Original subtitles

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,

WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"

I'M JOHN OLIVER.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK.

PROTESTS CONTINUED IN FRANCE AND

INDIA, THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN

FINALLY RETURNED HOME, AND A NEW

SCANDAL HIT THE TRUMP

ADMINISTRATION-- AND EVEN BY

THEIR STANDARDS, IT'S A PRETTY

TACKY ONE.

>> A MAJOR TRUMP DONOR IS

ACCUSING KIMBERLY GUILFOYLE OF

BEGGING HIM TO PLAY HER AMERICAN

EXPRESS BILL.

ERIC DETERS, WHO ONCE RAN FOR

GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY, SAYS

DONALD TRUMP JR'S FORMER FIANCE

BEGGED HIM TO PAY OFF HER

$100,000 BILL, JUST SIX DAYS

BEFORE SHE WAS CONFIRMED AS THE

NEW U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO GREECE.

"IT WON'T SHOW UP ANYWHERE IF

YOU WIRE MONEY TO AMERICAN

EXPRESS," SHE WROTE HIM ON THE

SIGNAL MESSAGING APP.

"PLEASE, HONEY, PLEASE," SHE

BEGGED IN ANOTHER MESSAGE.

"I NEED YOU TO GET THIS DONE FOR

ME TODAY."

>> John: OK, FIRST, THAT TEXT IS

SOMETHING.

"HONEY, PLEASE SEND $100,000 TO

MY CREDIT CARD.

AND SWEETIE, DON'T GO ON THE

NEWS LATER TO TALK ABOUT IT.

AND PUNKIN, PLEASE ALSO SEND

100 GRAND TO SEPHORA.

I NEED A NEW VAT OF CHARCOAL

EYELINER.

MY STYLE ICON IS A RACCOON.

PRAYER HANDS."

BUT LET'S BACK UP FOR A SECOND.

KIMBERLEY GUILFOYLE IS THE

CURRENT AMBASSADOR TO GREECE.

AND IT WAS ALWAYS AN ODD JOB FOR

HER TO GET, GIVEN SHE'S PROBABLY

BEST KNOWN FOR THIS MOMENT AT

THE 2020 RNC:

>> THE BEST!

IS YET!

TO COME!

>> John: YEAH, THAT'S JUST TOO

MUCH.

OUTDOOR VOICE, COCAINE EYES, AND

EVITA ARMS?

TONE IT DOWN.

SHE'S ONE STEP AWAY FROM

TRANSFORMING INTO A FLOCK OF

CROWS.

ANYWAY, GUILFOYLE'S BEEN ACCUSED

OF USING HER POLITICAL INFLUENCE

TO MAKE MONEY FROM ERIC DETERS,

AN EX-LAWYER, RADIO HOST, AND

FORMER CO-OWNER OF THE "SNAPPY

TOMATO" PIZZA CHAIN.

HE APPARENTLY WANTED A NUMBER OF

FAVORS FROM GUILFOYLE, INCLUDING

CONNECTING HIM WITH THE IRS,

WHICH WAS QUESTIONING A

DEDUCTION HE'D MADE A FEW YEARS

AGO, AND HAVING THE GOVERNMENT

HELP OUT IN A MALPRACTICE CASE

AGAINST A DOCTOR WHO'D FLED THE

COUNTRY.

AND DETERS SAYS HE'S COMING OUT

NOW BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT

DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT

LAST ONE-- OR, INDEED, ANY OF

THE THINGS HE ASKED OF

GUILFOYLE, SOME OF WHICH ARE

TRULY NUTS.

>> I SAID, "WAIT A MINUTE,

KIMBERLY.

YOU'VE NOT DONE ANYTHING THAT

YOU'VE PROMISED ME.

YOU HAVEN'T GOT ME ON, TUCKER.

YOU HAVEN'T GOT ME ON A FOX

INTERVIEW.

YOU HAVEN'T DONE SQUAT.

YOU DIDN'T GET KID ROCK THE SONG

THAT I WROTE."

>> John: HOLD ON.

"YOU DIDN'T GET KID ROCK THE

SONG I WROTE."

DO YOU KNOW HOW BAD A SONG HAS

TO BE FOR IT TO BE NOT GOOD

ENOUGH FOR KID ROCK?

THE GUY WHO WROTE A SONG,

FEATURED IN THE CHILDREN'S MOVIE

"OSMOSIS JONES," IN WHICH HE

SANG "YOUNG LADIES, YOUNG

LADIES, I LIKE 'EM UNDERAGE,

SEE, SOME SAY THAT'S STATUTORY,

BUT I SAY IT'S MANDATORY."

HE PERFORMED THAT SONG IN A

KIDs' MOVIE!

YOU KNOW IT'S BAD WHEN YOU HAVE

THE CREEPIEST SONG ON AN ALBUM

THAT ALSO FEATURES R KELLY.

ANYWAY, BASED ON THOSE

MESSAGES, GUILFOYLE SEEMED

WORRIED ABOUT ALL THIS BECOMING

PUBLIC, AS SHE WARNED DETERS

REPEATEDLY NOT TO COMMIT TALK OF

MONEY OR PAYMENTS TO TEXT,

SAYING, "ERIC, I REALLY WISH YOU

WOULD STOP PAPERING ALL THESE

THINGS, IT'S REALLY DANGEROUS

AND NOT HELPFUL TO YOU OR ME

WHILE YOU COULD SIMPLY JUST CALL

ME ON SIGNAL."

AND WHEN HE STILL DIDN'T TAKE

THE HINT, SHE LATER TEXTED,

"WHAT A NIGHTMARE YOU'LL

LITERALLY COST ME MY

AMBASSADORSHIP STOP WRITING."

NOW, GUILFOYLE'S LAWYER HAS

DISPUTED THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE

MESSAGES, WITHOUT GIVING

SPECIFICS.

BUT IT'S JUST THE LATEST CONCERN

ABOUT HER APPOINTMENT AS

AMBASSADOR, GIVEN THERE'S ALSO

BEEN COVERAGE OF, AMONG OTHER

THINGS, HER BRINGING A

REGISTERED LOBBYIST TO MEETINGS

WITH FOREIGN OFFICIALS.

AND SHE HASN'T EVEN BEEN GOOD AT

THE EASIEST PART OF HER JOB--

ESSENTIALLY JUST DOING P.R.

FOR AMERICA OVERSEAS.

IN FACT, WATCH THIS VIDEO HER

EMBASSY PUT OUT, FEATURING A

SPEECH SHE GAVE AT A FOURTH OF

JULY EVENT, MEANT TO FIRE UP THE

ASSEMBLED CROWD.

BECAUSE IT WASN'T EXACTLY

ELECTRIFYING.

>> AS PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID, THIS

ANNIVERSARY IS A TIME TO BE

PROUD OF OUR PAST.

BUT IT IS ALSO A TIME TO LIFT

OUR SIGHTS, EXPAND OUR

AMBITIONS, AND RAISE OUR

EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT AMERICA CAN

BE.

WE WILL LEAVE OUR CHILDREN

NOTHING LESS THAN THE RICHEST

INHERITANCE, MOST ADVANCED

CIVILIZATION, AND HIGHEST

STANDARD OF LIVING IN HUMAN

HISTORY.

>> John: WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

DID THE TELEPROMPTER JUST SAY

"DO THIS PART LIKE YOU'RE A

DISNEY ANIMATRONIC WHOSE BATTERY

IS RUNNING OUT?"

NOW, THE WHITE HOUSE SEEMS TO BE

TRYING TO DISTANCE ITSELF FROM

GUILFOYLE, WITH ADMINISTRATION

OFFICIALS APPARENTLY DISCUSSING

WHETHER SHE SHOULD BE REMOVED

FROM HER POST.

SO THERE MAY WELL BE MORE TO SAY

ABOUT THIS GOING FORWARD.

OR, TO BORROW A PHRASE--

>> THE BEST!

IS YET!

TO COME!

>> John: RIGHT.

I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT LOUDER

MYSELF.

