'Daily Show' humor befuddles governor

[dswallow]

Thursday, February 23, 2006; Posted: 8:19 p.m. EST (01:19 GMT)

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/23/illinois.gov.spoof.ap/index.html

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (AP) -- Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich wasn't in on the joke.

Blagojevich says he didn't realize "The Daily Show" was a comedy spoof of the news when he sat down for an interview that ended up poking fun at the sometimes-puzzled governor.

"It was going to be an interview on contraceptives ... that's all I knew about it," Blagojevich laughingly told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in a story for Thursday's editions. "I had no idea I was going to be asked if I was 'the gay governor.' "

The interview focused on his executive order requiring pharmacies to fill prescriptions for emergency birth control.

Interviewer Jason Jones pretended to stumble over Blagojevich's name before calling him "Governor Smith." He urged Blagojevich to explain the contraception issue by playing the role of "a hot 17-year-old" and later asked if he was "the gay governor."

At one point in the interview, a startled Blagojevich looked to someone off camera and said, "Is he teasing me or is that legit?"

The segment, which aired two weeks ago, also featured Illinois Republican Rep. Ron Stephens, a pharmacist who opposes the governor's order to pharmacies. Stephens has said he knew the show was a comedy.

"I thought the governor was hip enough that he would have known that, too," Stephens said.

[YCantAngieRead]

Our governor is so clueless. I can't wait to vote him out of office.

That's probably a bit too political. Whoops.

He lost me when he piled on the poor guy who tried to catch the ball in the Cubs playoffs a couple of years ago. Classless.

[Neenahboy]

He's up for re-election this year, correct?

[cherry ghost]

He's up for re-election this year, correct?


Yep, should be interesting.

[YCantAngieRead]

I keep forgetting I don't live in Kansas anymore and that there are actually people online who might not agree with me. :D

[Ntombi]

Don't they have media consultants or PR people who get them ready for these things??? How can the Governor of a major state NOT be better prepared?

[sonnik]

My parents live in Illinois. From what I hear, he never spends time in Springfield.

I guess he tends to run everything by proxy from a private office in Chicago.

Which is kind of a shame, because Springfield really is a nice state capital. (Nice buildings, rich in history).

[Redux]

I keep forgetting I don't live in Kansas anymore and that there are actually people online who might not agree with me. :DThe important thing to remember is that there are no people _of any significance_ online who might not agree with you.

[dswallow]

What struck me about this article is how it represented just how out of touch with popular culture so many of our elected representatives seem to be; it made me wonder about all the others. Personally I've never once watched the Daily Show; but I still know something about it. Now it's got me curious about what shows many of our other elected officials may watch or if they even know something about any of the popular ones or even the cult ones. Of course, it's also got me wondering if the grandparents on Gilmore Girls ever watch Lost or Desperate Housewives or CSI. ;)

Now mind you, I was recently scared to find all my neighbors amongst my 6 unit townhouse group love Dancing with the Stars and Skating with Celebrities. So part of me is reticent to even ask such questions.

[eddyj]

I keep forgetting I don't live in Kansas anymore and that there are actually people online who might not agree with me. :D
From what I know of you, and of people ion Kansas, I suspect there are a lot of things that you and them disagree on. :D

[ddockery]

My parents live in Illinois. From what I hear, he never spends time in Springfield.

I guess he tends to run everything by proxy from a private office in Chicago.

Which is kind of a shame, because Springfield really is a nice state capital. (Nice buildings, rich in history).

Not only that, but he wasted resources flying between the two (for the times he HAS to be in Springfield) and havingf staff in both places. A true ******bag (to stay in the Spirit of the Daily Show)

[tewcewl]

I never liked him. Didn't vote for him.

But I'm with dswallow and wonder how "in touch" with the world our elected officials are. Does Cheney hunker down and watch "Wildboyz"? :D

[SparkleMotion]

Personally I've never once watched the Daily ShowWow.

Just wow.

Don't know why--probably because I can't imagine ever NOT watching it as I have for the past 7 or 8 years--but that really takes me aback.

[dswallow]

Wow.

Just wow.

Don't know why--probably because I can't imagine ever NOT watching it as I have for the past 7 or 8 years--but that really takes me aback.
I've seen Real Time with Bill Maher -- though I've never watched an entire show. And for that matter probably haven't seen some part of some show more than a dozen times.

[phluffhead]

My parents live in Illinois. From what I hear, he never spends time in Springfield.

I guess he tends to run everything by proxy from a private office in Chicago.

Which is kind of a shame, because Springfield really is a nice state capital. (Nice buildings, rich in history).

You havn't been to Springfield for a while then, by day the LIncoln log cabin is a tourist destination, as soon as the sun goes down the ladies of the night take it over and give new meaning to sleeping in the Lincoln bedroom.

[SparkleMotion]

Note to self: Visit Springfield. Bring cash.

[durl]

I'm surprised the governor wasn't prepped by staff before going on the show. I'm guessing there was a shake-up afterwards?

Regarding politicians being in touch with pop culture, I won't reject a candidate if they don't know what's on Comedy Central. I don't believe a thorough understanding of it is essential to governing. What bothers me more is when people depend on Comedy Central for the bulk of their political news.

[hawkamer]

I can understand how the governor might not have heard of the Daily Show, but it's truly mind boggling that his staff was so clueless. During the Republican National Convention, Stephen Colbert approached a high-up about an on-camera interview. I think it might have been Tom Delay. Delay was open to the interview, but his staff quickly wisked him out of harms way!

[jcoulter]

He's pissed off so many people of this state I'm kinda thinking that his staff didn't tell him what the show was about.
OK I know that's probably not true, but I can't believe that SOMEONE didn't tell him.

[Kevdog]

I can understand how the governor might not have heard of the Daily Show, but it's truly mind boggling that his staff was so clueless. During the Republican National Convention, Stephen Colbert approached a high-up about an on-camera interview. I think it might have been Tom Delay. Delay was open to the interview, but his staff quickly wisked him out of harms way!

As somebody who works in PR, I'd never put a client on a TV show without watching it and pre-briefing the client first. It's the most fundamental rule in the business. Either the governor doesn't have a PR person or he should fire the one he has.

[eddyj]

What bothers me more is when people depend on Comedy Central for the bulk of their political news.
Interestingly, last time I saw something about this, the people who said they relied on the Daily show also scored much higher than the general population in a test on current affairs. I wonder if I can find that article again....nay, too lazy. :)

[jfjellstad]

Interestingly, last time I saw something about this, the people who said they relied on the Daily show also scored much higher than the general population in a test on current affairs. I wonder if I can find that article again....nay, too lazy. :)

http://www.business-journal.com/NoJokeDailyShowViewersKnowIssues.asp

[midas]

Befuddling our governor is a lot like poking a dead guy with a stick. It's not really difficult and isn't nearly as much fun as you'd think it would be.

[Neenahboy]

Wow.

Just wow.

Don't know why--probably because I can't imagine ever NOT watching it as I have for the past 7 or 8 years--but that really takes me aback.

I've only seen it once, and I truthfully wasn't that wowed by it. I do, however, love The Colbert Report.

[kiljoy]

What bothers me more is when people depend on Comedy Central for the bulk of their political news.What bothers me more is that people who depend on Comedy Central are far more informed about political news than people who watch CNN or Fox News.

That's right, people get more content and more news in 22 minutes of a comedy routine than people who watch 24 hours of news in a news broadcast. Of those 22 minutes of The Daily Show, a significant portion is not about the news. There's usually a four minute segment about something a correspondant has done, and a minute or two at the end with Colbert and the Moment of Zen. Sometimes there's a puff piece interview too. That leaves 12 minutes of comedy about the news that's leaving people more informed than avid news channel watchers.

Jon Stewart himself has said on numerous occasions that the media needs to actually do its job, rather than relying on a comedian to inform people.

Maybe I'm just biased, but I think it's more a matter of smarter, more informed people watching The Daily Show than The Daily Show making people more informed. As a corollary, Fox News either makes people stupid or stupid people watch Fox News.

Tony

[RegBarc]

"Is he teasing me or is that legit?"
I thought that was actually pretty good. I'm no resident of the state, but he seemed to have at least some personality. Made me laugh. :D

[dswallow]

As a corollary, Fox News either makes people stupid or stupid people watch Fox News.
People don't watch FOX news to be informed; they watch FOX news to be validated.

Frankly I don't understand how anybody can stand watching TV news for more than a few seconds. The smarmy attitude of most anchors while presenting the news is enough of a turn-off. Report the news; say it. Don't tell us how you feel about it. Don't have a little mini discussion with your co-anchors about how terrible that was or how funny it looked. Don't smile about every single thing you talk about.

That's one aspect that always made me enjoy BBC or even CBC news. Actually the best TV news would be one that has no talking heads; just news videos and a correspondent/anchor talkiong over it explaining/describing it.

If you really want a dose of how silly our whole system of news anchors has become, just take a gander at Naked News (available in both male and female editions). It makes it so obvious what the anchors are there for versus reporting the news that it's just funny to realize how that's what practically every local TV station in the country would want to air if they could get away without being fined by the FCC for doing it.

[msgtgumby]

I thought that was actually pretty good. I'm no resident of the state, but he seemed to have at least some personality. Made me laugh. :D

I loved that line. That and the name thing at the begining killed me. Honestly, when he asked the look on his face really made me wonder if he knew it was a joke or not, that made it even funnier :). I may not agree with his political views, but Stewart has a great show.

[cptodd]

Is the gov. not liked in IL? I thought it was kind of popular. BUt what do I know. I have only been here for 8 months.

[SullyND]

Is the gov. not liked in IL? I thought it was kind of popular. BUt what do I know. I have only been here for 8 months.

Rod's got lots of issues. Sadly, we don't really have much of a choice in the next election, but that verges on political, so that's all I'll say.

[YCantAngieRead]

My parents live in Illinois. From what I hear, he never spends time in Springfield.

I guess he tends to run everything by proxy from a private office in Chicago.

Which is kind of a shame, because Springfield really is a nice state capital. (Nice buildings, rich in history).
This is a LARGE part of my problem with him. We're just nothing to him. And Springfield IS lovely.

[Johnny Dazzle]

It surprises me that no one in this thread has brought the possibility that our good Governor is LYING. There is no way on earth he didn't know what he was doing. People of Illinois: How many times have you seen Governor Rod sit down for a one-on-one interview with anybody for any reason? My guess is somebody told him he looked ignorant and decided to say he knew nothing of the show he was being interviewed on.

[spartanstew]

Personally I've never once watched the Daily Show; but I still know something about it.


Exactly.

I've never watched it either, but you'd certainly have to be out of touch not to know what it is.

[nedthelab]

I love the daily show - watch it every night off time via tivo, but I am surprised at this point that they can get anyone who isnt selling a book or movie to be part of an interview or segment. "Hey Governor X, the daily show want to do an expose on subject Y, you in?" - come on , John Stewart got the front cover of Time for the 04 elections - so any politition who takes part has to be in on the joke or they are just plain out of touch

[busyba]

What, a politician out of touch with pop culture? That could never happen! ;)

[ZeoTiVo]

Maybe I'm just biased, but I think it's more a matter of smarter, more informed people watching The Daily Show than The Daily Show making people more informed. As a corollary, Fox News either makes people stupid or stupid people watch Fox News.

Tony

well it does just kind of seem obvious as to the why. The Governor would watch the Daily Show and go, "what kind of news show is this :confused: ."

Whereas someone informed about the news would go "Look, he is interviewing a Governor who has no idea what kind of show he is being interviewd by, how cluelessly funny is that :p "


I vote for the staff has had enough, knows they need to find another job by election time and just threw him out there. maybe they wanted to get on Bill Maher's good side as they start the job hunt ;)

[tedder]

Rob Corddry was in town yesterday, he talked about this issue specifically. He is sure Gov Rod knew what he was doing.

[Bierboy]

As somebody who works in PR, I'd never put a client on a TV show without watching it and pre-briefing the client first. It's the most fundamental rule in the business. Either the governor doesn't have a PR person or he should fire the one he has.Agreed....I've been in PR for about 18 years, and I also live in Illinois. As a PR practicioner, I agree that there is absolutely no excuse for not preparing a client for such an interview. The really sad thing about this is that Chicago is so blindly and heavily Democratic, the joker will likely get re-elected.

[hefe]

The really sad thing about this is that Chicago is so blindly and heavily Democratic, the joker will likely get re-elected.
Eh, you never know...Blago was our first Democrat Gov. since 1977.

[SullyND]

Eh, you never know...Blago was our first Democrat Gov. since 1977.

Yeah, but we don't really have many good options on the table, and I'm a Republican...

The Republican party in Illinois is a joke.

[dswallow]

The Republican party in Illinois is a joke.
On the bright side, at least you get to laugh. ;)

[sieglinde]

What Jon Stewart does that is actually journalism is show film clips of politicians contradicting themselves. He showed one of Cheney that was spot on. Cheney denied believing or saying something about Iraq and Jon played the old clip right after that.

Tim Russert doesn't even do that.