In a nostalgic throwback to 2021, Totes McGoats, the quirky (and weird) recycling mascot from Niagara Falls, made a surprising appearance on HBO's "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver." Originally introduced in 2015, Totes became an internet sensation, capturing the attention of major publications like Time and Cosmopolitan. However, as time passed, the man-goat figure faded from the public eye—until John Oliver brought him back into the spotlight.
During the episode, which focused on plastic pollution, Oliver highlighted the alarming fact that the average person ingests a credit card's worth of plastic each week. He remarked on the omnipresence of plastic in our daily lives from food packaging to construction materials and the ongoing dilemma of what to do with plastic waste. In this context, he humorously referenced various recycling mascots, including Totes McGoats, whom he affectionately dubbed his favorite.
The segment featured a clip of Brook D’Angelo, the city worker who conceptualized Totes McGoats. D’Angelo explained the mascot's somewhat unsettling appearance noting that while young children might find him frightening like a clown. The intended audience was older—middle schoolers and teenagers.
Oliver, however, couldn't resist poking fun at Totes, quipping, “Who said anything about clowns? No one would ever mistake that thing for a clown,” and critiquing the mascot's design as resembling a hastily Googled goat mask.
The backstory of Totes is just as amusing as his appearance. His entire costume, including the goat mask, gloves and blue t-shirt, were bought on Amazon for a mere $101.70.
A local reporter from the Buffalo News described Totes as a creepy, recycling-loving, goat-headed mascot that looks like it is straight out of a David Lynch film.
Oliver, known for his love of mascots, had featured a variety of characters on his show over the years. It was only a matter of time before Totes made his debut. In a humorous moment, Oliver expressed discomfort at even saying Totes' name, fearing it might summon the mascot. To his surprise, Totes did indeed appear.
Oliver emphasized that many items thought to be recyclable are not, and recycling the wrong materials can contaminate those that are. He warned viewers, “there’s a nonzero chance that you’re going to end up angering Totes McGoats,” as the mascot reappeared on screen, much to Oliver's dismay.
This was, by all accounts, the last public appearance by Totes McGaots. He will, for most in Niagara Falls, not be missed.
A Look Back at Totes McGoats' Last Public Appearance on 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' in 2021