John Oliver Dives Deep into the Bizarre Life of Rudy Giuliani

Celebrities

Rudy Giuliani might be the newest member of Donald Trumps legal team, but it seems more like the former New York mayor has actually been working overtime for Robert Mueller. In several bizarre interviews, Giuliani has directly contradicted the White Houses official narrative—revealing, most notably, that Trump not only knew about the payment Michael Cohen made to Stormy Daniels during the campaign, but that he also reimbursed it.

But John Oliver, for one, doesnt understand why anyone would be surprised by Giulianis behavior. He dedicated a long segment of Sundays Last Week Tonight to reminding us about the ex-mayors odd history—and, true to form, bought up a few key URLs to help in that effort, including “giuliani2024.com.” Better safe than sorry, right?

“To truly understand Giuliani, you have to go back before 9/11,” Oliver began. “He first made a name for himself as a federal prosecutor, where he acquired a deep and lasting taste for the limelight—performing stunts like going undercover to buy crack while dressed in a Hells Angels vest and a white dress shirt. Which made him look less like a street junkie and more like the third-best member of an all-dad blues band called Dad to the Bone.”

On a slightly more relevant note, Oliver reminded viewers that during Giulianis own campaign for mayor, his team flagged what they called in their own memo a “weirdness factor” surrounding Giuliani. Why? Well, for starters, his first marriage was to his second cousin; the couple claimed they were unaware of their familial relation until after theyd been married for years. Oliver, however, was unconvinced by that argument: “Oh, bullshit. He didnt think it was just a little bit weird at the wedding ceremony when one side of the church was both families, and the other was just one very nervous photographer who didnt take a single picture?”

Giuliani won the election anyway, kicking off a mayoral administration known, primarily, for two things: being extraordinarily tough on crime and overseeing New Yorks recovery from 9/11. At one point, Oliver noted, Giuliani moved out of the mayors residence amid accusations that hed had an affair—which Giuliani addressed in a press conference, where he also revealed his intention to separate from his wife before he had actually told that to his wife.

“Wow!” Oliver said. “That is just about the most humiliating way possible to end a marriage—other than announcing publicly, Whoopsie, I boned my cousin.”

The events following 9/11, however, largely erased the public memory of those odd incidents—leaving a sterling reputation, sealed with a Time “Person of the Year” cover. In 2007, however, Giulianis disastrous presidential campaign reset the dial again—transforming the former mayor from a respected figure into one who took gigs including narrating AMCs “Mob Week.”

“That is a steep fall!” Oliver said. “Just 10 years after being named Time Person of the Year, Giuliani was doing V.J. work for a cable networks edited-for-television presentation of Scarface. Just think about how crazy that is. That would be like if in 10 years from now, Bravo announced a Fuckboys of the 90s marathon, hosted by Malala Yousafzai.

From there, Giulianis trajectory was one many of us likely remember: after floating around as a cable-news pundit for years, he caught another big break when Trump named him cyber-security adviser for reasons largely unknown. As Oliver put it, “If you watch Giuliani for even 10 seconds, you do really get the sense that he tries to check his e-mail by opening a Word doc and typing, Hi Google, check e-mail, thanks, Rudy.” Oliver thinks Giuliani likely landed the title thanks to his willingness to relentlessly bash Hillary Clinton, stoking conspiracy theories about the ex-presidential candidate across cable-news networks. Giuliani was, for instance, one of the voices who pushed the narrative that Clinton was secretly ill during the campaign.

Which brings us to Olivers stunt for the week. If you visit hillaryclintonillness.com, you might notice that it redirects to something curious: an animation of two ferrets having sex. Why? Its a little tribute to a time when Giuliani, as mayor, got into perhaps the most perplexing fight of all time—with a ferrets-rights activist. For an animation of two ferrets who are cousins and not fornicating—which Oliver guesses will also bug Giuliani—check out giuliani-security.com. And finally, if you want to see a dancing ferret flipping the bird, try giuliani2024.com—because as Oliver put it, “At the rate were going, he is so fatally flawed as a human being that hes probably going to end up president.”

Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Full ScreenPhotos:22 Movies and TV Shows That Will Save Us in 2018

Westworld (Season 2)

HBO is once again hoping youll ignore the big Game of Thrones-shaped hole in its schedule and turn your attention back to the sci-fi mind game that is Westworld. The Emmy-nominated series, starring Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton, is ready to confound you once again in its second season. Until its spring 2018 premiere, take a trip back in time and revisit nine burning questions we still have about the finale.Photo: By John P. Johnson/HBO.*Grown-ish*

Grown-ish

Yara Shahidi takes the lead in this youthful Black-ish spin-off set to air on Freeform starting Jan. 3, 2018. In this series, Zoey is finally off to college, stumbling through cringeworthy rites of passage like embarrassing herself at a frat party and hiding secrets from her parents.Photo: By Eric Liebowitz/Freeform.Superhero Smorgasbord

Superhero Smorgasbord

Every superhero you love is coming out with a new movie in 2018. In no particular order, get ready for a bounty that includes: Black Panther,Avengers: Infinity War,Deadpool 2,The New Mutants,X-Men: Dark Phoenix,Ant-Man and the Wasp,Venom, and Aquaman.Photo: By Zade Rosenthal/©Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Everett Collection.The Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics

Tis the season to watch a bunch of perfect human specimens fight for tiny gold medallions. This years Winter Olympics will kick off on Feb. 9, 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea.Photo: By Julian Finney/Getty Images.*The Chi*

The Chi

After breaking out on Master of None and winning a historic Emmy for one of this years best TV episodes, Lena Waithe is ready to claim her spot in the prestige-TV realm. Enter The Chi, her Showtime series about young people coming of age in Chicago, set to premiere on Jan. 7.Photo: By Matt Dinerstein/SHOWTIME.*A Wrinkle in Time*

A Wrinkle in Time

The classic Madeleine LEngle tale is finally coming to the big screen on March 9, 2018, thanks to Disney and director Ava DuVernay. The sci-fi story about a girl tesseracting her way through time to find her missing father will star newcomer Storm Reid alongside stars like Oprah Winfrey,Mindy Kaling,Reese Witherspoon, and Chris Pine.Photo: By Atsushi Nishijima/Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.hans olo

Solo: A Star Wars Story

After some catastrophic ups and downs, Han Solos origin story will finally be revealed to us on May 25, 2018. The Star Wars spin-off stars Alden Ehrenreich as the galactic smuggler and also features Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian and Emilia Clarke playing a mysterious character named Kira.Photo: From Lucasfilm Ltd./Everett Collection.PreviousNext

<em>Westworld</em> (Season 2)

Westworld (Season 2)

HBO is once again hoping youll ignore the big Game of Thrones-shaped hole in its schedule and turn your attention back to the sci-fi mind game that is Westworld. The Emmy-nominated series, starring Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton, is ready to confound you once again in its second season. Until its spring 2018 premiere, take a trip back in time and revisit nine burning questions we still have about the finale.By John P. Johnson/HBO.

<em>Grown-ish</em>

Grown-ish

Yara Shahidi takes the lead in this youthful Black-ish spin-off set to air on Freeform starting Jan. 3, 2018. In this series, Zoey is finally off to college, stumbling through cringeworthy rites of passage like embarrassing herself at a frat party and hiding secrets from her parents.By Eric Liebowitz/Freeform.

Superhero Smorgasbord

Superhero Smorgasbord

Every superhero you love is coming out with a new movie in 2018. In no particular order, get ready for a bounty that includes: Black Panther,Avengers: Infinity War,Deadpool 2,The New Mutants,X-Men: Dark Phoenix,Ant-Man and the Wasp,Venom, and Aquaman.By Zade Rosenthal/©Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Everett Collection.

The Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics

Tis the season to watch a bunch of perfect human specimens fight for tiny gold medallions. This years Winter Olympics will kick off on Feb. 9, 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea.By Julian Finney/Getty Images.

<em>Black Klansman</em>

Black Klansman

If the title alone doesnt catch your eye, the artists behind it surely will. Spike Lee is directing this thriller, produced by nascent horror maestro Jordan Peele, about a black detective who infiltrates the KKK in the 1970s. John David Washington (son of Denzel) plays the lead, while the rest of the cast includes Adam Driver and rising star Laura Harrier.Black Klansman does not yet have a release date.Left, by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic; Right, by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.

