View Full Version : Has the Daily Show's Political Bent gotten out of hand?
doom1701
02-24-2009, 08:46 AM
We'll see if this thread lasts...
I had a conversation with some friends a few months ago regarding what the quality of the Daily Show would be like after Obama took office. They said that it might slip, because he wouldn't be able to make fun on the right as much anymore. I said that the Daily Show has always been about mocking current events, and that Jon Stewart would be able to mock whatever party is in power.
I was watching an episode last night; I think it was from a little over a week ago. Stimulus bill pre-break, Bill O'Reilly post break. Now, I'll admit, O'Reilly is always good for some mocking, and this one was really good. But pre-break, Stewart spent almost the entire segment mocking some Republicans *that no one has ever heard of*. If it hadn't been for a joke about Joe Biden, there wouldn't have been a single familiar name in the segment.
I'm of the opinion that both sides of the aisle are a bunch of idiots, and it'd be nice to see some equal time mocking, especially since the Democrats are fully in charge now. But it seems that I was wrong talking with my friends a couple of months back; Stewart seems to have found his schtick, and he'll probably continue with it even when the Republicans have 3 people left in Congress.
ncsercs
02-24-2009, 08:58 AM
Stewart is a Democrat. He has to do something to keep the chin-dribbling Obama sheep entertained.
goblue97
02-24-2009, 09:24 AM
I kinda figured the show would get cancelled due to lack of material once Bush's term was over. Personally, I grew tired of the same old song every night.
cheesesteak
02-24-2009, 10:10 AM
No.
TheDewAddict
02-24-2009, 10:11 AM
I figure they're still giving Obama a honeymoon. Eventually, he'll do something that will give them lots of material, but for now, they're kind of laying off. It's easy to make fun of a President who has 30% approval ratings, it's a little tougher to do the same to a President with 65% approval.
A lot of the stuff they said about Bush, at least when I watched, was throwbacks to things he had previously said. With Obama, there isn't much history there yet.
wmcbrine
02-24-2009, 10:12 AM
Nope. :up:
Even with little power, Congressional Republicans are still the funniest thing in Washington. Maybe more so than ever, since most of the moderates got pushed out.
doom1701
02-24-2009, 10:17 AM
Nope. :up:
Even with little power, Congressional Republicans are still the funniest thing in Washington. Maybe more so than ever, since most of the moderates got pushed out.
I think this will be the standard "no" answer. And if "TDS" begins to stand for "The Democrat Show", that's fine. I will miss it.
dcheesi
02-24-2009, 10:24 AM
I think this will be the standard "no" answer. And if "TDS" begins to stand for "The Democrat Show", that's fine. I will miss it.You mean it didn't already?! :D
David Platt
02-24-2009, 10:53 AM
It's interesting that nobody seems to remember the scathing bits Stewart did on the Democratic party and their ineffectiveness for the past few years. People see what they want to see.
dcheesi
02-24-2009, 10:59 AM
It's interesting that nobody seems to remember the scathing bits Stewart did on the Democratic party and their ineffectiveness for the past few years. People see what they want to see.True. In all seriousness, I don't that Stewart or TDS are Democratic shills; rather, I think that Stewart is unabashedly biased based on his own personal beliefs. Most of the time, that means he's anti-Republican, but he's not afraid to criticize weaknesses and perceived failures in other groups as well.
doom1701
02-24-2009, 11:01 AM
It's interesting that nobody seems to remember the scathing bits Stewart did on the Democratic party and their ineffectiveness for the past few years. People see what they want to see.
I certainly remember them. Heck, even during the inauguration they were talking about the unrealistic hopes of many Obama supporters. It gave me hope that they were willing to make fun of him. But that's disappeared.
I also remember non-political bits. When was the last time they did anything about Entertainment? Or about stupid people doing stupid things? It just doesn't seem to happen anymore, at least not in the past couple of months.
DevdogAZ
02-24-2009, 11:03 AM
It's interesting that nobody seems to remember the scathing bits Stewart did on the Democratic party and their ineffectiveness for the past few years. People see what they want to see.
I don't think that's necessarily the case. Sure, he's ripped on the Dems a few times. But on the whole, his potshots at the left happen about once for every 20-30 potshots at the right. And it's rarely about philosophy, it's about obvious stuff like "Kennedy is a drunk" or "Joe Biden slips up and misspeaks." It's not a matter of selective listening, it's a matter of proportion.
Of course, Stewart is welcome to make whatever jokes he wants. It was funny when he made fun of Bush because it was so easy and obvious, and even those on the right were embarrassed about most of what Bush did. But when Republicans are no longer in power in any branch of government and he still seeks out the obscure things to make fun of, rather than poking fun at the obvious stuff going on on the left, it stops being funny and starts sounding petty.
aindik
02-24-2009, 12:08 PM
The shots he takes at Democrats are different from the shots he takes at Republicans.