BUT FOR NOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY

GOING TO DIVE STRAIGHT IN WITH

OUR MAIN STORY THIS WEEK, WHICH

CONCERNS MEDICATION.

THE SUBJECT OF THIS 1980S PSA

WHERE A GROUP OF PILLS

DISCOURAGE KIDS FROM EATING

THEM.

♪ THIS IS SERIOUS ♪

♪ WE COULD MAKE YOU DELIRIOUS ♪

♪ YOU SHOULD HAVE A HEALTHY FEAR

OF US ♪

♪ TOO MUCH OF US IS DANGEROUS ♪

♪ NO NO NO NO ♪

♪ WE'RE NOT CANDY ♪

♪ EVEN THOUGH WE LOOK SO FINE

AND DANDY ♪

♪ WHEN YOU'RE SICK WE COME IN

HANDY ♪

♪ BUT WE'RE NOT CANDY ♪

♪ OH, NO ♪

>> John: LISTEN, I APPRECIATE

THE MESSAGE THERE, BUT

UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK

I'VE EVER WANTED TO EAT A PILE

OF LOOSE PILLS MORE.

I MEAN IT.

THERE ARE LITERALLY

CANDY COMMERCIALS THAT'VE MADE

ME WANT TO EAT THEIR PRODUCT

LESS THAN THOSE ADORABLE SINGING

SKITTLES.

GET IN MY MOUTH!

SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO

FOCUS ON GENERIC MEDICATIONS.

YOU KNOW, DRUGS THAT CONTAIN THE

SAME ACTIVE INGREDIENTS, DOSAGE

FORM, STRENGTH, SAFETY, QUALITY,

AND INTENDED USE AS THEIR

BRAND-NAME COUNTERPARTS.

OR, AS THIS DIRECTOR OF PHARMACY

SERVICES PUTS IT:

>> THE GENERIC IS THE SAME AS

THE BRAND.

THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE MIGHT BE IN

THE FILLER, NOT THE ACTIVE

INGREDIENT.

IT'S THAT ACTIVE INGREDIENT

THAT'S THE SAME.

>> THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART.

>> WELL, THAT'S THAT PART THAT

DOES THE MAGIC, YES.

>> John: NOW, I'LL BE HONEST.

"THE PART THAT DOES THE MAGIC"

IS A WEIRD ENOUGH PHRASE AS IS

BEFORE YOU REALIZE THEY CHOSE TO

USE VIAGRA AS THE EXAMPLE THERE,

FORCING US ALL TO REMEMBER

THAT, IN CERTAIN CASES, "DOING

THE MAGIC" COULD WELL MEAN

"MAKING GRANDPA ROCK-HARD."

BUT GENERICS ARE, BY FAR, THE

MOST COMMON TYPE OF MEDICATION

PEOPLE TAKE IN THE U.S.

THEY CURRENTLY MAKE UP MORE THAN

90 PERCENT OF ALL U.S

PRESCRIPTIONS.

YOU MAY EVEN TAKE THEM WITHOUT

REALIZING IT.

YOU MAY'VE BEEN PRESCRIBED

ZOLOFT, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR

BOTTLE, IT MIGHT SAY SERTRALINE.

THAT'S THE GENERIC.

SIMILARLY, IF YOU'RE PRESCRIBED

LEXAPRO, YOUR BOTTLE MAY SAY

ESCITALOPRAM.

OR IF YOU'RE PRESCRIBED PROZAC

IT MAY SAY FLUOXETINE.

AND IF YOU'VE NEVER TAKEN ANY OF

THOSE MEDS, THEN CONGRATULATIONS

ON BEING A HAPPY, WELL-ADJUSTED

PERSON, AND KINDLY GO FUCK

YOURSELF.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IN RECENT

YEARS, THERE'VE BEEN

EYE-CATCHING STORIES ABOUT

SUDDEN DRUG SHORTAGES, OFTEN

INVOLVING SOME EXCEPTIONALLY

COMMON GENERICS.

>> MASS GENERAL HAS A TOUGH

ENOUGH JOB WITHOUT HAVING TO

DEAL WITH A DRUG SHORTAGE.

>> I NEVER THOUGHT WE WOULD GET

TO A POINT IN THE U.S.

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WHERE WE

WOULDN'T HAVE ESSENTIAL

MEDICINES TO BE ABLE TO TREAT

PATIENTS.

>> THE HOSPITAL CAN'T GET ENOUGH

OF THE BLOOD THINNER HEPARIN,

CRUCIAL FOR CARDIAC SURGERY.

HOW SURPRISING WAS IT FOR YOU TO

HEAR THAT THERE WAS A HEPARIN

SHORTAGE?

>> OH, IT WAS COMPLETELY

SURPRISING.

IT'S EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE MCDONALD'S

RUNNING OUT OF KETCHUP.

>> John: YEAH, THAT'S A PRETTY

APT COMPARISON.

A HOSPITAL WITHOUT HEPARIN IS

INDEED LIKE A MCDONALD'S WITHOUT

KETCHUP, OR A SUBWAY WITHOUT

BREAD, OR A CHICK-FIL-A WITHOUT

THE PERVADING UNDERCURRENT OF

HOMOPHOBIA.

WE'VE COME TO EXPECT CERTAIN

THINGS AT CERTAIN PLACES!

AND IT'S NOT JUST HEPARIN.

APPARENTLY, THERE ARE 227 ACTIVE

DRUG SHORTAGES RIGHT NOW, AND

THAT'S INCLUDING MANY ESSENTIAL

MEDICINES, WITH SOME THE WORST

SHORTAGES INVOLVING STERILE

INJECTABLES-- DRUGS OFTEN USED

IN IV BAGS THAT ARE A STAPLE OF

HOSPITAL TREATMENT.

IT'S NOW AT THE POINT THAT THE

AMA HAS DEEMED DRUG SHORTAGES TO

BE "AN URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH

CRISIS AND A NATIONAL SECURITY

THREAT."

AND FOR ANYONE RELYING ON A

CERTAIN DRUG, SUDDENLY LEARNING

OF A SHORTAGE CAN BE TERRIFYING.

TAKE THIS WOMAN, WHOSE

CHEMOTHERAPY WAS DELAYED FOR

EXACTLY THAT REASON.

>> IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO KNOW

THAT THERE'S A STANDARD OF CARE.

THESE TWO GENERIC DRUGS, AND I

CAN'T GET THEM.

SOMEDAY, I'M GONNA DIE.

I REALLY WOULD RATHER NOT DIE

BECAUSE THESE STANDARD GENERIC

DRUGS WEREN'T AVAILABLE TO ME.

AND I CAN'T IMAGINE MY FAMILY

HAVING THAT DOUBT, WAS IT THE

CANCER OR WAS IT THAT THERE WAS

NOT ENOUGH CHEMOTHERAPY, AND IT

GOT RATIONED?

>> John: RIGHT.

THAT'S A QUESTION NO FAMILY

SHOULD HAVE TO ASK AFTER A LOVED

ONE'S PASSING.

IT'S RIGHT UP THERE WITH, "WHY

DID DAD STORE ALL THESE OLD MAPS

OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA IN

THE ATTIC?"

AND "WHY DID HE HIDE THIS

DOG-EARED GUIDE BOOK ON HOW TO

MAKE CIPHER MESSAGES?"

AND "WHY DID HE PUT THIS OLD

PAIR OF THICK-RIM GLASSES, A

HANDGUN, AND A KNIFE IN THIS

SHOEBOX HE MARKED WITH THE

ZODIAC SYMBOL--

OH, FUCK."

AND AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE,

SUDDEN SHORTAGES ARE JUST THE

BEGINNING OF THE ISSUES HERE.

SO GIVEN THAT, TONIGHT, LET'S

TALK ABOUT GENERIC DRUGS.

HOW THEY'RE MADE, WHERE THEY'RE

MADE, AND WHAT THE PROBLEMS CAN

BE.

AND LET'S START WITH THE BASICS.

UNDER CURRENT LAW, IF A COMPANY

INVENTS AND PATENTS A DRUG, IT'S

ALLOWED THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO

SELL IT FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF

YEARS.

