John Oliver has no love for pumpkin spice

Fall means a lot of things: cooler weather, shorter days and pumpkin flavors everywhere.

It turns out “Last Week Tonight” host John Oliver is a fan of two of those things.

In a special “Web exclusive” posted Sunday, Oliver went on an extended rant against the pumpkin spice flavor that becomes ubiquitous every fall. Even though, as he points out, that pumpkin flavor is actually available year-round behind the counter at most coffee shops.

“Pumpkin spice lattes, the coffee that tastes like a candle,” Oliver said. “And I don’t mean it tastes like a candle smells; pumpkin spice lattes taste like a candle tastes.”

Oliver may not be a fan, but Americans apparently can’t get enough of the stuff. How much pumpkin do they eat every fall?

“Apparently, each American eats more than five pounds of pumpkin per year,” Oliver said, citing a Sept. 9 Washington Post article. “Which is more than the amount of pumpkin in five pumpkin pies.”

The HBO show’s YouTube channel, which currently has over 900,000 subscribers, has recently begun adding Web exclusive videos to supplement the extended clips from the show itself.

While Oliver’s stance on pumpkin spice may not be as enlightening as his examination of drones or climate change or the death penalty, you have to respect the depth of feeling with which it’s delivered. Even if you don’t happen to agree with it.

Pumpkin spice happens once a year, so let’s learn to embrace it while we can.

Twitter: @patrickkevinday