The shots he takes at Republicans have revolved around the opinion that they're wrong, stupid, evil, etc. The shots he takes at Democrats are that they are bumbling in that they don't capitalize sufficiently on the wrongness, stupidity and evilness of their opponents. Never that their policies or what they say are wrong, only that the politicians themselves are politically ineffective.
getreal
02-24-2009, 12:49 PM
Wasn't Blagojevic a Dem? I thought TDS was merciless on him.
I enjoy TDS because it is intelligently written -- even when it's puerile and vulgar, it comes at it from an intelligent angle.
For the past eight years the pendulum had swung extremely to the right. Now it is changing course and will pick up momentum, but it is still over on the right and headed toward the left. You'll see more Dem potshots as more material becomes available.
Give it time, folks.
aindik
02-24-2009, 12:54 PM
Wasn't Blagojevic a Dem? I thought TDS was merciless on him.
Another way of saying what I said above is - Stewart goes after Republicans because they're Republicans. When he goes after Democrats, it's in spite of their being Democrats.
zalusky
02-24-2009, 12:59 PM
Not to go OT but if you look at his right leaning competition, I think its just as rare that they dump on the republicans. They both appeal their base. It just seems that the republicans are just not as good at doing a comedy show, they are better at outrage.
Dennis Miller is trying but he is not really catching on.
All that aside I have seen John go after the Dems as well, Obama is much tougher and most comedians haven't figured out yet what approach to take.
Jeeters
02-24-2009, 01:03 PM
I also remember non-political bits. When was the last time they did anything about Entertainment?They dedicated quite a bit of last night's episode to the Academy Awards broadcast.
Or about stupid people doing stupid things?Not for a while. Those bits oftentimes made me feel uncomfortable for laughing anyways as they oftentimes seemed to be making fun of somebody for just being 'different' or simply ignorant. Very junior high-ish; I have no problem with them eliminating it.
goblue97
02-24-2009, 01:33 PM
They dedicated quite a bit of last night's episode to the Academy Awards broadcast.
I caught the bit where the correspondent really laid into Stewart about his being replaced by Jackman as the host. That was good stuff.
The shots he takes at Democrats are different from the shots he takes at Republicans.
The shots he takes at Republicans have revolved around the opinion that they're wrong, stupid, evil, etc. The shots he takes at Democrats are that they are bumbling in that they don't capitalize sufficiently on the wrongness, stupidity and evilness of their opponents. Never that their policies or what they say are wrong, only that the politicians themselves are politically ineffective.
This is true, and you will find the same M.O. on both sides of the aisle. (Like the Limbaughs of the world)
Who ever said (or thought) that TDS didn't have a bias? That's never been a secret. I'm not at all surprised that many Republicans wouldn't like the show, but this is nothing new.
aindik
02-24-2009, 02:12 PM
This is true, and you will find the same M.O. on both sides of the aisle. (Like the Limbaughs of the world)
Who ever said (or thought) that TDS didn't have a bias? That's never been a secret. I'm not at all surprised that many Republicans wouldn't like the show, but this is nothing new.
I don't think Jon Stewart would appreciate the comparison to Rush Limbaugh. I think, in the mind of Jon Stewart, what he does and what Rush Limbaugh does are completely different. Jon is a comedian. He does "the fake news" for laughs. If he's converted to being a commentator with an ideological bias, that is, in fact, new. He's on Comedy Central, after all.
I think that's one way to rephrase the OP. Is Jon Stewart now the Rush Limbaugh of the left wing? Because that's not what he always was.
doom1701
02-24-2009, 02:13 PM
Not to go OT but if you look at his right leaning competition,
Who on earth would that be? That short lived series on Fox News?
They dedicated quite a bit of last night's episode to the Academy Awards broadcast.
Looking forward to watching it, then. Some of us time shift. :)
This is true, and you will find the same M.O. on both sides of the aisle. (Like the Limbaughs of the world)
Who ever said (or thought) that TDS didn't have a bias? That's never been a secret. I'm not at all surprised that many Republicans wouldn't like the show, but this is nothing new.
People tune to Limbaugh for opinion, people tune to the Daily Show for ha ha funny. I don't see the two as being comparable at all.
As for bias, sure, TDS definitely leans left. But in years past they were equal opportunity mockers. Lately they seem to be exactly like DevDogAZ put it:
But when Republicans are no longer in power in any branch of government and he still seeks out the obscure things to make fun of, rather than poking fun at the obvious stuff going on on the left, it stops being funny and starts sounding petty.
Maybe I just really miss the other segments that they used to do. Interviews with crazy people. Entertainment slop. "This week in God". The show used to be more well rounded.
If he's converted to being a commentator with an ideological bias, that is, in fact, new.
Well, I don't know...it's not new to me.
doom1701
02-24-2009, 02:16 PM
Well, I don't know...it's not new to me.
Then maybe that's the question I should be asking. Jon Stewart being the "Liberal Limbaugh" is not what TDS was ever about. If that is what the goal of the show is now, that's fine with me. I get my fill of overbearing commentary from about 20 minutes of Rush each day. I don't need another 20 minutes from the other side.
Then maybe that's the question I should be asking. Jon Stewart being the "Liberal Limbaugh" is not what TDS was ever about.
I'm not saying that I think they are the same as far as the product they produce. Their shows have different ways of entertaining. But their biases certainly affect how they run their shows, and what they take people to task for, and in that they are similar.
Now, if people are saying they'd like topics other than politics to be part of the show, I can certainly understand that. I don't like all politics all the time. Has it gone that way? Maybe it has. I don't watch every day as I used to. But I did enjoy the Oscar coverage, and the interview with Jeff Bezos last night. Some of my favorite old segments were the "Even Stevens" from back when Carrell and Colbert were on there. I don't really think all of the current correspondents are as good as some of the past ones.
But the voice of the show doesn't seem to be any different from what I'm used to. People who feel like their "side" or their view are being mocked could understandably feel differently.
bobsbizzy
02-24-2009, 02:51 PM
I caught the bit where the correspondent really laid into Stewart about his being replaced by Jackman as the host. That was good stuff.
the interview that followed with Jeff Bezo from Amazon was hilarious.
The show is still great entertainment as far as I'm concerned.
MacThor
02-24-2009, 03:10 PM
As previously stated, people will see what they want to see. People forget that Stewart was a McCain supporter in '00 and has repeatedly said had the contest been McCain-Gore he would have voted for McCain.
He's been ruthless on Blogevich, Burriss, Geithner et al. Let's face it, Bush was just a lot more mockable than Obama.
wmcbrine
02-24-2009, 03:12 PM
I can't take the complaints of bias too seriously -- it's like complaining that the sky is blue -- but if TDS has pushed other things to the side in favor of politics, I think there are two reasons for that:
1. The entire country has been a bit obsessed with politics lately. Expect this effect to cool down, post-election, but it won't be immediate.
2. They've gotten a lot of positive feedback about it. Hell, people tell Jon Stewart he does some of the best journalism on TV. This will make them want to continue in the same vein. A similar thing has happened at SNL, I think, which now always starts with a political skit. (How long has that been going on?)
Stewart is a Democrat. He has to do something to keep the chin-dribbling Obama sheep entertained.
You mean like 70% of the country.
-smak-
sieglinde
02-24-2009, 07:54 PM
Jon Stewart has his obvious biases and if somebody doesn't like it they are not forced to watch.
He did some funny rainbow and unicorn stuff about Obama before the election.
aindik
02-24-2009, 07:59 PM
Jon Stewart has his obvious biases and if somebody doesn't like it they are not forced to watch.
Of course not. That's true of every show on TV, the quality of some of which are discussed here often. When people used to like a show, then they stop, they discuss it here.
(I still like the Daily Show. Just saying).
He did some funny rainbow and unicorn stuff about Obama before the election.
On that note, this video was one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=183509&title=barack-obama-he-completes-us
goblue97
02-24-2009, 08:29 PM
You mean like 70% of the country.
-smak-
I don't get this comment. Are you saying that 70% of the country are democrats or that 70% are chin-drbbling Obama sheep?
mattack
02-24-2009, 10:52 PM
I also remember non-political bits. When was the last time they did anything about Entertainment? Or about stupid people doing stupid things? It just doesn't seem to happen anymore, at least not in the past couple of months.
Personally, I like that most of it is about politics or news & entertainment. Originally (before Jon), there was a lot of "20/20" type spoofs. I remember back then I would often FF through those and watch just the political bits.
I *like* the fact that it's largely a 4-day-a-week "Weekend Update".
(BTW, I *disagree* with a ton of his positions. I agree with some of what Colbert mocks [pretends to believe] on his show... but both are very funny.)
I don't get this comment. Are you saying that 70% of the country are democrats or that 70% are chin-drbbling Obama sheep?
I'm sure he thinks everybody who approves of Obama = chin-dribbling sheep, so that would be ~ 70%.
-smak-
Neenahboy
02-25-2009, 02:40 AM
He did some funny rainbow and unicorn stuff about Obama before the election.
[Daily Show romantic voice]
Ohhhhhbama!
Gets me every time. :D
busyba
02-25-2009, 03:16 AM
Stewart is a Democrat. He has to do something to keep the chin-dribbling Obama sheep entertained.
That was very helpful. Thanks. :rolleyes:
busyba
02-25-2009, 03:23 AM
The shots he takes at Democrats are different from the shots he takes at Republicans.
The shots he takes at Republicans have revolved around the opinion that they're wrong, stupid, evil, etc. The shots he takes at Democrats are that they are bumbling in that they don't capitalize sufficiently on the wrongness, stupidity and evilness of their opponents. Never that their policies or what they say are wrong, only that the politicians themselves are politically ineffective.
He's working with the cards that he is dealt. What would you have him do otherwise?
If you want an example of a TDS style show with an obvious bias, look at the short-lived "right-wing answer to TDS" that Fox put on the air. Of course, you needed to have not blinked, because it didn't last very long, because it was painfully unfunny.
