After winning the Emmy for Outstanding Writing For A Variety Series, John Oliver quickly thanked his writers then moved onto what he felt should be the main focus of the evening: “Like Dave Chappelle, I would like to unexpectedly thank D.C. public schools, because I think it would be great if it started trending on Twitter for no reason tonight whatsoever.”
The crowd laughed, but Oliver was being serious. He continued: “If you’re tweeting about the Emmys at home, please use the hashtag #DCPublicSchools.” He then thanked Oprah because it felt appropriate, then asked to be played off.
Meanwhile, the hashtag took off, immediately trending just under #Emmys as the most discussed hashtag on all of Twitter. Such is the power of a John Oliver request for nonsense.
The hashtag started out simply enough, with most just addressing Last Week Tonight‘s big win, but then it kept going. It’s bleeding into every tweet about the Emmys.
#DCPublicSchools yeah, i'll do whatever John Oliver tells me to do.
— Gabriel No Tan Virgen (@gabi_virgen) September 18, 2017
Congratulations @LastWeekTonight. Winner in a very strong field!#emmys
#dcpublicschools since you asked. :)
— a dabbler 👀 (@ArmchairDabbler) September 18, 2017
Shoutout to #DCpublicschools for @LastWeekTonight's Emmy win! #Emmys2017
— Courtney Brunelle Kim (@CB1231) September 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/thechristylove/status/909588504350302209
Thanks for making the emotional rollercoaster of presidential tweets a fun, smooth ride. Props, @LastWeekTonight. #Emmys #DCPublicSchools pic.twitter.com/6xGebhrhzb
— HBO (@HBO) September 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/luxamnesiac/status/909592625879142405
Woohoo! Pass the mashed potatoes! @azizansari @LenaWaithe #DCPublicSchools
— Tara Miller (@taraMaustin) September 18, 2017
AZIZ AND LENA! YES YES YES! #Emmys #DCPublicSchools
— Nick Caruso (@LittlestWinslow) September 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/SamRWatkins_/status/909592587635437568
https://twitter.com/mary3s/status/909592128715505665
"Thanksgiving" was one of most beautiful & well-crafted episodes of TV I've seen. Props & congrats on #Emmy. #MasterofNone #DCPublicSchools
— Matt Macoul (@MMacoul44) September 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/nateyoung/status/909596380267651072
Very few acceptance speeches are remembered, but thanking D.C.’s public schools could end up being a thing that will be referenced for years to come. Hell, this might’ve been Oliver’s Sally Fields moment. “You like me” in 1985 is #DCPublicSchools in 2017. The industry sure has changed.