A Daily Show thread...

[FranzFerdinand]

Now, I've been watching since Craiggers and Winstead started TDS and have been a religious follower of the show since. The show is nothing short of brilliant and certainly everything a pinko-commie like myself can enjoy.

However... anyone get a sense that it's not jumping the 'comedy shark' fast enough? Jon seems to try awfully hard these days to make little jokes with his guests that break up the conversation. Take for example, the Pelosi show last night. I'm just dying for Nancy to say something poignant, something, anything with a message. But, Jon just doesn't give his guests the absolute moment to express an opinion. Sure, they get a little in here and there, but he is constantly playing cute with his guests by making silly cracks. Again, for an example, last night he used the "studio is next to the garbage dump" joke on 2 occasions and both were simply out of place and detrimental to a really good interview.

I love Jon and the Daily Show, but sometimes I need more. I spoke of jumping the comedy shark because at times I would really love to see TDS go mainstream and off of Comedy Central (which would no doubt, ruin the show somehow). But, I think having Jon become a little more serious during the interviews and refraining from his little cute jokes throughout the entire interview would really go a long way for our leaders who take the time to be on the show and recognize that it truly is an excellent vehicle for the democratic message.

I know, I'm asking a lot and certainly don't expect much more from a comedy show that is on Comedy Central, but I just thought I'd vent. I mean, it IS just a comedy show... right?

[kentuck]

1. It is a comedy show and....

those that go on the show should not expect to present a "serious" message, except if they can do it in a humorous way. It is a comedy show - not C-SPAN.

[FranzFerdinand]

4. i know that but...

ever get the urge to hear more? i'm not bagging on TDS and i understand it's place on TV, but i'm asking you guys personally... ever wanted more?

[NYCGirl]

17. Sure, but I watch the news and C-Span for that.

Edited to add: I watch The Daily Show for laughs.

[applegrove]

2. The show is great and he specifically didn't fall into the trap of

leaving Comedy Central. He is a big fish in a small pond and that means neocons will have a harder time trying to kill his show.

You sound very... much not a fan. His show is great. He doesn't pretend to be a hard hitting interviewer. That is why he gets the odd actual neocon to come on his show - because he keeps it lite. And at times he has the greatest commentary (did you see Hitchins)during the interview. I didn't see last nights show but apparently it was Nancy who was keeping it lite.

I do not expect TDS to have a laugh a minute. Or to be on every single moment. Such is the nature of real comedy.

[FranzFerdinand]

3. what's that?

"You sound very... much not a fan"

why would you say that? i mean, of what that i wrote would make you say that? and my description of a pinko is 80 years too old? what do you mean when you say that?

[applegrove]

8. I rethought. I reposted. I was in a bad mood. My bad. But seriously -

are you a communist? TDS is mainstream. It is the only news show out there. Don't offend or try and change the only thing that is worth watching on the TV - in terms of American news. So many of the guests actually say that - that he has the best show on. So I did find your complaints perplexing to say the least.

Have you not noticed the tons of MSM shows that were liberal that have been axed or canceled? Why would you suggest such a thing? That he move of Comedy Central.

So little works well these days. If you want the facts and good information - so little is out there. I wouldn't change a thing.

[KharmaTrain]

5. Now What Do You Want?

Politics aren't funny...the irony it creates does, but the "meat & potatoes" talking about war or economics or civil rights can't be made into a punch line.

IMHO, TDS puts out a superb comedy product for the amount of material they have to produce and the talents they're working with. I don't tune in for the interviews, I'm there for Stewart's take on the irony in the news and the bits that also find some kind of hypocrisy and give it the once over.

Last night I asked if Pelosi brought up DeLay or Cunningham's name? I don't think she did. Nancy doesn't appear to do very well on TV...she had a great chance to hit a real homer...Stewart gave her the chances and she wiffed again.

In contrast, Katrina Vanden Huevel was brilliant on Colbert's show.

[FranzFerdinand]

6. thank you

thanks for not calling me a non-fan and making me feel like i'm an asshole for speaking my mind on this site...

"Politics aren't funny...the irony it creates does, but the "meat & potatoes" talking about war or economics or civil rights can't be made into a punch line."

this is precisely what i'm getting at. why make attempt after attempt, night after night of trying to lighten up what could be otherwise, a great discussion.

again, before anyone else says anything, I LOVE THE DAILY SHOW. I VOTED FOR JOHN KERRY. ;)

[KharmaTrain]

9. It's OK...Thick Skins Are Mandatory Here

Last time I checked, this still was a Discussion board...I enjoy a good debate...agree to disagree...take a topic and look at it from various perspectives. I also appreciate someone else's perspective...even if I don't agree with it, since it can always be a learning experience.

I'm not very popular around here cause I speak my mind...but so be it.

:toast:

Welcome To DU!

[applegrove]

10. I think you hit a nerve. People take what little solace we can find very

seriously.

I did find it hard to watch TDS at first. It took me a bit to get the humor (I hate it when people are made to look stupid). But I got over it. It is satire. And many of the interviewees are out there in public making outrageous statements. And now and into the ebb and flow.

So perhaps you just need a bit more time to let it sink in. It is like not much else out there (Colbert Report too takes getting used to its routine). A new instrument of sorts.

[Ian David]

15. You just hate freedom.

Don't you know you're just giving aid and comfort to Tucker Carlson?

