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John Oliver Sells His Bob Ross Painting Raises Record $1.5 Million for Public Television
Inspired by the effort, HBO's comedy news host John Oliver announced that he too had an original Ross that he would auction for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
On the last episode of the most recent season of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the British-born TV host revealed an auction catalogue called "John Oliver's Junk" headlined by Cabin at Sunset, which Ross painted in season 10 of his show The Joy of Painting.
It managed to set a new auction record for a Bob Ross painting of $1,035,000 after 35 bids.
"We've actually accumulated a bunch of weird artifacts on this show over the years that we could definitely auction off to raise some much needed money," Oliver said on last week's show. "I am proud to announce last week tonight's first ever auction in aid of public media."
The proceeds from the sales of Cabin at Sunset and 34 other items totaled $1.5 million which has been transferred to the Public Media Bridge Fund which helps support stations and programs in need of funding.
Most of the items included show memorabilia, including a pair of golden sneakers Oliver promised to wear almost decade ago if former FIFA President Sep Blatter resigned, a cabbage that Oliver married in a segment on AI-generated art, and a jockstrap worn by Russel Crowe.
A pair of VIP tickets to a live show taping caught over $110,000.
While the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a GSE that funds public radio and television in America, was receiving over $1 billion of its budget from the government, anyone who watches PBS or listens to NPR notes the frequency with which they run pledge drives. This along with other for-profit productions generates substantial revenue that helps keep the CBP operational.
It was the idea of Bob Ross Inc., the company that manages the painter's likeness and property, to hold the auction in support of public television, something which he loved so much.
"I think this actually would have been Bob's idea," said Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc. "And when I think about that, it makes me very proud."