John Oliver Compares Comcast to a Drug Cartel (Video)

John Oliver, host of “Last Week Tonight,” did what he himself had deemed impossible: Make the debate over net neutrality, and the possibility of losing the open Internet, actually seem interesting and important.

Oliver was riled up enough to spend nearly half his show discussing the Federal Communications Commission's impending regulatory white flag that would allow Internet provider behemoths like Comcast and Time Warner to charge companies -- and ultimately, consumers -- more money for service that isn't entirely awful.

It was an impressive display that made the players and consequences actually compelling, tying big names and classic themes (drug dealing, mobsters, dingos eating babies) to the tech controversy.

Oliver spread the blame and insults around quite liberally (once again taking advantage of the lack of language restrictions on cable), hitting FCC Chair (and former cable company lobbyist) Tom Wheeler, President Barack Obama (for nominating Wheeler as chairman and buddying up to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts), Comcast and its nauseating corporate spin (for being misleading), C-Span (for being so boring), and Internet commenters (for just generally being crazy).