken. He’s proving that public figures care about local broadcasting. He’s showing millions of viewers that this fight matters right now.

The Bob Ross auction proved collectors will spend money on entertainment history for good causes. John Oliver’s Junk tests whether the audience agrees public media is worth saving. Bids will tell that story by November 24.

What do you think—is this innovative fundraising or desperate measures masking a larger crisis? Does auctioning show memorabilia actually help local stations survive, or do we need Congress to change course?

Sources

• Variety – “John Oliver Launches ‘Last Week Tonight’ Auction, Including an Original Bob Ross Painting, to Support Public Broadcasting”
• The Guardian – “John Oliver on the mass defunding of US public media: ‘Just stupid'”
• TMZ – “John Oliver’s Auctioning His ‘Junk’ to Support Public Media Bridge Fund”