THE IDEA BEING, IT CAN THEN

RECOUP ITS COSTS ON R&D, AS WELL

AS, Y'KNOW, MAKE A SHIT-TON IN

PROFIT.

BUT ONCE THAT PATENT EXPIRES,

GENERIC MANUFACTURERS CAN MAKE

THEIR OWN VERSION-- AND

USUALLY, CHARGE FAR LESS.

TAKE-- AS IT SEEMS TO BE THE

GO-TO EXAMPLE HERE-- VIAGRA.

PFIZER INTRODUCED VIAGRA ONTO

THE MARKET IN 1998, AND HAD

PATENT PROTECTIONS FOR NEARLY

TWO DECADES.

THEN, CHEAPER GENERIC VERSIONS

LIKE ALL THESE STARTED TO

EMERGE, WHICH WAS GREAT NEWS FOR

THRIFTY, HORNY GRANDPAS

EVERYWHERE.

SIMILARLY, WHILE OZEMPIC'S

EXPENSIVE RIGHT NOW, CHEAPER

GENERICS WILL PRESUMABLY COME

WHEN ITS PATENTS EXPIRE.

AND FROM A CONSUMER COST

PERSPECTIVE, GENERICS HAVE BEEN

GREAT, COLLECTIVELY SAVING

PATIENTS AND THE HEALTH CARE

SYSTEM TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND

OFTEN SLASHING PRICES BY AS MUCH

AS 85%.

AND THAT'S MAINLY BECAUSE THE

MAJOR BUYERS THAT PURCHASE DRUGS

ON BEHALF OF HOSPITALS AND

PHARMACY CHAINS ARE STRONGLY

INCENTIVIZED TO SEEK OUT THE

LOWEST-COST PRODUCT.

THE PROBLEM IS, AS PRICES GET

DRIVEN DOWN, COMPANIES CAN

SUDDENLY DECIDE MAKING A GENERIC

IS NO LONGER PROFITABLE ENOUGH

FOR THEM, WHICH CAN RESULT IN

WORRYINGLY FEW MANUFACTURERS

MAKING CERTAIN DRUGS-- OR IN

EXTREME CASES, ONLY ONE DOING

IT.

AND THAT CAN BE AN ISSUE.

TAKE THIS STORY FROM 2019.

>> VINCRISTINE IS ONE OF THE IV

DRUGS USED IN CHEMOTHERAPY TO

TREAT ABOUT 85% OF PEDIATRIC

CANCER CASES.

BUT THIS SUMMER, TEVA, ONE OF

TWO U.S. COMPANIES THAT MAKES

IT, ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD STOP

MAKING IT, CITING A BUSINESS

MOVE.

>> ONLY NOW IS IT STARTING TO

CATCH UP TO PATIENTS.

BRENNA'S MOM KRISTI FEARS THE

WORST.

>> RELAPSE, OR, IN HER CASE, NOT

EVER BEATING THE CANCER.

THE KIDS WHO DON'T FINISH THEIR

TREATMENT WON'T GET A CURE.

I'M COMPLETELY DISHEARTENED THAT

A BUSINESS DECISION STANDS TO

KILL 15,000 KIDS A YEAR.

>> KRISTI HOPES WITH THE HELP OF

CELEBRITIES LIKE KEVIN BACON,

WHO HAS ALSO SPOKEN ABOUT THE

DRUG SHORTAGE, SHE'LL FINALLY

START TO MAKE SOME WAVES OF

CHANGE FOR THE SAKE OF HER

DAUGHTER.

>> John: LOOK, THAT'S TERRIBLE.

AND IT'S CLEARLY ABSURD THAT

IT'S SOMEHOW UP TO KEVIN BACON

TO TRY AND FIX THIS.

THOUGH-- AND I HATE TO BE A

PETTY BITCH-- TECHNICALLY, HE

DIDN'T POST ABOUT THAT SHORTAGE.

HIS WIFE KYRA SEDGWICK DID.

KEVIN BACON JUST RETWEETED IT,

WHICH IS NOT THE SAME.

STILL, I'M GLAD HE DID IT.

MAINLY TO GET THE WORD OUT, BUT

ALSO BECAUSE IT WAS A REFRESHING

BREAK FROM THE UNHINGED CONTENT

THAT FILLED UP HIS FEED, LIKE

THIS PHOTO OF HIM SHOWING OFF A

GIANT ZUCCHINI, AND THIS VIDEO

WHERE HE MADE A NECKLACE OUT OF

POPCORN SO THAT-- AND THIS IS

TRUE-- A GOAT COULD SNACK ON IT

WHILE HE SERENADED IT WITH A

HARRY STYLES SONG.

THE MAN'S ENTIRE TWITTER FEED

WAS AN LSD FEVER DREAM.

THE POINT IS, WHILE I'M GLAD

THAT KEVIN BACON-- BUT MOSTLY

KYRA SEDGWICK-- HELPED GET THE

WORD OUT, AND THAT WOMAN'S

DAUGHTER WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO

GET THE DRUGS SHE NEEDED, WE

SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RELY ON

CELEBRITIES TO ENSURE ADEQUATE

SUPPLIES OF DRUGS TO TREAT KIDS

WITH CANCER.

BUT THE BROADER STORY THERE IS

NOT UNCOMMON: BASICALLY, THERE

WERE TWO COMPANIES LEFT MAKING

THE DRUG, ONE LEFT THE MARKET

AND WHEN THE OTHER HAD A

PRODUCTION GLITCH, SUDDENLY

THERE WAS A BIG PROBLEM.

AND THE THING IS, GLITCHES CAN

HAPPEN IN PRODUCTION-- THAT'S

TRUE IN DRUG MANUFACTURING

GENERALLY, BUT EVEN MORE SO IN

THE GENERIC SPACE, WHERE

COMPANIES ARE IN A RACE TO MAKE

DRUGS AT THE CHEAPEST POSSIBLE

COST.

AND THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE AS

PRODUCTION'S INCREASINGLY MOVED

OVERSEAS TO CHASE EVEN MORE

SAVINGS.

IN FACT, THESE DAYS, ROUGHLY 60

PERCENT OF PRESCRIPTION TABLETS

AND CAPSULES FOR THE U.S. MARKET

ARE MADE IN INDIA.

AND IT'S ESTIMATED NEARLY A

QUARTER OF OUR GENERIC DRUG

SUPPLY CONTAINS ACTIVE

INGREDIENTS ORIGINATED FROM

CHINA.

AND LOOK: I'M NOT SAYING

MANUFACTURING DRUGS IN OTHER

COUNTRIES IS INHERENTLY BAD.

BUT BEING THAT RELIANT ON THEM

CAN BE A PROBLEM.

IT'S LIKE FINDING OUT 80 PERCENT

OF AMERICA'S MILK SUPPLY COMES

FROM COWS PERSONALLY MILKED BY

JAVIER BARDEM.

NOTHING AGAINST THE MAN

PERSONALLY, BUT IF ANYTHING

HAPPENS TO THAT BEAUTIFUL

SPANIARD, OUR BREAKFASTS GOING

FORWARD ARE GOING TO BE FUCKED.

BUT THERE'S GROWING EVIDENCE

THAT WHERE GENERICS ARE

MANUFACTURED CAN MAKE A

DIFFERENCE.

A STUDY LAST YEAR FOUND THE RISK

OF SERIOUS ADVERSE EVENTS WAS

54% HIGHER WITH GENERICS MADE IN

INDIA, COMPARED WITH THOSE MADE

HERE IN THE U.S.

AND RESEARCHERS WHO'VE TESTED

THEM HAVE FOUND THEY CAN VARY

WILDLY IN QUALITY, WITH ISSUES

RANGING FROM CONTAMINATION TO

THE WRONG DOSAGE TO PROBLEMS

WITH HOW THE MEDICATION

DISSOLVES.

JUST LISTEN TO THIS WOMAN, WHO

HAD A HEART TRANSPLANT AND WAS

RELIANT ON A DRUG CALLED

TACROLIMUS TO STOP HER BODY

REJECTING IT.

