# Being a poll of perceptions as to the merits of Mr. John Oliver as compared to Mr. Jon Stewart **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 31, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964 "2013-07-31T02:31:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964/21 "2013-08-03T00:27:53Z")
I like both of them, but Oliver has the edge right now becuase of the freshness factor. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964/22 "2013-08-03T01:03:41Z")
[This graphic](https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/p480x480/999179_166804573504879_206454616_n.jpg) about Oliver’s interview with Reza Aslan has been going around on Facebook since it happened. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964/23 "2013-08-03T09:19:28Z")
I think the material has been somewhat better. But it is unclear how much of that is because of Oliver. In pure delivery, they are both excellent. But I have grown rather tired of Stewarts repeat jokes after all these year. (Eg “I’m old and pulled a muscle”.) That’s not really fair for the comparison, I would probably have grown tired of Olivers jokes after that long also. Another thing, and I guess this is a dangerous topic, but have anyone else noticed that they agree less with what Stewart is mockingly stating on the show? During the Bush years I found that he was always clearly right about the things he implied an opinion about. But that’s not the case anymore, for me. And it makes it less good if they are mocking something using what I think is not a decisive argument or comparison. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964/24 "2013-08-03T09:26:22Z")
Also, **Sampiro** , as long as you include that final option on your polls, you will never get any opinion out of me about any of the other things. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964/25 "2013-08-03T09:30:22Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Jamie Oliver has pretty much made me laugh every damn time I’ve watched him as host. (I only catch the show 2 or 3 times a week due to scheduling.) As a comedian I think he makes a damn fine cook. He should get back into the kitchen and leave the comedy to Jon. (I have no opinion on John Oliver’s performance as it hasn’t screened here) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964/26 "2013-08-03T12:58:30Z")
I’ve been impressed with John Oliver, but I’ve found most of his interviews to be fluffy, even for The Daily Show. I will say, tho, that I enjoyed the one with Reza Aslan. But I loves me some Jon Stewart. He’s on my short list of famous people I’d love to have dinner with. I think he’s a very good interviewer, and he seems to be pretty smart. I’ll be glad when he’s back, but I’m also glad John Oliver has been filling in - he’s quite good. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964/27 "2013-08-03T14:29:37Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > If Jamie Oliver starts hosting, that _will_ be something. 🙂 > [@Eliahna](#): > > As a comedian I think he makes a damn fine cook. He should get back into the kitchen and leave the comedy to Jon. > > (I have no opinion on John Oliver’s performance as it hasn’t screened here) 🙂 LOL, I’m such a dolt! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964/28 "2013-08-03T15:02:57Z")
> [@TV\_time](#): > > I also don’t agree that Oliver is a better interviewer. Oliver is perhaps the funnier interviewer, but Stewart is knowledgeable and aware of the points being made and usually has read the books the author coming on the show has written and grasps very subtle points being made. Really? I’ve been kinda sorta keeping track and I’m pretty sure Oliver has read the book for every interviewee that has been on. Stewart doesn’t, generally (and often jokes about it). Dunno if Oliver could keep it up if he were made permanent host (that’s a lot of reading, as some weeks they have several authors on), but I’ve been impressed he’s been able to do it so far. Anyhoo, I voted for Oliver. Stewarts just been doing this too long, and for the past year or tow it’s really shown. ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964/29 "2013-08-04T18:38:57Z")
> [@TV\_time](#): > > The show when Stewart had cut himself and was sort of going into shock. I must’ve missed this, & so did Google. Elaborate please? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964/30 "2013-08-04T19:10:33Z")
I think he’s doing a great job and I’m enjoying the change of pace and the spin he’s putting on things. I can imagine someone asking him to host a talk show if he wants to go in that direction. He hasn’t changed the show all that much, really - not because I think he’s imitating Jon Stewart but because the rest of the writing staff is still there and he’s clearly working inside the TDS template Jon Stewart has established over the years. And I think he’s been handed better material than he expected. Does anyone know how many more weeks or new episodes he’s doing? Jon is back on September 3rd and I know there will be some more reruns in there. > [@TV\_time](#): > > He is very capable. I especially like how he handles disaster. The show when the power went. He handled that so well. The show when Stewart had cut himself and was sort of going into shock. > [@singular1](#): > > I must’ve missed this, & so did Google. Elaborate please? The description is kind of overstated, but [it was very funny.](http://www.thedailybeast.com/videos/2011/06/08/jon-stewart-bleeds-for-comedy.html) ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964/31 "2013-08-04T19:38:48Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > They’re pretty much interchangeable except that Oliver doesn’t have Stewart’s palpable “I’ve been doing this too long” aura. Taking a long break to do something else should be mandatory for every talk show host after X number of years. If Stewart comes back recharged, then great. If he comes back to the realization that he really doesn’t want to do this for another 10 years it’ll show pretty quickly. Then everybody can play musical chairs. Including the networks at 11:30. 😃 I actually find them to be quite different, but Oliver is doing a great job. His Daily Show is different than Stewart’s Daily Show, but I like them both. One thing Stewart has that nobody, absolutely nobody, else has, is is unbelieveable quickness. Oliver is quick, but not like Stewart. Colbert, same. And sure, I miss that a bit. But Oliver is going a great job. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964/32 "2013-08-04T20:03:12Z")
At his best he’s as good as Stewart, but I have noticed that I’m less inclined to watch the show lately. I’m not sure, though, if it’s not just what’s in the news. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-a-poll-of-perceptions-as-to-the-merits-of-mr-john-oliver-as-compared-to-mr-jon-stewart/664964.md?page=1)