John Oliver devoted a segment on Last Week Tonight to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's reality series "The Great American Road Trip," questioning its funding and content. The five-part show, which debuted on YouTube last week, was originally announced in May as a civic experience encouraging Americans to explore the nation during its 250th anniversary.
The series drew controversy over several issues, including who funded production. While Duffy said taxpayer money did not finance the show, noting instead that a nonprofit production company called Great American Road Trip Inc. covered costs, that organization lists 17 sponsors — many of them companies regulated by the Department of Transportation. Oliver said the funding arrangement raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Oliver also criticized the show's actual content, saying it focused more on manufactured family drama than travel or America. He noted episodes featured scenes like the Duffy family planning a party and their daughter considering college options, and he highlighted a kitchen conversation in which Sean expressed concerns about Harvard's influence on young women. Oliver questioned why a road trip show spent significant time in the family's kitchen.
The show, which was supposed to debut in June, was delayed and eventually "quietly dumped on YouTube" last week, Oliver said. He also pointed out discrepancies in how Duffy recalled his time on earlier MTV reality shows, including The Real World: Boston, showing a clip that contradicted Duffy's denial of calling a housemate a derogatory name.