SHE FOUND THAT SOME GENERIC

VERSIONS OF THAT DRUG MADE BY

OVERSEAS COMPANIES DIDN'T WORK

AND THAT COULD'VE HAD MASSIVE

CONSEQUENCES.

>> IF YOU GET A ONE-MONTH SUPPLY

OF AN ANTI-REJECTION MEDICATION

THAT ISN'T MADE RIGHT, WHAT'S

THE CONSEQUENCE FOR YOU?

>> DEATH.

I WOULD DIE.

>> TO PREVENT HER BODY FROM

REJECTING HER NEW HEART, HER

MEDICATION LEVELS ARE SUPPOSED

TO BE BETWEEN 6.8 AND 7.5.

ON ONE BRAND OF GENERIC

TACROLIMUS, SHE TESTED AT 3.9.

>> I WAS OPEN FOR THAT WHOLE

WEEK FOR REJECTION.

I'M LIKE, OH MY GOD.

>> SHE SWITCHED TO ANOTHER

WHICH ELEVATED HER BLOOD LEVELS

TO 9.9, AN OVERDOSE, LEAVING HER

NEWLY-TRANSPLANTED HEART

VULNERABLE TO LIFE-THREATENING

COMPLICATIONS.

>> I STARTED SHAKING AGAIN,

WHICH IS THE SIDE EFFECT OF

BEING OVERDOSED ON TACROLIMUS.

YOU SHAKE.

IT IS A COMPLETE CRAPSHOOT

WHICH ONE YOU'RE GONNA GET WHEN

YOUR PHARMACY PICKS ONE TO GIVE

YOU.

THAT'S FRIGHTENING.

>> John: YEAH, OF COURSE IT IS!

YOU DON'T WANT YOUR LIFE-SAVING

MEDICINE TO HAVE THE SAME

SELLING POINT AS AN LOL SURPRISE

BALL.

BECAUSE IT COULD BE ANYTHING IN

THERE!

IT COULD BE KITTY QUEEN.

OR COCONUT Q.T.

OR STEVE BUSCEMI!

AND WHILE, OBVIOUSLY, SOME VERY

SPECIFIC LITTLE WEIRD GIRL WILL

LOVE THAT, WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR

MEDICINE BOTTLE, YOU WANT A

HIGHER DEGREE OF CERTAINTY

REGARDING WHAT'S INSIDE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, TOO OFTEN

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

IN FACT, WHEN THE D.O.D HAD AN

INDEPENDENT LAB TEST THE

MILITARY'S MOST CRITICAL DRUGS,

OUT OF THE FIRST GROUP THEY

LOOKED AT, 15 PERCENT OF

SUPPLIERS SCORED "RED," MEANING

THEIR PRODUCT HAD "MAJOR QUALITY

CONCERNS."

AND WHEN IT CAME TO TACROLIMUS,

THE MEDICATION THAT WOMAN WAS

TAKING TO STOP HER BODY HITTING

"EJECT" ON HER NEW HEART,

ONE-THIRD OF SAMPLES TESTED RED.

WHICH IS NOT GOOD.

AND THE HARMS OF POORLY-MADE

DRUGS AREN'T JUST THEORETICAL.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT.

TAKE WHAT HAPPENED A FEW YEARS

BACK WITH SOMETHING AS SIMPLE

AS GENERIC, OVER-THE-COUNTER

EYEDROPS.

>> SHE SAID, YOU HAVE AN ULCER

ON YOUR EYE, AND IF WE DON'T GET

THIS UNDER CONTROL, YOU WILL

LOSE ALL YOUR VISION.

>> IN 2023, FOUR PEOPLE DIED,

FOUR HAD TO HAVE THEIR EYES

REMOVED, 14 LOST VISION, AND 114

SUFFERED INFECTIONS FROM

CONTAMINATED EYE DROPS MADE IN

INDIA.

>> John: HOLY SHIT.

ANYTIME YOU HEAR ABOUT SOMEONE

GETTING THEIR EYES REMOVED--

AND THAT SOMEONE ISN'T

MR. POTATO HEAD —- IT'S

AUTOMATICALLY HORRIFYING.

AND AT THIS POINT, YOU MIGHT BE

THINKING, "WHERE THE FUCK IS THE

FDA IN ALL THIS?

AREN'T THEY SUPPOSED TO BE

MAKING SURE THAT NO ONE HAS TO

GET THEIR EYEBALLS REMOVED?"

WELL, THEY ARE INDEED TASKED

WITH REVIEWING GENERIC DRUGS

AND INSPECTING FACTORIES TO

MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S SAFE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE AGENCY

ISN'T RESOURCED OR STAFFED

REMOTELY WELL ENOUGH TO DO THAT

REGULARLY, ESPECIALLY GIVEN SO

MANY FACTORIES ARE NOW HALFWAY

AROUND THE WORLD.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IN PRACTICE

IS, YEARS CAN PASS BETWEEN

INSPECTIONS.

AND EVEN WHEN THE FDA DOES SHOW

UP TO A FACTORY OVERSEAS, SOME

COMPANIES HAVE TRIED TO OBSCURE

ANY PROBLEMS.

JUST TAKE WHAT HAPPENED AT A

FACTORY IN INDIA RUN BY A

COMPANY CALLED INTAS.

>> FDA INSPECTORS FOUND A

CASCADE OF FAILURE, INCLUDING A

WORKER THROWING ACID INTO A

TRASH BIN TO DESTROY TEST

RECORDS.

>> John: WOW, THAT LOOKS BAD.

BECAUSE LET ME BE CLEAR, THERE'S

PLENTY OF GOOD USES FOR ACID.

YOU CAN USE IT TO NEUTRALIZE

EXCESS ALKALINITY IN A CHEMICAL

SOLUTION, OR TO INCREASE

HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION, OR

TO MELT ALL OF MANCHESTER CITY'S

PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE MEDALS.

BUT DESTROYING CRITICAL DRUG

TEST RESULTS IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOU SHOULD

KNOW-- WHILE SURPRISE FDA

INSPECTIONS ARE COMMON FOR U.S.

FACTORIES, MOST INSPECTIONS DONE

OVERSEAS ARE ACTUALLY ANNOUNCED

BEFOREHAND, ALLOWING

MANUFACTURERS TO BOTH PREPARE

FOR THEM AND POTENTIALLY HIDE

ANY ISSUES.

IN FACT, ONE STUDY FOUND THE

ODDS OF A FACILITY RECEIVING THE

MOST SEVERE INSPECTION OUTCOME

ARE OVER 250% HIGHER FOR

UNANNOUNCED INSPECTIONS.

WHICH MAKES SENSE.

YOU CLEAN UP WHEN YOU KNOW

PEOPLE ARE COMING OVER.

THE ONLY REASON THIS STUDIO'S SO

CLEAN IS BECAUSE I KNEW YOU WERE

ALL COMING HERE TODAY.

OTHERWISE, THIS PLACE WOULD BE A

COMPLETE PIGSTY, AND I MEAN

THAT LITERALLY.

I RUN A WET MARKET HERE THE REST

OF THE WEEK.

I'M JUST TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF

ANY PARAMOUNT BUDGET CUTS.

AND WHEN THE FDA HAS ACTUALLY

DONE UNANNOUNCED INSPECTIONS,

THE RESULTS HAVE SOMETIMES BEEN

TERRIFYING.

>> INVESTIGATORS CITED HETERO, A

MAJOR MAKER OF HIV, CANCER, AND

NEUROLOGICAL DRUGS, FOR RUNNING

AN UNREGISTERED TESTING LAB

AND, SOMEWHERE IN THIS VILLAGE,

STORING CRITICAL INGREDIENTS IN

AN UNDISCLOSED WAREHOUSE.

WHEN FDA INSPECTORS ARRIVED,

WORKERS RAN AND LOCKED THE

GATES, REFUSING ENTRY FOR TWO

HOURS.

