# A plea to Jon Stewart **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 6, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356 "2008-09-06T16:53:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/61 "2008-10-21T20:26:58Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I think she meant social services aren’t dealt with by city government. (Meaning they are dealt with, instead, by state and federal governments. Which I think is the usual state of affairs.) > -FrL- That’s a little bit better then. She should have explained that, rather than saying “We don’t have any”, or whatever it was she said. I found one site saying that of Wasilla’s 69 municipal employees, 26 are in finance and administration. So it’s not unlikely that the mayor doesn’t do much except chair meetings and sign checks. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/62 "2008-10-21T20:38:36Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > You must have missed it when Congress took two days off for Yom Kippur. He _blasted_ them, and while it was funny, he was unmistakably pissed. It wasn’t “even” Yom Kippur, that was the point - “_Not even my Rabbi has the balls to take **two** days off for Rosh Hashanah_” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/63 "2008-10-21T20:49:38Z")
> [@Revenant\_Threshold](#): > > I don’t suppose you know which day this was on? I’d like to see it. Episode of 30th Sept [here](http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=186752) ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/64 "2008-10-21T20:53:41Z")
> [@Cat\_Jones](#): > > It wasn’t “even” Yom Kippur, that was the point - “_Not even my Rabbi has the balls to take **two** days off for Rosh Hashanah_” Dang, scooped me to the correction and the URL. I flailed around looking for the clip before I realized my error. Thanks for putting it up. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/65 "2008-10-22T02:29:27Z")
For the Rosh Hashanah bit, he pointed out that there were a hell of a lot more Jews working on Wall Street than in Congress, and _they_ were working. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/66 "2008-10-22T06:01:51Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > [QUOTE=carlb] > Anyone else hearing genuine anger in Jon Stewart over this whole “Real America” thing? I’ve heard him outraged, incredulous, disappointed, and sad, but I think this is the first time I’ve detected outright anger. I like it. You must have missed it when Congress took two days off for Yom Kippur. He _blasted_ them, and while it was funny, he was unmistakably pissed. [/QUOTE] In the ep a while ago - could it have been a year? - which started off something like “traitors don’t get to question _my_ patriotism” he was undoubtedly seething. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/67 "2008-10-22T07:11:29Z")
Minor short rant: I love Stewart and TDS, but is it a “New Rule” that 2/3 of the Middle Third of the show must suck? The opening third is usually killer, a combo of great comedy and great investigative journalism. The final third, like any other talk show, depends on who the guest is- if it’s an author who’s written an interesting book on current events or Bill Clinton or Mrs. Dick Cheney or whatever (even Buckley Jr. tonight) it can be pretty good, if it’s just Adam Sandler plugging his movie not so much, but that’s the luck of the draw. But that middle third- rarely worth watching any more. Jason Jones, Asiv Mandi, (sp?), John Oliver, Rob Riggle, or worst of all Jon Hodgeson or Dmitri Martin (whose success I’ve never understood) etc.- it’s just good for a bathroom break more often than not. The first third has so many moments of brilliance that I’d hate to say “get new writers”, but… do sumpin’, Jon. Handle it for me, kay babe? Tanks. ---
**Author:** ![lynxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e99b99/32.png) [@lynxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynxie)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/68 "2008-10-22T09:02:22Z")
Wait a minute. That bit with the Mayor of Wassila was . . . real? I don’t usually remember to watch TDS but caught the last half of this one. I thought it was a fairly amusing send up. It was REAL? ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/69 "2008-10-22T09:11:55Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > In the ep a while ago - could it have been a year? - which started off something like “traitors don’t get to question _my_ patriotism” he was undoubtedly seething. Google seems to indicate that “traitors don’t get to question _my_ patriotism” is a Bill Maher quote. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/70 "2008-10-22T14:17:30Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Minor short rant: I love Stewart and TDS, but is it a “New Rule” that 2/3 of the Middle Third of the show must suck? The opening third is usually killer, a combo of great comedy and great investigative journalism. The final third, like any other talk show, depends on who the guest is- if it’s an author who’s written an interesting book on current events or Bill Clinton or Mrs. Dick Cheney or whatever (even Buckley Jr. tonight) it can be pretty good, if it’s just Adam Sandler plugging his movie not so much, but that’s the luck of the draw. > > But that middle third- rarely worth watching any more. Jason Jones, Asiv Mandi, (sp?), John Oliver, Rob Riggle, or worst of all Jon Hodgeson or Dmitri Martin (whose success I’ve never understood) etc.- it’s just good for a bathroom break more often than not. The first third has so many moments of brilliance that I’d hate to say “get new writers”, but… do sumpin’, Jon. Handle it for me, kay babe? Tanks. Have to agree - thanks for putting words to my thoughts. My must-watch show, to be sure, but that middle third is often painful. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/71 "2008-10-22T14:21:17Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Have to agree - thanks for putting words to my thoughts. My must-watch show, to be sure, but that middle third is often painful. They need better “reporters.” I like Sam Bee, but she’s not doing much these days. (Understandable with two small children.) Oliver’s OK, but a little full of himself, and the show is just better with American reporters. I miss Corrdry, Helms, and Colbert. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/72 "2008-10-22T15:29:23Z")
