Jon Stewart: America’s Finest Journalist
Jeez, but the Daily Show with Jon Stewart has been good.
No other journal so effectively dismantles the self-contained, self-referential world within which American journalism operates. Want to see how journalists, with a stern gaze at the camera, position themselves above their interview subjects? Want to see how to keep asking a question until you get the answer you think is right? Want to see how the question becomes the text?
Plus, Stewart is one of the best serious interviewers around. He’s done his homework and he asks the questions that I want asked. He’s also damn funny.
I’m sure I’m over-enthusiastic about the show because it’s becoming clearer to me than ever that the myth of objectivity has become metastatic. Both the left and the right hate the media because, since content can’t be objective, all that remains is an increasingly mannered form. I know I’ve been slow to accepting this realization, which makes it even more depressing. On the positive side, it makes The Daily Show funnier to me.
(There are video clips here.)
Don’s miss Stewart’s “interview” with Dean. I laughed out loud. (Unfortunately, the online version doesn’t contain the out-takes shown on the show where we get to see Dean reading the voice overs.)
There’s an anti-Kerry Flash here that I think does what it sets out to do.
Categories: Uncategorized dw
For a more surreal but still spot-on dissection of the news media, you might also want to try and track down “The Day Today”, and “BrassEye”
I would have to disagree about Jon Stewart. He’s my favorite television satirist and comedian, yes. But he is not a reporter.
I love The Daily Show and watch it every night. But I worry that it and SNL are part of the problem with journalism and the degree to which the public cares about journalism. We’ve gotten very cynical and apathetic. Every time a politician makes a speech, we think of how that’s going to play on TDS, not CBS. We’re amusing ourselves to death, frogs in the slowly-boiling water.
Howard Dean interview video: ROTFL
As I said in my last post of this nature, this is a non-political endorsement: this time, for the funniest interview with Howard Dean
Wonderful quote:
“since content can’t be objective, all that remains is an increasingly mannered form”
I think that applies to just about all journalism. And as I’m a journalist, that just confirms my theories.
Damn, I think I might frame that.
I think sometimes he’s amazing. But (a) the supporting-cast bits are usually a waste of time, which (b) I wish he’d spend actually giving serious attention to the issues being mis-covered by BigMedia.
Bill Maher is becoming more of a must-see show for me…
I will whole heartedly agree with you on the point that TDS is one of the finest programs on TV today. The fact that it is a satirical newscast is brilliant.
They manage not only to make you laugh at the world, but also at the newscast itself. Stewart is a master of humility and this is what makes him not only a great comedian but also a fine reporter.
The idea that he can interview Will Farrel or John McCain is utter brilliance. The fact that he can get someone like McCain to do his show says something right there.
I love it when he has a ‘real’ journalist on like Brian Williams and they sit there and take pot shots at TDS. The fact that Stewart sits there and takes it and laughs about it himself shows how good he is.
Another great show of note is The Chappele Show, holy shit that guy is funny. A bit juvinile but shouldnt we all be a little?
Roger
After 23 years as a broadcast journalist, TDS is like getting a breath of fresh air for me when I come home from work at night. Roger is right on the money when he says Stewart’s humility (I think of it more as a self-depricating style)just seems to give him more credibility.
“Weekend Update” on SNL lost much of it’s appeal when Lorne Michaels chose Dennis Miller — and later Colin Quinn — as the ‘fake news anchors.’ Both seemed full of themselves, and neither expressed much interest in the news they were poking fun at. Social commentary was sacrificed for cheap laughs. That’s not the type of delivery that works well in parody or satire.
In contrast, Stewart has a genuine passion for ‘cutting through the bull’. You get the feeling this guy both understands what’s going on — and cares. That’s what we love about TDS.
I disagree with Brian — who feels this type of parody and satire is part of the problem. As Stewart has said himself, the real problem is the tabloid ‘crap’ stories we’re fed (i.e. Laci Peterson, Elian Gonzalez, Martha Stewart)– while news that truly matters to our lives is virtually ignored.
As long as our news departments regard themselves as another form of ‘reality-based entertainment’, my profession deserves every jab TDS can toss at it.
Another major problem is the degree of contempt Washington has displayed for both the “truth” — and the intelligence of the American people. The propaganda from the current Administration is so paper-thin that most people see right through it. Over and over again, the current Administration seems to cling to Hitler’s philosophy: “The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it.”
Conventional journalists are afraid to confront this insult to the public, because an offended newsmakers may ‘cut them off’ from access or information. But TDS doesn’t have to worry about that. That’s why they can get away with their ‘slings and arrows of outrageous’ humor.
As long as our leaders take us for fools, the more I appreciate TDS for making fools out of them.
Stewart can be great, but he’s moving towards the mainstream. Check out http://www.differentdrummer.typepad.com for an analysis of this distressing reality
Meanwhile in a secluded mansion on Long Island…..
JON STEWART: You fingered Joe Wilson on the WMD for Barzini, Carlo.
GEORGE TENET: Mikey I swear on my kids….
JON: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh haha Haaahh, that little farce you played with the Report. You think that could fool a Corleone? (Michael pulls up a chair; sits down next to Calro) Barzini is dead. So is Cumio… Rumsfeld… Wolfowitz… Bolton…Netanyahu… Scooter “The Helmet” Libby… That Jew in Miami, Hyman Perle…. Today I settle all family business so don’t tell me you’re innocent.
GEORGE: Mikey, I…(starts to sob into hands, broken and ashamed)
JON: Admit what you did. (Mike rubs his shoulder) Get him a drink. Come on, you think I’d take that shiny medal away from you? I’m putting you on a plane to Vegas. That’s your punishment…Tom (Mikey takes ticket from Tom) Here’s a cheque also for 4 million dollars. Only don’t tell me you’re innocent……..It insults my intelligence. Who approached you?
GEORGE: Netanyahu. Mikey I…
JON: Get out of my sight.
(George sits in car. Ray McGovern sat quietly in the back seat, silhouetted.)
RAY: Hello Carlo….
Later as Connie comes, running in distraught.
ANN COULTER: You b-stard, you cold hearted b-stard….