Bill Keveney

USA TODAY

Comedian John Oliver will bring the past into the present when his weekly HBO comedy series, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, premieres on April 27 (11 p.m. ET/PT).

Oliver, a former correspondent for Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, will take a weekly satirical look at news, politics and current events on the half-hour Sunday show, which is scheduled for 24 episodes in its first year.

The Emmy-winning Oliver, a native of England who first became known for political stand-up comedy in the United Kingdom, received critical praise last summer when he filled in for Stewart as Daily Show host.