<em>The Incredibles 2</em>

The Incredibles 2

This superhero movie, which hits theaters on June 15, 2018, gets its own slide—because fans have been waiting for this sequel for 13 years. At long last, the Parr family is back fighting crime, with a little help from close friend Frozone (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson). Its time to find your supersuit—and remember, no capes!Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.

<em>The Happytime Murders</em>

The Happytime Murders

Brian Hensons (son of Jim) dark detective twist on the pleasant world of puppetry promises to be a baffling pop-cultural delight in the vein of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Humans and puppets coexist in this dark tale about a serial killer whos out to murder the stars of hit 80s series The Happytime Gang. The cast is stacked with comedy stars, led by Melissa McCarthy,Maya Rudolph, and Elizabeth Banks. The film will hit theaters on Aug. 17, 2018.Left, by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images; Right, by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images.

<em>Jessica Jones</em> (Season 2)

Jessica Jones (Season 2)

Everyones favorite grouchy, hard-drinking superhero is finally back for a second season on March 8, with Krysten Ritter slipping on the familiar leather jacket for Joness latest adventures. Though the plot is still fairly under wraps, a teaser trailer promises that shes still a sardonic and deliciously violent destroyer of men.By Myles Aronowitz/Netflix.

<em>Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again</em>

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

My, my, how can you resist this? The sequel to the 2008 blockbuster musical is finally on its way, and its already guaranteed to be your favorite guilty pleasure of 2018. The story is a prequel to the original, revolving around Meryl Streeps character when she was a young woman (perhaps even . . . a young dancing queen). Not only is its core cast back in action, but the truly iconic Cher has decided to bless the sequel with her presence. Catch it in theaters on July 20, 2018.From ©Universal/Everett Collection.

<em>Roseanne</em>

Roseanne

Break out your flannel and sarcasm, because Roseanne is back. The classic 90s sitcom is getting the nostalgia reboot treatment on March 27, more than 20 years after it first ended.

<em>Oceans 8</em>

Oceans 8

The all-female Oceans 11 reboot is easily one of the most anticipated films of the year, not least because of its excellent cast (Rihanna!Sandra Bullock!Cate Blanchett!). The glitzy heist movie revolves around the Met Gala, promising a coterie of celeb cameos, and is slated to hit theaters on June 8, 2018. Satiate yourself until then by re-watching the perfect trailer.By Barry Wetcher/Warner Bros.

<em>The Assassination of Gianni Versace</em>

The Assassination of Gianni Versace

We may be in the midst of a true-crime revival, but few productions promise to be as opulent as this Ryan Murphy mini-series. The horrifying true story about the murder of fashion icon Gianni Versace will be retold with a stellar cast that includes Édgar Ramírez as Versace himself, Penélope Cruz as his sister Donatella, and Ricky Martin as Versaces partner, Antonio DAmico.By Jeff Daly/FX.

<em>The Chi</em>

The Chi

After breaking out on Master of None and winning a historic Emmy for one of this years best TV episodes, Lena Waithe is ready to claim her spot in the prestige-TV realm. Enter The Chi, her Showtime series about young people coming of age in Chicago, set to premiere on Jan. 7.By Matt Dinerstein/SHOWTIME.

<em>A Wrinkle in Time</em>

A Wrinkle in Time

The classic Madeleine LEngle tale is finally coming to the big screen on March 9, 2018, thanks to Disney and director Ava DuVernay. The sci-fi story about a girl tesseracting her way through time to find her missing father will star newcomer Storm Reid alongside stars like Oprah Winfrey,Mindy Kaling,Reese Witherspoon, and Chris Pine.By Atsushi Nishijima/Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.

<em>Solo: A Star Wars Story</em>

Solo: A Star Wars Story

After some catastrophic ups and downs, Han Solos origin story will finally be revealed to us on May 25, 2018. The Star Wars spin-off stars Alden Ehrenreich as the galactic smuggler and also features Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian and Emilia Clarke playing a mysterious character named Kira.From Lucasfilm Ltd./Everett Collection.

Laura BradleyLaura Bradley is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.

[contf] [contfnew]

Vanity Fair

[contfnewc] [contfnewc]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *