I normally don’t like to bite people, but this segment made me want to accompany jsgoddess down to MSNBC with pearly choppers a-gnashing. Simply appalling.
And yeah, Stewart’s show may not be the Second Coming of the Media Christ, but in comparison to virtually everything else in its corner of the wasteland it’s pretty much the only thing worth watching.
I think the funniest thing is that media people STILL seem to think that the Daily Show is a comedy show about politicians and celebrities and news STORIES and so forth. They STILL seem oblivious to the fact that it’s all a parody of THEM.
Newt Gingrich was on to plug his new book this week. Stewart asked about Newt’s recent trip to Iowa. Newt prevaricates around, talking about the Iowa State Fair, then Stewart sing-songs “You want to be president” at the end. The look on Newt’s face is what is so great about the show.
Jon Stewart’s appearance on Crossfire during the 2004 election was enough to instantly turn him into a cult hero, the one person on television willing to call out the news media on their complete uselessness.
Stewart’s a witty guy, but what sets him apart from all the other political comedians out there is that he really cares about what is going on in the world. He’s not just another cynical commentator; nor is he a shill for either side. He consistently delivers sharp, insightful criticism that also happens to be damn funny.
Argent, I’m with you. The show has always struck me as governed by the philosophy “as long as it’s ironic or irreverent, it much be funny!” Conbined with Stewart’s completely absent interviewing abilities, I find it very grating to watch it.
And see, I watched this interview and I found him neither funny nor particularly insiteful…more abbrasive (with a touch of whinning) to be honest. I suppose its more of that subjective stuff, but I didn’t think this was Stewart’s finest moment…though I know people who practically wriggle with pleasure at just the mention of this interview.
I will admit that something he said on one of his shows (I don’t remember which one now) about Michael Jackson doing a reach around and (potentially) getting time while OJ got off scott free was pretty funny…I still chuckle about it, though I don’t remember exactly what he said. It was HOW he said it that was really funny. Its just one of those comic moments that sticks with you…like I remember when Eddie Murphy was talking about his uncle starting a fire with gasoline and then saying something like ‘Woosh! Now THATS a fire!! … roll the child around, he’ll be alright!’.
-XT
Well, that was sort of the point.
I love the clip not for its humor (although there are parts of it that i find very funny), but for its critique of shows like Crossfire. The American media is in a pretty sad state when it takes someone from a fake news comedy show to give such a blunt yet accurate portrayal of the downfalls and deficiencies of our serious news shows.
A great example recently – I wish I could remember all the details. TDS showed a clip from CNN of two antagonistic talking heads, one of whom was a total nutjob loony. They finish; cut back to the CNN anchor desk (2 anchors), one of whom nods sagely and says “interesting points on both sides”. Then cut to Jon Stewart, who goes into full head-exploding mode.
Yes, thats my point. I didn’t find his critique of Crossfire (admittedly not one of my favorite shows either) or the news media in general very insiteful OR funny during this interview. It was like he was trying to put a thin coating of humor and urbane behavior over a screeching rant…and not a very insiteful or deep screeching rant at that. I also agree that our news shows have problems…I didn’t think his portrayal of their ‘downfalls and deficiencies’ as you put it was particularly accurate or constructive. YMMV and you may see it differently.
-XT
I think the show can be somewhat amusing at times, but definetly overstated in its humor and how ‘insightful’ it is. I agree with the OP that Stewart is a very smarmy smug individual delivering his barbs.
I think it helps with the humor the further left you are (just an observation). It’s where preaching to the choir works.
I do like Jon Stewart, but I’ll say what I don’t like about him here. He obviously has the ability and balls to really go after someone, whether on the show or to their face, but only does it selectively. For someone who revels so much in exposing bullshit on both sides, I was very disappointed in his interviews with Moore and Kerry, in which he basically sucked up.
I know, I know, “it’s just a comedy show, it doesn’t count,” but if you’re going to skew people, you should be consistent, especially if you have a unique position of being smart, funny, and having a decent grasp on younger audiences.
But that said, I do watch him and TDS whenever I can.
And i don’t think Stewart would argue with that at all. In fact, one of the things i like about him is that he wears his politics on his sleeve, and makes no pretence at being a non-partisan humorist. And if Jay Leno and David Letterman is what results from an unwillingness to take any political stance whatsoever, i’ll take Jon Stewart every time.
I agree with you that he goes pretty easy on people like Moore and Kerry.
The thing is, though, he also goes extremely easy on people from the other side of the political spectrum. Did you see his recent interviews with Colin Powell and with Newt Gingrich? And he did interviews further back with other conservative politicians and media figures, and every one of them involved a bunch of pretty harmless questions.
For me, the interview is nearly always the weakest part of the show, and i often don’t even watch it. And this is the case whether the guest is a right winger who i hate, or a leftist who i love. Personally, i’d be happy if they ditched the interviews altogether and put more features, fake news, and media commentary in its place.
[Crossfire Digression]
The Crossfire interview was not meant to be funny. Early on, before Stewart really got into his wanting-to-strangle-Tucker-Carlson-with-his-little-bowtie rage, sure, he was trying to inject a little humor. He was still largely just "comedian host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, who was being taken as a fool. It was when Carlson kept insisting that Stewart was an irresponsible journalist for making jokes on a comedy show, and Stewart couldn’t believe the hypocritical bull-dung spewing out of Carlson’s mouth while the other guy just sat there without trying to do a damn thing that Stewart got so “whiny” and really just railed, showing that he was not by any means an intellectual lightweight, and saying what really needed to be said about the news channels, and right on one of them.
[/Crossfire Digression]
As to why The Daily Show itself is great, it’s already been said: it cleverly lampoons/parodies/outright insults “real” news, their “important” stories, and both real and imagined newsmakers. And it does it consistently.
But if the style and subject matter of the comedy isn’t your thing, then it isn’t your thing, and you’re not really going to get sold on it.
I did not like The Daily Show until after 9/11, when they underwent their shift from a comedic interview show to Fake News. It was routine when they didn’t have the political focus. It’s been an honest-to-Og intelligent anti-agenda force since then.
There is no doubt in my mind that given the opportunity to interview him on his show, Stewart would fawn over Bush as well.
“Screeching rant?” :rolleyes: What we had here was two overblown talking heads thinking that they had this funny guy on to provide a few light moments in the show. Instead, he turns around and calls them out, placing responsibility for this country’s polarization at the doorstep of shows like this. And when Tucker Carlson expressed his disappointment that Jon wasn’t being funny, as he was “supposed to be”, Stewart went in for the kill! We need more people in the media who are willing to deflate these balloonheads!
Actually, I did see that one, and yeah, I was disappointed in that as well. Maybe what Stewart needs is a separate half hour “real” interview show.
Me too; I usually watch the first segment and unless it’s TWiG or Lewis Black after the first break, I usually tune out.
And what is Stewart’s solution? He thinks if you take away left v. right shows people won’t be polarized? Come on! Stewart is living in a dream. Crossfire was a pretty decent show where the left and the right got to engage in debate every afternoon. Both sides having their say in the debate.
Does Stewart think without shows like Crossfire people will get together and sing Kumbaya and all join in lockstep behind President Bush?
I liked Craig Kilborn a lot more, although his Late Show didn’t do much for me.
If people shouting talking points past each other is your idea of debate, sure.
I’m a diehard liberal, interested in politics, and I think The Daily Show is only just good. Jon Stewart has some flaws. He laughs at his own jokes too much. He could learn something from some of the correspondents who keep a straight face better. The show relies too much on childish jokes. I think a percentage of dick and potty humor is essential, but The Daily Show sometimes uses it in a lame way. How about that speedo story recently? That thing went on way past the point of being funny. The show is pretty hit-or-mmiss, though when it hits, its great. People have already gone over Stewart’s interviewing skills, but I’ll say he isn’t always very good at creating flowing discussions with non-comedians. His funny interjections sometimes stop discussions dead.
I’ll add, I LOVE Stephen Colbert. He has the face (looks like Sidney Blumenthal) and voice (and hair) of a real news anchor. He has the best straight delivery and is good at keeping it together. I wonder how well The Colbert Report will do. The commercial/sneak peak has always been hilarious. I hope he can keep it up for half-an-hour.