ONCE INSIDE, INSPECTORS FOUND

BIRD DROPPINGS ON STORAGE UNITS

AND LIZARDS AND CATS AMONG

ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL

INGREDIENTS.

>> John: WOW.

THERE IS SO MUCH THERE, I DON'T

EVEN HAVE TIME TO GET INTO THE

FACT THAT THE COMPANY'S CALLED

HETERO, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THE

NAME OF A FITNESS STUDIO PETE

HEGSETH WILL OPEN AFTER HE

LEAVES THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.

AND YES, PETE, THAT IS A GREAT

LOGO, AND NO, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT.

BUT CLEARLY, YOU WANT TO BE ABLE

TO ASSUME YOUR MEDICATION'S

BEING HANDLED IN PRISTINE

CONDITIONS WITH HIGH SAFETY

STANDARDS, NOT IN A

LIZARD-AND-CAT-INFESTED BIRD

TOILET.

AND IF YOU'RE THINKING, "I

DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THAT LIZARDS

AND CATS HANG OUT TOGETHER!"

THEN YOU'RE CLEARLY UNAWARE OF

JUNIOR AND ATLAS, A REAL

LIZARD-AND-CAT DUO WHO LIVE

TOGETHER IN AN APARTMENT AND,

CRUCIALLY, ARE BEST FRIENDS.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> ATLAS WANTS TO RUB UP AGAINST

HIM.

ATLAS, I DON'T THINK HE WANTS TO

LOVE ON YOU TODAY.

SHE WANTS TO FOLLOW HIM.

SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT HE'S

GOING WHERE SHE WANTS TO GO.

THE NEATEST THING TO SEE IS WHAT

THEY ENJOY DOING TOGETHER, AND

THEIR FRIENDSHIP AS THEY GET

OLDER, TOO.

THEY'RE IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER.

>> John: WHAT A BEAUTIFUL

FRIENDSHIP FULL OF LOVE, JOY,

AND A PALPABLE SEXUAL TENSION.

IS IT JUST ME, OR ARE THEY

GIVING OFF STRONG "WILL THEY OR

WON'T THEY" VIBES?

ANYWAY, AT THIS POINT, YOU MIGHT

BE THINKING, "WELL, IF THINGS

ARE REALLY BAD, THE FDA BANS

IMPORTS FROM FACTORIES THAT FAIL

INSPECTIONS, RIGHT?"

WELL, SORT OF.

THE PROBLEM IS, WITH SO FEW

MANUFACTURERS MAKING CERTAIN

DRUGS, BANS CAN LEAD TO CRITICAL

SHORTAGES.

SO WHAT THE FDA WILL SOMETIMES

DO IS CREATE "CARVE-OUTS" FOR

CERTAIN DRUGS IN SHORT SUPPLY,

EVEN IF THEY'RE COMING FROM A

FACTORY WITH KNOWN QUALITY

ISSUES.

TAKE WHAT HAPPENED AT THAT INTAS

FACTORY WHERE WORKERS WERE

POURING ACID ON TEST RESULTS.

PRODUCTION THERE GOT SUSPENDED.

BUT THAT HAD REAL CONSEQUENCES,

BECAUSE THAT FACTORY MADE, AMONG

OTHER THINGS, 50 PERCENT OF THE

CRITICAL CHEMOTHERAPY DRUG

CISPLATIN USED IN THE U.S.

THAT'S WHAT LED TO THE DRUG

SHORTAGE THAT WOMAN WAS TALKING

ABOUT EARLIER.

AND IT WASN'T EVEN THE ONLY

INTAS FACTORY WITH PROBLEMS.

THAT SAME YEAR, ANOTHER PLANT

FAILED INSPECTION AND THE FDA

BARRED BOTH FROM SHIPPING DRUGS

TO THE U.S.

BUT HERE'S THE THING: BECAUSE IT

WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT CREATING

SHORTAGES, THE FDA

SIMULTANEOUSLY GRANTED THOSE

FACTORIES MORE THAN 50

EXEMPTIONS, MEANING THEY COULD

KEEP SENDING CERTAIN DRUGS HERE.

NOW, THE FDA SAYS THOSE

CARVEOUTS CAME WITH REQUIREMENTS

THAT INTAS HIRE "THIRD-PARTY"

EXPERTS TO DO ADDITIONAL SAFETY

TESTING, AND INTAS INSISTS IT

DID THAT.

BUT IT'S A LITTLE WEIRD TO

HAPPILY TRUST A MANUFACTURER

WITH THAT LEVEL OF

RESPONSIBILITY WHEN YOU'VE

ALREADY, Y'KNOW, CAUGHT THEM

DOUSING TEST RECORDS WITH

FUCKING ACID.

AND ALL OF THIS IS OBVIOUSLY

VERY WORRYING-- OR IT WOULD BE,

IF IT WAS MORE WIDELY KNOWN.

BUT THE FDA'S ACTUALLY KEPT ITS

DRUG EXEMPTIONS LARGELY HIDDEN

FROM THE PUBLIC AND FROM

CONGRESS, WITH THE AGENCY'S

FORMER TOP DRUG OFFICIAL

JUSTIFYING THAT BY SAYING THE

INFORMATION WOULD HAVE CAUSED

"SOME KIND OF FRENZY."

BUT THAT FRENZY WOULD'VE BEEN

FOR A REASON.

BECAUSE I ADMIT, SOMETIMES WHAT

YOU DON'T KNOW REALLY DOESN'T

HURT YOU-- LIKE THE FACT THE

McRIB IS ACTUALLY MADE OUT OF

SQUIRREL MEAT.

BUT THIS IS NOT THAT.

NOW, THE FDA INSISTS IT WORKS TO

ENSURE ALL DRUGS MEET A HIGH

STANDARD, AND THAT THEY

"RECOGNIZE AREAS WHERE OUR

AUTHORITY COULD BE STRENGTHENED

AND ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO

ADDRESS THIS."

AND TO BE FAIR TO THE FDA, RIGHT

NOW THIS IS A STRUGGLE.

THEY'RE HAVING TO PLAY WHAC A

MOLE WITH

CERTAIN DRUGS ARE CRITICAL, SO

THESE.

YOU DON'T WANT THERE TO BE A

SHORTAGE.

AND WHILE YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T

WANT DRUGS COMING OUT OF

DANGEROUS FACTORIES, YOU ALSO

DON'T WANT TO SCARE PEOPLE AWAY

FROM TAKING THEIR MEDS

ALTOGETHER.

IN FACT, EVEN A FORMER FDA

INSPECTOR ADMITTED, WHEN

TESTIFYING TO CONGRESS--

THERE'VE BEEN TIMES WHEN HE'S

PRIORITIZED KEEPING PEOPLE CALM

OVER TELLING THEM THE WHOLE

TRUTH.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO CAUSE

UNNECESSARY PANIC IN SOMEONE.

AND YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE

ASK ME BEFORE THEY'LL TAKE IT,

THEY'LL GIVE ME A CALL OR SEND

ME AN EMAIL LIKE, "HEY, WHAT DO

YOU THINK ABOUT THIS ONE?"

AND I'LL GIVE THEM ADVICE.

AND TO BE HONEST, OVER THE

YEARS, SOMETIMES I HAVE TO FAKE

THAT ADVICE, BECAUSE I KNOW

THERE'S NO ALTERNATIVE, AND I'LL

HAVE TO JUST SEND A POSITIVE

EMAIL WHEN IN FACT, INSIDE, I

KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT THE TRUTH.

>> John: YEAH, THAT'S NOT GREAT.

AND A TELEVISED CONGRESSIONAL

COMMITTEE IS A HELL OF A TIME TO

COME CLEAN ABOUT THAT.

JUST SPARE A THOUGHT FOR ANY OF

HIS FRIENDS WATCHING WHO'D SENT

HIM ONE OF THOSE EMAILS.

YOU'RE RELAXING AT HOME

WATCHING A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING

ON THE GENERIC DRUG SUPPLY

CHAIN, AS WE ALL LIKE TO DO, AND

YOU'RE JUST ABOUT TO PUT A PILL

IN YOUR MOUTH WHEN SUDDENLY HE

SAYS THAT SHIT.