When your goal is the political message and then you try to build the comedy around it, you get crap like that Fox show that nobody watched. When your goal is the comedy and you let the politics inform it, you get a quality show like TDS.
The shots he takes at Democrats are different from the shots he takes at Republicans.
The shots he takes at Republicans have revolved around the opinion that they're wrong, stupid, evil, etc. The shots he takes at Democrats are that they are bumbling in that they don't capitalize sufficiently on the wrongness, stupidity and evilness of their opponents. Never that their policies or what they say are wrong, only that the politicians themselves are politically ineffective.
Because that's the perspective of Jon Stewart and his writing staff. So what? Now our satire has to be evenhanded? If those more sympathetic to the Republican Party want to produce their own parody news show, they're welcome to do so.
Oh wait, they did. It aired on Fox News a year or two ago, and it sucked.
serialguy
02-25-2009, 06:44 AM
Well these political news shows seem to me like comedy shows.... Each one trying to pull others leg...:cool:
doom1701
02-25-2009, 08:38 AM
Because that's the perspective of Jon Stewart and his writing staff. So what? Now our satire has to be evenhanded? If those more sympathetic to the Republican Party want to produce their own parody news show, they're welcome to do so.
Oh wait, they did. It aired on Fox News a year or two ago, and it sucked.
There seems to be a rift here. I don't think aindik has ever said that TDS needs to be even handed. I know I certainly don't. If Jon Stewart is trying to become the left wing Limbaugh, good for him! But I just won't be watching anymore, as I miss the old style.
I did watch Monday's episode last night, and thought it was kinda bleh. Not enough to get me interested in watching any more episodes. That, and Bezos' laugh made me want to shoot him.
aindik
02-25-2009, 10:00 AM
Because that's the perspective of Jon Stewart and his writing staff. So what? Now our satire has to be evenhanded? If those more sympathetic to the Republican Party want to produce their own parody news show, they're welcome to do so.
Oh wait, they did. It aired on Fox News a year or two ago, and it sucked.
Where did I say it had to be evenhanded? I just said it isn't.
logic88
02-25-2009, 02:21 PM
Yeah, I don't watch TDS as carefully since the handover as Stewart doesn't really take as many potshots at the powers that be anymore. It's more fun when you're rebelling against "The Man", rather than kicking someone when they're down.
As for the issue of taking shots are Republicans no one's ever heard of, well, that's because there's a power vacuum in the Republican party, so the new newsmaking morons are folks you might not be as familiar with. Michael Steele, Eric Cantor, etc. are becoming the new comedic targets, because they qualify under the "wrong, stupid, evil" criteria.
Bananfish
02-25-2009, 06:03 PM
Make no mistake - Stewart uses the show to get his own political points across, the vast majority of which are on the Democratic side of the aisle. But he knows the show will slip off the radar screen if it's not funny, so his primary allegiance is to bringing the funny.
So he will make fun of Democratic foibles when there is stuff to be made fun of. Republicans do, however, tend to be easier targets because they tend to see things more black or white than Democrats, and that bioptic view of the world often lends itself to taking skewerable positions. (Democrats are easier targets when they see things as being grey that actually ARE black or white.)
There simply isn't much to make fun about Obama just yet. (For one thing, he is a measured and thoughtful speaker who doesn't put his foot in his mouth very often.)
And Obama is a new phenomenon that the Republicans aren't quite sure how to attack yet, so early in his regime they are "auditioning" various talking points to see which ones get some traction. Naturally some of those talking points being auditioned are more outlandish than others, especially because the message hasn't been honed yet - Stewart is merely taking advantage of that outlandishness and lack of polish right now with some of his comedy right now.
My biggest objection to Stewart is not the targets of his comedy, which are usually pretty spot-on (and I would note that he targets the media itself far more than he targets either Republicans or Democrats).
My biggest objection is that when he has a Republican or right-wing interviewee on his show, rather than ask questions that might be educational and interesting, such as providing insight into right-wing thinking or reveal "behind the scenes" machinations, he instead berates the guest about events that occurred 7 or 8 years ago and tries to get them to admit all their and their party's mistakes. Not a productive use of time interviewing people like Mrs. Cheney, Dana Perino, Newt Gingrich, John McCain and Mike Huckabee.
Steveknj
02-25-2009, 06:43 PM
Isn't the Colbert Report supposed to be the right wing leaning answer to TDS? So there IS equal time in my opinion.
Besides, I've seen Stewart take pleny of potshots at Bill Clinton. You have to be a target to take pot shots at. Guys like Cheney, Bush and so forth were easy targets, by their actions and words. Same as Bloygovich (and yes, i know that is spelled wrong, I'm too lazy to look it up), and others. Think about it. How many pot shots did he take at Colin Powell, Condi Rice? They are prominant GOPs. They just weren't easy to take shots at.
JLucPicard
02-25-2009, 06:50 PM
I imagine there's a certain amount of caution with Obama because it seems like any time anybody says something about him, it's construed as being racist (even if it has nothing to do with race whatsoever). That may be a tough attitude to crack.
I also imagine that if they are looking for a Democratic target, Biden seems to be custom made for that. That guy seems to be unintentionally hilarious!
Turtleboy
02-25-2009, 06:51 PM
Isn't the Colbert Report supposed to be the right wing leaning answer to TDS? So there IS equal time in my opinion.
Are you serious? The Colbert Report is a parody. It's even more left wing than TDS.
aindik
02-25-2009, 06:53 PM
Besides, I've seen Stewart take pleny of potshots at Bill Clinton.
Before or after he was the one Democrat who wouldn't get in line supporting Barack Obama?
DevdogAZ
02-25-2009, 06:56 PM
Are you serious? The Colbert Report is a parody. It's even more left wing than TDS.
I think there are an untold number of viewers who don't get the joke and really think Colbert is an unabashed right-winger.
Turtleboy
02-25-2009, 07:18 PM
I just wish "right wing" comedy wasn't so lame. Fox's attempt at a comedy news show - not funny. "An American Carol?" not funny.
Self righteous left wingers should be such an easy target.
Magnolia88
02-25-2009, 07:28 PM
Self righteous left wingers should be such an easy target.
I think the South Park boys do a fine job skewering them. They are equal opportunity mockers, but they seem to especially love going after the "smug lefties." Didn't they go after a lot of the leftie celebs in Team America?
Turtleboy
02-25-2009, 07:33 PM
I think the South Park boys do a fine job skewering them. They are equal opportunity mockers, but they seem to especially love going after the "smug lefties." Didn't they go after a lot of the leftie celebs in Team America?
Yes, you're right. South Park is a perfect example of a show with a libertarian bent who takes shots at both the left and the right.
You have to be funny first, second and third, and then you can try to get a point across.
South Park's whole ManBearPig thing was hilarious.
But when they did a few Hillary Clinton things a few years ago, it was dumb, as was the Barack Obama/Ocean's 11 parody.
-smak-
rawbi01
02-25-2009, 08:09 PM
For 8 years they been hammerin' on the right, it's a same now. Now that the left is in they are still hammerin' on the right. They are either getting lazy or they are afraid of B. Hussien Obama. SNL is still doing this as well.
That's to bad because I used to like Stuart.
Turtleboy
02-25-2009, 08:17 PM
You have to be funny first, second and third, and then you can try to get a point across.
South Park's whole ManBearPig thing was hilarious.
But when they did a few Hillary Clinton things a few years ago, it was dumb, as was the Barack Obama/Ocean's 11 parody.
-smak-
I didn't think either of those were dumb.
busyba
02-25-2009, 11:24 PM
Before or after he was the one Democrat who wouldn't get in line supporting Barack Obama?
While he was President, iirc.
busyba
02-25-2009, 11:24 PM
I think there are an untold number of viewers who don't get the joke and really think Colbert is an unabashed right-winger.
That's pretty sad for them. :)
doom1701
02-26-2009, 09:44 AM
Are you serious? The Colbert Report is a parody. It's even more left wing than TDS.
Ironically, I've found Colbert funnier lately because, while he's mocking the right by doing his act, he's still mocking other things (including non-political things) in his show too. I watched two Colberts last night and LOL'ed quite a bit at both.
Fool Me Twice
02-26-2009, 09:55 AM
You know what's getting out of hand? Lost repeats. (Had to reach back for that one...)
pigonthewing
02-26-2009, 05:09 PM
I think there are an untold number of viewers who don't get the joke and really think Colbert is an unabashed right-winger.
And it's a good thing people like that exist, for without them, I doubt highly that Colbert ever would've been invited to that corespondent's dinner, and his speech there was my favorite thing he has ever done! :D
sieglinde
02-26-2009, 06:40 PM
I laughed at last night's show. He did some very soft ball making fun of Obama.
Actually, I think Jon Stewart likes Huckebee.
Bananfish
02-26-2009, 06:45 PM
I imagine there's a certain amount of caution with Obama because it seems like any time anybody says something about him, it's construed as being racist (even if it has nothing to do with race whatsoever). That may be a tough attitude to crack.
Really? Can you cite me even one example of this? Personally, I can't recall even one time someone has criticized Obama for something and had it be construed as racist.
And as far as The Daily Show goes, it has never shied away from doing some fairly edgy racial humor.
Bananfish
02-26-2009, 06:48 PM
I laughed at last night's show. He did some very soft ball making fun of Obama.
Yup - the first six minutes of the show involved making fun of the promises and tenor of Obama's speech. (They did eventually get around to some gags at the Republican response by Jindal too - but even Republicans are panning that. If they really had a hard Democratic agenda, it would have been all too easy to spend all their time on that.)
I didn't think either of those were dumb.
Maybe i'm just not a fan of talking snizz's.
-smak-
For 8 years they been hammerin' on the right, it's a same now. Now that the left is in they are still hammerin' on the right. They are either getting lazy or they are afraid of B. Hussien Obama. SNL is still doing this as well.
That's to bad because I used to like Stuart.
If you're going to call him that, at least spell it right :rolleyes:
-smak-
busyba
02-26-2009, 07:13 PM
When was the last time they did anything about [...] stupid people doing stupid things? It just doesn't seem to happen anymore, at least not in the past couple of months.
Yeah, no kidding. To see something like that, you have to go back at least two days (http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=219482&title=Unusual-Suspect).
Oh wait....
doom1701
02-26-2009, 07:16 PM
Yeah, no kidding. To see something like that, you have to go back at least two days (http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=219482&title=Unusual-Suspect).
Oh wait....
Too bad they lost me *three days ago*.
Steveknj
02-26-2009, 07:49 PM
Before or after he was the one Democrat who wouldn't get in line supporting Barack Obama?
Over the length of his time on TDS, Stewart has made plenty of jokes about Clinton's promiscuity.
Steveknj
02-26-2009, 07:54 PM
I think there are an untold number of viewers who don't get the joke and really think Colbert is an unabashed right-winger.
Of course it's a joke. But, I would bet a lot of right wingers agree with his "views" (notice the quotes). It's a parody of shows like O'Reilly and Hannity and so forth, while TDS is closer to a typical newscast.
Look, of course right wingers are NOT going to agree with Stewart's views, and it's obvious he's looking at things from a left wing perspective. He's NEVER hid it. And now that a left winger is in power, he's just being consistant with his views. I just think a lot of right wingers are noticing it now since they don't care for the administration, and even THEY had turned on Bush the last 2 years or so.
ronsch
02-26-2009, 08:01 PM
Yup - the first six minutes of the show involved making fun of the promises and tenor of Obama's speech. (They did eventually get around to some gags at the Republican response by Jindal too - but even Republicans are panning that. If they really had a hard Democratic agenda, it would have been all too easy to spend all their time on that.)
That stuff was nothing compared to the Pancakes on a Stick with the Baconnaise!!:eek::eek:
busyba
02-26-2009, 08:56 PM
That stuff was nothing compared to the Pancakes on a Stick with the Baconnaise!!:eek::eek:
At least he ate the sausages wrapped in the blueberry pancakes dipped in Baconnaise, you know, in order to be health-conscious. :D
I gotta say though, if someone asked me to sum up what's wrong with this country in one word, I think that word would have to be "Baconnaise", no?
madscientist
02-27-2009, 03:44 AM
JS has been great this week. His bit on the monkeys tonight was hilarious. And, Brian Williams is genuinely funny.
I do have to agree with others, there's absolutely no chance Stewart is going easy on Obama due to race. TDS has never cared about that; they have some extremely funny--and politically incorrect--stuff about race, even before Obama came on the scene.
lambertman
02-27-2009, 06:31 AM
Too bad they lost me *three days ago*.
Well, shut it down, then! :rolleyes:
Bob Coxner
02-27-2009, 09:19 AM
Let's not forget that Obama is Hitler *and* the Anti-Christ.
jones07
02-27-2009, 09:55 AM
I think the end is near
DevdogAZ
02-27-2009, 11:44 AM
Let's not forget that Obama is Hitler *and* the Anti-Christ.
No, he's Hitler and/or the Antichrist.
;)
ronsch
02-27-2009, 02:26 PM
At least he ate the sausages wrapped in the blueberry pancakes dipped in Baconnaise, you know, in order to be health-conscious. :D
I gotta say though, if someone asked me to sum up what's wrong with this country in one word, I think that word would have to be "Baconnaise", no?
Baconnaise Lite!:D
sieglinde
02-27-2009, 04:47 PM
My gawd where did he find that crap? I could not believe it but boy did it represent something really wrong about this country.
I thought is "homie" thing with Obama greeting was funny.
busyba
02-27-2009, 08:40 PM
Has the Daily Show's Political Bent gotten out of hand?
No.
wtherrell
02-27-2009, 09:05 PM
Let's not forget that Obama is Hitler *and* the Anti-Christ.No he's really Alfred E. Neuman's grandson.
sieglinde
03-03-2009, 07:25 PM
I think Mad Magazine just did a cover of Neuman as Obama. Looks good. It has him smoking like crazy because of all the bad stuff happening with the world.
Bob Coxner
03-04-2009, 09:30 AM
For those who wanted Stewart to attack Obama more, you got it last night. The criticism of Obama's Iraq strategy was pretty harsh, especially the side by side comparison of Bush and Obama speaking about the end game.
jradford
03-04-2009, 10:21 AM
You know what's getting out of hand? Lost repeats. (Had to reach back for that one...)
Well played.:D
sieglinde
03-04-2009, 06:45 PM
During the campaign, pundits said that Clinton, Obama and Bush all agreed on Iraq. McCain was the odd man out.
That was a funny segment and I thought the interview with O'Conner was really great. She has an excellent sense of humor.
MickeS
03-04-2009, 09:01 PM
I haven't watchedTDS in several weeks. I watched it the other day, and Stewart WAS making jokes about Obama. He played a clip where Obama said something like "It's great to be in Iowa... Ottawa", typical Bush-style gaffe.
The audience just isn't into it, it seems. I remember when he made a joke about Obama on one show last year and nobody laughed (it was a funny joke)... Stewart said something like "You know, you ARE allowed to laugh at him".
fmowry
03-05-2009, 07:11 AM
For those who wanted Stewart to attack Obama more, you got it last night. The criticism of Obama's Iraq strategy was pretty harsh, especially the side by side comparison of Bush and Obama speaking about the end game.
Yep, he was hitting Obama pretty well. And it was funny. And scary.
Frank
cheesesteak
03-05-2009, 08:18 AM
Jon Stewart will "attack" Obama when Obama does stupid or hypocritical things the same way he did with Bush. It's out of proportion now because Bush was a one man stupid-fest. He left some big shoes to fill.
leeherman
03-05-2009, 08:44 AM
I've never been a fan of Jonathan Leibowitz and it has nothing to do with my politics; he's simply an unfunny troll.
I did watch that short-lived Fox News comedy show (can't remember the name), and it too was lame.
LH
pigonthewing
03-05-2009, 09:17 AM
I've never been a fan of Jonathan Leibowitz and it has nothing to do with my politics; he's simply an unfunny troll.
I did watch that short-lived Fox News comedy show (can't remember the name), and it too was lame.
LH
Never been a fan, and yet you know his real name. Yeah, something about that doesn't jive.
leeherman
03-05-2009, 09:22 AM
Never been a fan, and yet you know his real name. Yeah, something about that doesn't jive.
I'm not a fan of Britney Spears either, but I know way more about her than I really need to through my daily newspaper and a whole lot of entertainment web sites.
I still somehow manage to keep up with current pop culture to a degree even though I don't have much interest.
LH
tewcewl
03-05-2009, 10:05 AM
I'm not a fan of Britney Spears either, but I know way more about her than I really need to through my daily newspaper and a whole lot of entertainment web sites.
I still somehow manage to keep up with current pop culture to a degree even though I don't have much interest.
LH
:up: Lol. Me too. It just seeps in my head by the way of a strange form of osmosis.
sieglinde
03-05-2009, 05:03 PM
I watched that Fox attempt at humor and it was not the politics that put me off. Mallard the Duck or whatever the conservative comic strip is called is pretty funny at times and I don't agree with it most of the time.
Funny is more important than politics in this case.
wmcbrine
03-05-2009, 05:32 PM
Mallard the Duck or whatever the conservative comic strip is calledMallard Fillmore. I don't read it, just know the name, so I can't comment on it. There's also Prickly City, which is sometimes pretty funny, but mostly when it's not being political.
And of course B.C. has gone off the Religious Right deep end, but I never thought that one was funny.
Mallard Fillmore. I don't read it, just know the name, so I can't comment on it. There's also Prickly City, which is sometimes pretty funny, but mostly when it's not being political.
And of course B.C. has gone off the Religious Right deep end, but I never thought that one was funny.
Politics aside, I only found Mallard Fillmore funny about one strip out of every 20 or 30, mostly they were just rants without a joke. I use the past tense because my local paper has stopped carrying it, probably for that reason, and replaced it with a much funnier right-wing/libertarian strip called Prickly City which, like Doonesbury on the left, manages to poke fun at idiocy on both sides of the political aisle while still making its underlying bias clear.
Neenahboy
03-05-2009, 06:09 PM
The CNBC bit was hysterical.
madscientist
03-05-2009, 10:35 PM
Agree 100% with BobB; actually I'd say he's being generous: Mallard Fillmore was even less funny than that. I, too, like Prickly City, though.
The CNBC bit was hysterical.
agreed. it depresses me that the industry in which I've spent 90% of my career is such a crock of s***.
VegasVic
03-06-2009, 09:17 AM
I loved the CNBC rant. I loved seeing Jim Cramer look like a fool with his "analysis".
cheesesteak
03-06-2009, 11:00 AM
CNBC got ripped a new one. That network's talking heads are like all the "experts" you read the week before your fantasy football draft. They all have the inside scoop and the sleepers that'll make you a winner in August but at the end of the year, you realize that 90% of them are no smarter than you and that 50% pick worse than a chimp.
The CNBC'ers are worse than FF experts. Maybe a FF expert thinks one RB will be top 5, and he ends up 14th.
Kramer says Bear Stearns is fine 6 days before it's gone.
Kramer says buy, buy buy when the Dow is @ 12,000.
That's worse than the worst of FF experts.
-smak-
sieglinde
03-09-2009, 07:56 PM
I had forgotten about the CNBC bit. The Daily Show does do some good journalism and that was an example.
I wish they had made fun of the 13 year old conservative kid. Jon Stewart refused to because he was a child. I saw interviews with him and he is weird. (has nothing to do with his politics)
I don't count BC as a political strip, it was a creepy religious strip.
CNBC got ripped a new one. That network's talking heads are like all the "experts" you read the week before your fantasy football draft. They all have the inside scoop and the sleepers that'll make you a winner in August but at the end of the year, you realize that 90% of them are no smarter than you and that 50% pick worse than a chimp.
The ripping of CNBC and Jim Cramer has been hilarious. We'll see what Cramer has to say, he's scheduled for tomorrow night on the show.
DevdogAZ
03-11-2009, 01:08 PM
The ripping of CNBC and Jim Cramer has been hilarious. We'll see what Cramer has to say, he's scheduled for tomorrow night on the show.
He was on the Today show yesterday defending himself. I heard a little bit of it while I was getting ready. He was basically saying that when the market is this bad, every pick you make will be a bad one, and that even Warren Buffet had made bad picks in this market.
He was on the Today show yesterday defending himself. I heard a little bit of it while I was getting ready. He was basically saying that when the market is this bad, every pick you make will be a bad one, and that even Warren Buffet had made bad picks in this market.
That's about all he can say. He basically has to admit that his job, which is going on TV and giving advice on what to buy or sell, is something that nobody can do accurately. Maybe he'll find a way to say it while still asserting that he has a clue.
frombhto323
03-11-2009, 01:42 PM
Jon Stewart will "attack" Obama when Obama does stupid or hypocritical things the same way he did with Bush. It's out of proportion now because Bush was a one man stupid-fest. He left some big shoes to fill.
Ding, ding, ding! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! Thank you and drive home safely!
sieglinde
03-11-2009, 05:13 PM
I did like his thing he did on how all the branches of NBC were sticking up for each other so he was going to use all the means that Viacom had. I wonder if whoever owns the rights to Dora the Explorer will get mad. :)
I did like his thing he did on how all the branches of NBC were sticking up for each other so he was going to use all the means that Viacom had. I wonder if whoever owns the rights to Dora the Explorer will get mad. :)
Current broadcast rights are Viacom's. They own Nick, Noggin, and Comedy Central too.
I don't know the nature of their deal with the creator of the characters, but the parody seems to fall squarely under Fair Use.
Not to say that someone couldn't still be mad over it... ;)
Steeler Mike
03-11-2009, 09:00 PM
I sure do miss President Bush. :mad:
He was on the Today show yesterday defending himself. I heard a little bit of it while I was getting ready. He was basically saying that when the market is this bad, every pick you make will be a bad one, and that even Warren Buffet had made bad picks in this market.
He has also said that as a financial reporter/analyst, it's bad form to go on TV and say the market is in bad shape.
To which I say, WTF?
-smak-
Mr. Soze
03-12-2009, 06:50 AM
Jon Stewart will "attack" Obama when Obama does stupid or hypocritical things the same way he did with Bush. It's out of proportion now because Bush was a one man stupid-fest. He left some big shoes to fill.Wake me when Stewart attacks Obama on earmarks in the clusterF of a bailout/budget/stimulus/whatever the spin of the day name is then. Meanwhile, I am practicing saying "G-day". :D
Wake me when Stewart attacks Obama on earmarks in the clusterF of a bailout/budget/stimulus/whatever the spin of the day name is then. Meanwhile, I am practicing saying "G-day". :D
Well wake up Mr. Soze.
Pet Projects (http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=220525&title=pet-projects)
stay till the end.
The Cramer/Stewart showdown...more of a beat down. Yes, it was on Stewart's turf, and yes, Stewart was prepared, but damn. Cramer had virtually nothing to say for himself.
berkchops516
03-13-2009, 12:53 AM
Wow that was very well done by Stewart. I can't wait for comedy central to post the whole interview.
DevdogAZ
03-13-2009, 04:15 AM
What's Cramer supposed to say other than, "my/our bad?" Not much else he could do. He freely admitted they didn't see the collapse coming, even though they should have.
What's Cramer supposed to say other than, "my/our bad?" Not much else he could do. He freely admitted they didn't see the collapse coming, even though they should have.
Well first, he probably shouldn't have come on the show. When you don't have a defense, you don't put the defendant on the stand.
But is sounds like you missed most of the point anyway. It wasn't about being wrong, it was about being dishonest, it was about being complicit with the people and institutions pulling the wool over our eyes, it was about playing this insider "game" under the guise of financial news reporting.
Remember, this whole thing didn't start with Cramer, it was about CNBC. Cramer got involved when he indignantly refuted saying that he advised people to buy Bear Stearns as was mentioned in the Daily Show piece, and then they dug up the tape and showed him telling people to buy Bear Stearns.
The stuff they showed him saying in the video from 2006 was beyond being wrong about stock picks and not seeing the economic collapse, it was about doing things to affect the market. It was about the games these institutions play to create news and hype and try to push prices around, and do it in a way that the SEC can't prove anything. The point was that he, and his colleagues know all this stuff is going on, and act like it isn't. There is no real reporting going on. That's the bigger picture and the crux of the point the Daily Show has been making.
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