:sarcasm:

[cawe24]

7. To quote Jon Stewart himself...

or at lease paraphrase:

"We're not a news source, we're on Comedy Central. The show we follow is puppets making crank phone calls."

[Catchawave]

12. Whatever happened to the Crank Yankers ?

Pretty funny stuff, except that Special Ed character was overused and not funny.

[mikehiggins]

11. wanted more?

From the Daily Show? Buddy, we're lucky to even have something like that on the air poking holes in the bushco-balloon on a regular basis. Otherwise it'd all be C-Span's "right wing wacko" phone calls and the media liars on CNN, MSNBC and some other cable network whose name I've successfully repressed.

If Jon stops being "funny" it won't take long for the Daily Show to really jump the shark. What then? Wait for the DVD's?

And thinking that Nancy Pelosi has something with gravitas to say, all of a sudden, is sort of funny in itself. Those people you label "our leaders" are NOT my leaders. They are following where the people are leading, and that's all. That doesn't make them "leaders" in my book.

[Ian David]

16. Pelosi pretty much admitted, "We had no balls until Murtha loaned us his."

You're right, they are not leading, they are following.

[loyalsister]

13. Yes and no

I can certainly see your point.
But, I heard Pelosi do it last night.
She mentioned the fact that it's a problem that "saying nothing sometimes becomes political." I thought that was something important she was recognizing publicly. That probably could only happen on the Daily Show because it is the only place where hyperbolic antagonistic questioning wouldn't follow.
Additionally, I really think that the format of exposing hypocrisy using satire can be effective. I was watching a program about the media and culture and one thing that was pointed out is that one aspect of Fox news is that there is an element of "fun" in the format. They goof off a little bit, etc, and it is probably what helps attract viewers.
I think that Jon Stewart has a more sophisticated sense of humor that may appeal to people with liberal sensibilities.
Don't forget that we currently have to mine for our resources. If "fun" is part of the attraction for conservative news networks we may be on to something.

[Ian David]

14. Watch Jon more carefully when he interviews repuke assholes...

Now, every time he makes a joke, imagine instead Bill O'Reilly's voice saying "Shut-up."

It's a lot easier (and more acceptable) to interrupt someone you disagree with by using a cute joke-- especially one of Jon's self-deprecating jokes.

I agree though that he needs to cut back on it during "friendly" interviews with people like Nancy Pelosi.

There is a certain pacing to the show and to the interviews.

Camera cuts and laugh-lines have to come at a certain pace to hold the audience's attention. After all, he's up against The Situation with Tucker Carlson, and he can't afford to lose his viewers!

In the case of Nancy Pelosi, she was obviously uncomfortable during the interview and Jon's humor seemed to throw her a little off balance. Sometimes it puts people more at ease, but I think it made Ms. Pelosi feel worse. That wasn't the same Nancy Pelosi I see on C-SPAN. Either Jon made her uncomfortable, or she's starting to show symptoms of Parkinson's.

1) Jon has a show to run.
2) The show has sponsors.
3) If the show loses audience, it loses sponsors.
4) If the show loses sponsors, we can lose the show.
5) Jon has to maintain the pace of the show and hold the audience interest first and foremost.
6) If a guest says something meaningful on The Daily Show and nobody's watching it, did that guest actually speak?

But I agree that in this case and in others Jon should probably let the guest do a little bit more of the talking.

Here's my idea:

In addition to the shows they already have, Jon Stewart and Keith Olberman should have a Sunday Morning Talkshow on one of the major networks.

To balance it out, perhaps they could also have a "token conservative" such as Kelsey Gramar, Cedric the Entertainer, Dennis Miller Drew Carey, or Collin Quinn (as examples)-- all of whom I hate, but I think it would make for good Infotainment/Dramadey. Maybe an "independent" conservative right-wing whack-job like Jerry Doyle-- a mental midget who Keith and Jon could trample easily.

Or, instead of "balancing" with a token/strawman conservative, they could put Mark Marin on the panel.

In any case, the key point of my idea is to give Jon and Keith a Sunday morning panel discussion show together, either with or without a token conservative.

[stop the bleeding]

18. Agree, Agreed, Agreed and agree on all points on post. Jon Stewart

has a unique platform to get his message across, and when he has "series" interviews then he should tone down the jokes just a hair. I think this would only embolden the message and the program of what the TDS is, without weakening the upbeat rhythm of the show.




BTW thanx for the post, I am glad someone else has been seeing the same things.

Hope my spelling is OK - the spell checker was freezing on me when trying to write this.

[AlCzervik]

19. it's a comedy show and The Daily show doesn't belong to us

and Jon never said he was a democrat. Do you need him to always defend democrats? I suggest you start your own show if TDS isn't living up to your expectations.

[FranzFerdinand]

20. you're an idiot.

there, i said it. because... read my post, asshole, it was not "TDS sucks" and "they should change".

you're an idiot. go easy on the attitude and the self-glory when someone says something that soils your "i love everything liberal", it makes you look like a fool. and an idiot.

[Protagoras]

21. I always look forward to the monthy "TDS is losing it thread"

Somehow though it just keeps plugging along. TDS is fine. JS is fine. And the movement is growing. And yep it's just a comedy show that happens to work VERY WELL for us.

[mondo joe]

22. Try to make TDS a serious show and you neuter it.

The whole value of TDS is that it's political comedy. It's beyond the radar of the cons. It's something they don't know how to counter.

Make it serious and you make it powerless.