WHAT THE FUCK, PETER?

YOU LIED TO ME!

SO, WHAT DO WE DO?

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NO

ONE BIG SOLUTION HERE.

INSTEAD, EXPERTS POINT TO A LOT

OF PARTIAL ONES.

FOR INSTANCE, FOR OUR MOST

IMPORTANT MEDICINES, WE MAY WANT

TO CONSIDER ONSHORING OR EVEN

"FRIEND-SHORING" PRODUCTION OF

THOSE DRUGS AND THEIR ACTIVE

INGREDIENTS, MEANING WE CHOOSE

TO PRODUCE THEM OURSELVES, OR

ENSURE THAT ALLIED COUNTRIES DO

IT.

THAT MIGHT BE WISE, IN CASE WE

EVER HAVE, I DUNNO, A CRAZY

PRESIDENT WHO STARTS A MASSIVE

TRADE WAR WITH CHINA FOR NO

FUCKING REASON.

BUT DON'T WORRY, I CAN'T SEE

THAT EVER HAPPENING.

MEANWHILE, WHEN IT COMES TO

OVERSEAS FACTORIES, WE SHOULD

PROBABLY BE MAKING SURE THE FDA

HAS ENOUGH RESOURCES TO PROPERLY

INSPECT THEM, AND TO TEST DRUGS

FROM MANUFACTURERS OF PARTICULAR

CONCERN.

TO ITS CREDIT, THE FDA PROMISED

LAST YEAR TO DO MORE SURPRISE

INSPECTIONS OVERSEAS.

THOUGH RECENT LAYOFFS THERE WILL

PROBABLY COMPLICATE THOSE

EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN

"DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO HELP

COORDINATE TRAVEL FOR

INVESTIGATIONS LIKE THAT HAVE

BEEN LET GO."

WHICH IS BOTH VERY STUPID, AND

COMPLETELY UNSURPRISING, GIVEN

IT FEELS LIKE RFK'S ULTIMATE

VISION FOR THE FDA IS JUST ONE

SMALL OFFICE WHERE A RABID BEAR

DOES PULL-UPS ALL DAY.

AS FOR WHAT YOU CAN DO AS A

CONSUMER, WELL, THE FIRST THING

I SHOULD SAY IS-- AND I KNOW

THIS IS GOING TO SOUND

RIDICULOUS GIVEN EVERYTHING

YOU'VE SEEN SO FAR-- IF YOU'RE

TAKING A DRUG, IT "IS" REALLY

IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KEEP DOING

THAT.

THE MAJORITY OF GENERICS ARE

SAFE.

THE LAST HEADLINE ANYONE NEEDS

RIGHT NOW IS "SOAP OPERA STAR

JOHN OLIVER TELLS AUDIENCE TO

STOP TAKING THEIR MEDS."

BECAUSE ONLY THE FIRST PART OF

THAT IS TRUE.

THAT SAID, IT IS WORTH PAYING

CLOSER ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE

TAKING-- AND THAT'S ADVICE SOME

DOCTORS, LIKE THIS ONE, HAVE

FOUND THEMSELVES GIVING.

>> YEARS AGO, I DIDN'T KNOW

THIS, AND PEOPLE WOULD COME IN

AND THEY MAYBE HAVE BEEN STABLE

ON THEIR MEDICATION FOR YEARS

AND YEARS, AND THEN THEY COME IN

AND THEY SAY, "I DON'T KNOW

WHAT'S GOING ON, I'M HAVING A

LOT MORE ANXIETY, OR I'M GETTING

HEADACHES OR STOMACHACHES."

NOW, YEARS, AGO, I USED TO PROBE

WITH THOSE QUESTIONS, "WHAT'S

GOING ON?"

REALLY ASKING A BUNCH OF

QUESTIONS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S

HAPPENING.

NOW, THE FIRST QUESTION I ASK

IS, "DOES YOUR PILL LOOK THE

EXACT SAME?"

AND I WOULD SAY PROBABLY 75% OF

THE TIME, THE ISSUE IS THAT

THERE'S A CHANGE OF

MANUFACTURER, AND THAT'S CAUSING

THEM TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE WAY

THEY'RE RESPONDING TO THE

MEDICATION."

>> John: RIGHT, IF YOU'RE

NOTICING ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO

HOW YOUR MEDICATION'S WORKING

MAYBE THE FIRST THING TO ASK

YOURSELF IS, DO YOUR PILLS LOOK

DIFFERENT?

AND THE SECOND IS, DID YOUR NEW

PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE RANDOMLY

COME WITH A FREE LIZARD INSIDE

IT?

OR-- IF YOUR PAST PRESCRIPTIONS

ALWAYS CAME WITH A LIZARD-- WAS

YOUR NEW BOTTLE SUDDENLY

LIZARD-LESS?

AND IF THE ANSWER TO ANY OF

THOSE QUESTIONS IS YES, THAT

MIGHT MEAN YOUR PILL

MANUFACTURER HAS CHANGED.

AND LOOK: IF YOU'RE WORRIED

ABOUT A DRUG YOU'RE CURRENTLY

TAKING, PROPUBLICA RECENTLY

BUILT THIS TOOL, RX INSPECTOR

WHICH COULD BE USEFUL FOR YOU.

BASICALLY, JUST LOOK ON THE

PACKAGING YOUR PILLS CAME IN

AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIND THE

MANUFACTURER.

BECAUSE IF YOU THEN SEARCH FOR

THAT MANUFACTURER ON THEIR SITE

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND MORE

ON THE COMPANY, ITS INSPECTION

HISTORY — AND EVEN INSPECTION

REPORTS IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, IN AN IDEAL

WORLD, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE

LOOKING UP INTERNATIONAL

INSPECTION REPORTS JUST TO FEEL

CONFIDENT IN THE DRUGS WE NEED.

IDEALLY WE'D HAVE A RELIABLE

SYSTEM FOR QUALITY THAT EVERYONE

COULD SEE TO INCENTIVIZE

PRODUCTION OF BETTER GENERICS.

UNTIL BIG CHANGES LIKE THAT

HAPPEN, MORE PEOPLE SHOULD

PROBABLY BE AWARE OF SOME OF THE

ISSUES HERE

AND I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER WAY

TO DO THAT THAN TO WELCOME SOME

OF MY FRIENDS.

>> John: HEY, GUYS!

GOOD TO SEE YOU!

♪ NO, NO, NO, NO! ♪

♪ WE'RE NOT CANDY! ♪

♪ EVEN THOUGH WE LOOK SO FINE

AND-- ♪

>> John: NO, I GET IT, I GET IT.

I GET YOU'RE NOT CANDY.

YOU'RE GENERIC DRUGS AND YOU'RE

ALL VERY IMPORTANT!

>> THAT'S RIGHT!

AND YOU SHOULD BE A LOT MORE

CAREFUL ABOUT HOW YOU MAKE US.

>> AND ALSO, INSPECT OUR

FACTORIES MUCH MORE OFTEN!

>> AND ALSO, WE'RE NOT CANDY!

>> John: YOU'VE MADE THAT

EMPHATICALLY CLEAR.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU GUYS

WOULD LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE?

>> SURE!

♪ OH! OH! OH!♪

♪ THIS IS SERIOUS!♪

>> John: IT IS!

♪ YOU DON'T WANT YOUR DRUGS TO

BE MYSTERIOUS ♪

♪ MYSTERIOUS ♪

♪ YES WE'RE CHEAPER ♪

>> John: TRUE!

♪ BUT WE SHOULDN'T ALSO COST YOU

A PEEPER ♪

♪ USE YOUR BRAINS ♪

♪ FIX YOUR SUPPLY CHAINS ♪

♪ SO WE CAN HELP YOU! ♪

>> John: EXACTLY, GUYS!

THAT'S PERFECTLY PUT.

>> SO I CAN HELP YOUR HEART

TRANSPLANT.

>> John: SOUNDS GOOD!

>> AND I CAN CURE YOUR

DEPRESSION!

