John Oliver Shares His Essential Guide to Regifting Awful Presents

After sending his viewers off with an exacting breakdown of America’s refugee vetting process, followed by a treatise against the penny, Last Week Tonight host John Oliver disappeared into the night for a three-month hiatus.

But he popped back up, ever so briefly, on YouTube last night to share a web exclusive clip on a slightly-less monumental holiday-themed topic: Regifting.

“During the holidays, you are going to receive at least one profoundly underwhelming gift, that’s just a fact,” Oliver said before laying out his hard and fast regifting rules.

“Never regift to someone who knows the original regifter,” he suggested. Instead, focus on office Secret Santa swaps. “Regifting there is like peeing in the ocean,” Oliver said. “Sure, it’s not right, but it’s an ultimately harmless solution to an urgent problem.”

Other tips included writing a personal note and re-wrapping the present. At the very least, he said you should use a gift bag, “the sweatpants of gift-wrapping”

“Sure it’s lazy,” he said, “but it’s undeniably better than not putting on anything at all.”

Before leaving us once again, Oliver wished his viewers “happy holidays,” adding, “may all of your problems become someone else’s!”

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Matt WilsteinSenior Editor

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