> [@lynxie](#): > > Wait a minute. That bit with the Mayor of Wassila was . . . real? > > I don’t usually remember to watch TDS but caught the last half of this one. I thought it was a fairly amusing send up. > > It was REAL? All too real. Now, imagine this person instead of Palin as McCain’s VP candidate. If the fan base wasn’t obsessed with her looks, she would have been dumped long ago. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/73 "2008-10-22T16:11:53Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Minor short rant: I love Stewart and TDS, but is it a “New Rule” that 2/3 of the Middle Third of the show must suck? The opening third is usually killer, a combo of great comedy and great investigative journalism. The final third, like any other talk show, depends on who the guest is- if it’s an author who’s written an interesting book on current events or Bill Clinton or Mrs. Dick Cheney or whatever (even Buckley Jr. tonight) it can be pretty good, if it’s just Adam Sandler plugging his movie not so much, but that’s the luck of the draw. > > But that middle third- rarely worth watching any more. Jason Jones, Asiv Mandi, (sp?), John Oliver, Rob Riggle, or worst of all Jon Hodgeson or Dmitri Martin (whose success I’ve never understood) etc.- it’s just good for a bathroom break more often than not. The first third has so many moments of brilliance that I’d hate to say “get new writers”, but… do sumpin’, Jon. Handle it for me, kay babe? Tanks. Really? I just watched last night’s show, and Jon Hodgman in the middle third was hilarious. He was brutal in making fun of Jon. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/74 "2008-10-22T19:45:57Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Minor short rant: I love Stewart and TDS, but is it a “New Rule” that 2/3 of the Middle Third of the show must suck? The opening third is usually killer, a combo of great comedy and great investigative journalism. The final third, like any other talk show, depends on who the guest is- if it’s an author who’s written an interesting book on current events or Bill Clinton or Mrs. Dick Cheney or whatever (even Buckley Jr. tonight) it can be pretty good, if it’s just Adam Sandler plugging his movie not so much, but that’s the luck of the draw. > > But that middle third- rarely worth watching any more. Jason Jones, Asiv Mandi, (sp?), John Oliver, Rob Riggle, or worst of all Jon Hodgeson or Dmitri Martin (whose success I’ve never understood) etc.- it’s just good for a bathroom break more often than not. The first third has so many moments of brilliance that I’d hate to say “get new writers”, but… do sumpin’, Jon. Handle it for me, kay babe? Tanks. I’m about half and half on the middle third. Rob Riggle and Jason Jones are almost the same guy – they don’t really need two of him. The rest are hit or miss – sometimes they are very funny, sometimes they just seem to act like jackasses on the theory that acting like a jackass is in itself funny. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/75 "2008-10-22T19:58:23Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Really? I just watched last night’s show, and Jon Hodgman in the middle third was hilarious. He was brutal in making fun of Jon. I don’t have much against the usual middle thirds, or at least I didn’t think I did, but last night’s Jon Hodgman was fantastic; the best I’ve seen in a long time. It’s actually causing me to start re-evaluating the others… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/76 "2008-10-22T20:02:30Z")
I particularly like it when they do things like in [this video](http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=186052&title=clusterf#@k-to-the-poor-house), in which they contrast President Bush’s speech of September 24, 2008 on the financial crisis and the need to spend $700 billion with his speech of March 17, 2003 on the danger posed by Saddam Hussein and the need to invade Iraq. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/77 "2008-10-22T22:32:37Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > Google seems to indicate that “traitors don’t get to question _my_ patriotism” is a Bill Maher quote. :smack: This ignorant foreigner will slink away now. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/78 "2008-10-23T00:21:11Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’m about half and half on the middle third. Rob Riggle and Jason Jones are almost the same guy – they don’t really need two of him. The rest are hit or miss – sometimes they are very funny, sometimes they just seem to act like jackasses on the theory that acting like a jackass is in itself funny. I want more Larry Wilmore–that man’s delivery is incredible. Wyatt may have talent, but they haven’t found a way to show it yet. By all means, get rid of Jason Jones (but keep Samantha Bee). I also like Token MidEast descent guy–have forgotten his name. I like Hodgeman best when he’s playing a geeky wonk who gets it wrong. (I read his first book–not all that funny, in fact, it got tiresome). I wouldn’t mind just watching Stewart until the guest comes out some nights. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/79 "2008-10-23T00:34:08Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > I also like Token MidEast descent guy–have forgotten his name. Do you mean [Aasif Mandvi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aasif_Mandvi)? Because he was born in Mumbai, which isn’t in the Mideast. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356/80 "2008-10-23T00:44:49Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Do you mean [Aasif Mandvi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aasif_Mandvi)? Because he was born in Mumbai, which isn’t in the Mideast. That is true. However, in a vague, not particularly useful sense, he may well have significant ancestry tracing back to the Middle East. I know; that’s a pretty weak defense… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-plea-to-jon-stewart/462356.md?page=5)