>> John: GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!

>> AND I CAN GIVE YOUR GRANDPA A

BONER.

[LAUGHTER]

>> John: GENERIC DRUGS, LADIES

AND GENTLEMEN!

♪ ♪

>> AND NOW, THIS!

>> Announcer: AND NOW, PIERS

MORGAN CAN'T CONTROL HIS GUESTS.

>> I WAS JUST TELLING YOU--

>> HANG ON, HANG ON.

>> HANG ON.

>> I WAS--

>> I'M--

>> I.--

>> I WOULD SAY--

>> HANG ON--

>> HANG ON.

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

>> I WOULD LIKE THE VIEWERS--

>> BRIANNA.

BRIANNA.

>> WE DON'T HEAR ANY OF YOU IF

YOU DO.

JUST TO BE CLEAR.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

ALLEN BAKER.

ALLEN--

>> STOP INTERRUPTING AND RELAX.

>> John: BEFORE WE GO, A QUICK

WORD ABOUT BRAND MASCOTS-- YOU

KNOW, LIKE THE HONEY NUT

CHEERIOS BEE, OR THE PILLSBURY

DOUGHBOY, OR RONALD MCDONALD.

FUN FACT: RONALD DIDN'T ALWAYS

LOOK LIKE THIS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY HOW HE STARTED

OUT:

>> I LIKE TO DO EVERYTHING BOYS

AND GIRLS LIKE TO DO.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO

EATING THOSE DELICIOUS

MCDONALD'S HAMBURGERS.

A MAGIC TRAY HERE KEEPS ME WELL

SUPPLIED.

MCDONALD'S HAMBURGERS, FRENCH

FRIES AND MILKSHAKES.

WATCH FOR ME ON TV.

WE'LL HAVE LOTS OF FUN!

[HONKS]

>> John: FUCK NO.

THAT ORIGINAL RONALD IS NOT FUN.

THAT'S A DIVORCED DAD TRYING TO

SAVE A FEW BUCKS ON HIRING

BIRTHDAY PARTY ENTERTAINMENT BY

PUTTING TOGETHER A COSTUME FROM

WHAT HE FOUND ON THE FLOOR OF

HIS CAR.

NO, THANK YOU!

BUT TONIGHT, I WANT TO TALK

ABOUT TWO RECENT INNOVATIONS IN

THE MASCOT FIELD.

THE FIRST INVOLVES THIS THING:

>> HELLO.

>> OH.

I'M SORRY WHO ARE YOU?

>> I'M LIBERTY BIBERTY.

>> John: YEAH.

LIBERTY.

FUCKING.

BIBERTY.

YOU CAN'T HAVE MISSED HIM, AS

HE'S CURRENTLY IN COUNTLESS ADS

INTERRUPTING SPORTS, DANCING

WITH THE STARS, NEWS, OR

BASICALLY ANYTHING THAT COMES

WITH COMMERCIAL BREAKS.

AND WHILE THIS SHOW IS FIRMLY ON

THE RECORD AS BEING PRO-PUPPET

LET ME BE CLEAR: NOT THIS ONE.

BECAUSE I HATE THIS THING.

THAT RIGHT THERE IS A FUZZY

TESTICLE WITH TEETH.

IT LOOKS LIKE BIG BIRD'S SLEEP

PARALYSIS DEMON.

THE VERY NAME "LIBERTY BIBERTY"

SOUNDS LIKE WHAT THE DEVIL WOULD

SHOUT IN TONGUES TO HERALD HIS

ARRIVAL ON EARTH.

AND WHILE I DON'T KNOW MUCH

ABOUT ADVERTISING, I DON'T THINK

IT'S A GREAT SIGN THAT MY FIRST

REACTION TO THAT AD WAS LESS

"MAYBE I SHOULD SWITCH INSURANCE

PROVIDERS" AND MORE "IS IT

TECHNICALLY MURDER IF THE THING

IS ALREADY DEAD BEHIND THE

EYES?"

AND I'M NOT ALONE IN FEELING

THIS WAY.

>> I'VE NEVER HAD BEEF WITH AN

OBJECT LIKE I HAVE BEEF WITH

FUCKING LIBERTY BIBERTY.

>> CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL

LIBERTY MUTUAL TO LET THE

LIBERTY BIBERTY SHIT GO?

>> CANCELLING MY LIBERTY MUTUAL

AUTO INSURANCE BECAUSE I CAN'T

FUCKING STAND LIBERTY BIBERTY.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT THING

IS AND AT THIS POINT I DON'T

EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU SELL.

>> DAY ONE OF THE PLAYOFFS--

GET LIBERTY BIBERTY OFF MY

SCREEN!

>> LISTEN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT

THAT FURRY LIBERTY BIBERTY THING

IS, BUT I KNOW THAT NEITHER OF

US CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER

SURVIVES.

>> John: I AGREE.

AND THIS GUY RAISES A GOOD

POINT: WHAT DOES A SEMI-SENTIENT

BALL OF WINNIE THE POOH'S BUTT

FUZZ HAVE TO DO WITH

"INSURANCE?"

IMAGINE IF YOU WERE IN A CAR

ACCIDENT AND THIS FUCKING PELLET

ROLLED UP TO THE SCENE TO TALK

TO YOU ABOUT YOUR DEDUCTIBLE.

YOU'D PUNT IT INTO THE GOD DAMN

SUN.

BUT HERE'S THE PROBLEM.

IN THE WORLD OF MARKETING, HATE

LIKE THIS ISN'T CONSIDERED A BAD

THING.

IF ANYTHING, IT JUST MAKES THE

BRAND FEEL MORE RELEVANT.

FOR COMPANIES, BASICALLY ANY

ATTENTION IS GOOD ATTENTION.

ALTHOUGH THERE IS ONE NOTABLE

EXCEPTION.

AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE SECOND

MASCOT I WANT TO DISCUSS.

IT'S FOR A COMPANY CALLED

KIWIBANK, A SMALL, STATE-OWNED

BANK IN NEW ZEALAND.

IT ROLLED OUT A NEW CAMPAIGN

FEATURING A GREEN SHEEP WHO

LEAVES THE FARM FOR THE BIG

CITY, ONLY TO DISCOVER THE JOYS

OF BANKING WITH THEM.

>> BEING MY OWN SHEPHERD WAS

HARDER THAN IT LOOKS.

BUT THEN I FOUND SOMEWHERE THAT

SAW THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

AFTER THAT, NO FENCE COULD HOLD

ME BACK.

I ARRIVED ALONE, BUT I NEVER

WOULD HAVE MADE IT HERE ON MY

OWN.

I JUST NEEDED A BANK THAT WAS

BUCKING THE SYSTEM TOO.

>> BANK KIWI.

KIWIBANK.

>> John: YEAH, THAT SEEMS PRETTY

HARMLESS.

THOUGH, PERSONALLY, I'M NOT SURE

I WANT MY BANK TO BE "BUCKING

THE SYSTEM."

IF ANYTHING, I'D LIKE IT TO BE

FIRMLY WITHIN THE SYSTEM

MAINTAINING ALL LEGAL

REQUIREMENTS FOR MY MONEY AND

NOT NECESSARILY GIVING IT TO A

SHEEP WHO IS GOOD AT DANCE DANCE

REVOLUTION.

BUT TO EACH HIS OWN.

SOME PEOPLE, THOUGH, HAD A VERY

DIFFERENT REACTION TO THAT AD

CAMPAIGN.

BECAUSE ABOUT A MONTH AFTER IT

LAUNCHED, ONE USER ON TWITTER

POSTED, AND I QUOTE:

"I WANT TO FUCK THE KIWIBANK

SHEEP."

A POST THAT QUICKLY GAINED STEAM

AFTER ANOTHER USER REPOSTED IT

AND SAID, "YEARS OF EFFORT TO

CONVINCE THE WORLD NEW

ZEALANDERS DON'T WANT TO FUCK

SHEEP HAS GONE DOWN THE DRAIN IN

ONE TWEET."

