NEW YORK — HBO says it has picked up two more seasons of John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight,” which puts to rest any thought that Oliver would return to Comedy Central to replace Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show.”

Oliver just began the second season at HBO of his critically acclaimed comedy show. HBO said it will air 35 new episodes each in 2016 and 2017.

Michael Lombardo, president of HBO programming, said Oliver’s “unique ability to deliver socially significant commentary … puts John in a class by himself.”

– From news service reports