THAT WENT VIRAL, UNDERSTANDABLY

AND TOUCHED OFF A ROUND OF

SEXUALIZED POSTS AND DRAWINGS OF

BUCK THE SHEEP.

BUT EVEN THAT MIGHT'VE QUICKLY

DIED DOWN, WERE IT NOT FOR A KEY

DECISION KIWIBANK THEN MADE.

BECAUSE PEOPLE SOON NOTICED THAT

THE ORIGINAL POST HAD BEEN

CENSORED.

IT ORIGINALLY FEATURED A GIF OF

THE SHEEP FROM THE AD, BUT IT

HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH THE

MESSAGE "THIS MEDIA HAS BEEN

DISABLED IN RESPONSE TO A REPORT

BY THE COPYRIGHT OWNER."

AND OTHER POSTS RAN INTO SIMILAR

ISSUES, WITH KIWIBANK ISSUING A

BARRAGE OF TAKE DOWN NOTICES

SOME OF WHICH ACCUSED USERS OF

HAVING "TAKEN KIWIBANK'S

DISTINCTIVE BUCK IMAGE AND USED

IT TO MAKE HIGHLY SEXUALISED AND

INAPPROPRIATE COPIES WHICH

INFRINGE THE KIWIBANK

COPYRIGHT."

A REPORTER IN NEW ZEALAND

ACTUALLY SPOKE TO SOMEONE WHOSE

POST WAS REMOVED, WHO SAID "MY

TWEET WAS A JOKE, OBVIOUSLY I

HOPE.

I DO NOT THINK THE DRAWING OF A

SHEEP IS SEXY.

PUT THAT IN THE PAPER!"

WHICH IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE

THING TO FEEL THE NEED TO

CLARIFY.

THOUGH, AS THAT REPORTER LATER

TOLD A RADIO INTERVIEWER, OTHER

PEOPLE HE SPOKE TO WEREN'T QUITE

SO RETICENT.

>> I DID TALK TO SOMEONE IN THE

FURRY COMMUNITY, AND THEY DID

SAY, 'LOOK, THIS IS A, THIS IS

AN ATTRACTIVE SHEEP AS FURRY

CULTURE GOES.

THIS IS A VERY GOOD-LOOKING

SHEEP.'

AND SHE DOES HAVE WHAT SOME HAVE

REFERRED TO AS 'COME HITHER'

EYES AND PARTICULARLY IN THE

MOMENT IN THE AD WHERE SHE GETS

A HAIRCUT.

THIS IS WHAT'S REALLY GOT PEOPLE

GOING.

SO, A LOT OF PEOPLE ONLINE ARE

SAYING, 'IF YOU DIDN'T WANT

PEOPLE TO SAY YOUR SHEEP IS SO

SEXY, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE MADE

SUCH A SEXY SHEEP.

>> John: YEAH, THAT'S FAIR.

AND WHILE I KNOW THIS ISN'T THE

POINT, I DO FEEL A LITTLE

VALIDATED BECAUSE IF I'M HONEST

THIS IS "EXACTLY" WHAT I ASSUMED

RADIO IN NEW ZEALAND WAS LIKE

EVERY SINGLE DAY.

BUT THE THING IS, KIWIBANK'S

AGGRESSIVE RESPONSE WAS

COMPLETELY COUNTERPRODUCTIVE, AS

APPARENTLY, FOR EVERY LUSTFUL

POST KILLED BY A LEGAL THREAT

ANOTHER 10 TOOK ITS PLACE.

IN FACT, PEOPLE STARTED POSTING

IN SOLIDARITY, SAYING THINGS

LIKE: I'M A KIWIBANK CUSTOMER

AND I DEMAND YOU ALLOW SOCIAL

MEDIA USERS TO SEXUALISE THAT

SHEEP OR I'LL MOVE MY MONEY TO A

BANK THAT WILL" AND I'M JOINING

THE WAR ON "STOP SAYING YOU WANT

TO FUCK ITS SHEEP MASCOT" ON THE

SIDE OF I WANT TO FUCK THE SHEEP

MASCOT.

BASICALLY A LOT OF NEW

ZEALANDERS ARE GOING FULL "I AM

SPARTACUS"-- IF, THAT IS

SPARTACUS WANTED TO FUCK THE

KIWIBANK SHEEP.

AND AS A RESULT THE BANK SEEMS

TO HAVE CURTAILED ITS SHEEP

CONTENT-- AS IN THE FIRST FIVE

WEEKS AFTER THAT AD CAMPAIGN

LAUNCHED, OUT OF THE 10 TIKTOKS

THEY POSTED, SIX FEATURED BUCK.

BUT SINCE THEN, THEY'VE POSTED

18 TIMES, AND THE SHEEP'S IN

EXACTLY NONE OF THEM.

BASICALLY, THE SHEEP'S GONE!

ALL OF WHICH BRINGS US BACK TO

LIBERTY BIBERTY, BECAUSE NEW

ZEALAND MAY'VE INADVERTENTLY

JUST GIVEN US A BLUEPRINT FOR

HOW TO GET RID OF HIM FOREVER.

ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO

KILL BIBERTY HAVE CLEARLY BEEN

COMING AT THIS THE WRONG WAY.

FOR ONE THING, BIBERTY CAN'T

DIE.

HE WAS CREATED IN DEFIANCE OF

GOD'S WILL.

BUT FOR ANOTHER, AS KIWIBANK HAS

TAUGHT US, LOVE CAN DO WHAT HATE

CAN'T.

MY POINT IS, COMPANIES SEEM TO

BE ENDLESSLY THIRSTY FOR

CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT, WITH ONE

VERY NOTABLE EXCEPTION.

SO, IF WE WANT TO SEE THE END OF

LIBERTY BIBERTY, AND I THINK WE

DO, IT APPEARS WE HAVE A

PATHWAY.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IT MAY BE

TIME TO THIRST OPENLY AND

ENTHUSIASTICALLY AFTER THIS

ATROCITY.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT LIBERTY

MUTUAL PROBABLY DOESN'T WANT TO

SEE RIGHT NOW?

IMAGES LIKE THIS.

I'LL BE HONEST-- I DON'T WANT

TO SEE IT.

BUT REMEMBER, THIS IS A MEANS TO

AN END.

AND THE COMPANY SHOULD KNOW: IF

THIS DOESN'T GET THE JOB DONE

WE HAVE OTHER BULLETS IN THE

CHAMBER.

LIKE THIS.

OR INDEED, THIS.

WE HAVE SOMEONE ON STAFF WHO

DOES THESE DRAWINGS, BY THE WAY.

AND YOU SHOULD KNOW-- WE ASKED

HIM FOR A FOUR OUT OF TEN, AND

THIS IS WHAT HE GAVE US.

LIBERTY MUTUAL: DON'T MAKE ME

ASK HIM TO GO HIGHER.

YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT A

SIX LOOKS LIKE.

LOOK, THE FURRY COMMUNITY'S

ALWAYS HAD A VERY PARTICULAR SET

OF SKILLS, AND IT MAY NOW BE

TIME FOR THEM TO USE THOSE

SKILLS FOR THE GREATER GOOD.

SO EVERYONE MIGHT WANT TO MUTE

THE WORD "BIBERTY" ON WHICHEVER

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM YOU'RE ON

IN THE NEXT WEEK.

BECAUSE I THINK THINGS ARE ABOUT

TO GET A LITTLE SPICY.

AND TO LIBERTY MUTUAL, LET ME

JUST SAY THIS: IF YOU DIDN'T

WANT PEOPLE ONLINE TO SAY YOUR

BIBERTY IS SEXY, YOU SHOULDN'T

HAVE MADE SUCH A SEXY BIBERTY.

THAT'S OUR SHOW!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING!

WE'RE OFF NEXT WEEK, BACK

OCTOBER 25TH!

I'M THRILLED TO BE PART OF THE

SKYDANCE FAMILY!

HOPE YOU'RE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU

BOUGHT, GUYS!

WE'RE NEVER GONNA CHANGE!

GOOD NIGHT!

NEVER!

WE'RE NEVER CHANGING!

♪ ♪