Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Renew Deal

(81,801 posts)
Thu Mar 26, 2015, 11:31 PM Mar 2015

The dismantling of the Daily Show continues

It was announced tonight that it was Jason Jones last show. He's getting a new show with Samantha Bee soon. It seems like Jon Stewarts Daily Show is shutting down. There will be almost no one left by the time it's over.

I wonder what drove Jon over the edge. He saw a lot of his best people move on (Colbert to CBS, Oliver to HBO, Willmore to another show, Che to SNL, Carrell to almost winning an Oscar, Corddry, several writers, and others). I'm sure he wondered why he was still there.

The Daily Show was a comedy factory like SNL. It's sad to see it break up.

33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The dismantling of the Daily Show continues (Original Post) Renew Deal Mar 2015 OP
I was sad when Craig left too Politicalboi Mar 2015 #1
He also said he could no longer analyze cable news for a living, it was driving him mad. arcane1 Mar 2015 #2
^^This^^ DebJ Mar 2015 #9
I believe Jon's decision to leave is motivated by wanting to be with his children . . . Journeyman Mar 2015 #3
No. Jon is not running out of comedians. New ones are always out there. immoderate Mar 2015 #4
TW3?! Whoa! You've definitely dated yourself. RufusTFirefly Mar 2015 #7
How about the Colgate Comedy Hour? Show of Shows? immoderate Mar 2015 #8
Alas, I was a precocious kid with a decent memory and liberal parents RufusTFirefly Mar 2015 #10
Colgate featured Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. (And others.) immoderate Mar 2015 #12
Googling tells me I wasn't even alive when the Colgate Comedy Hour had its last show RufusTFirefly Mar 2015 #13
I'm just that old. immoderate Mar 2015 #14
Haha! That's OK! It was a fascinating era RufusTFirefly Mar 2015 #15
As a boomer, I remember the 70's had quality shows. dixiegrrrrl Mar 2015 #16
I remember those fondly, too RufusTFirefly Mar 2015 #17
Groucho's show ended in '61. Close. immoderate Mar 2015 #18
I remember those well Sherman A1 Mar 2015 #25
Oh gosh! "That Was The Week That Was"! And "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In"! calimary Mar 2015 #22
I barely remember Danny Kaye, Art_from_Ark Mar 2015 #28
It was the other way around thesquanderer Mar 2015 #29
But in my world, Fred came first Art_from_Ark Mar 2015 #32
I have a feeling that Jon Jim Beard Mar 2015 #5
thanks for that, I think there's a basis for thinking that CreekDog Mar 2015 #21
The new show with Jason Jones and Samantha Bee has been in the works for years, truebluegreen Mar 2015 #6
"They can't pay him enough to watch that shit." EXACTLY!! arcane1 Mar 2015 #11
It IS sad. It's the end of an era, and a project that was so sorely needed at times. BobTheSubgenius Mar 2015 #19
Well, there's always hope. Heck, I read earlier this week that there's even talk of bringing calimary Mar 2015 #23
He's probably been hoping to quit for the past few years. ErikJ Mar 2015 #20
Corddry wasn't funny. Bucky Mar 2015 #24
he stayed far longer than most people. pansypoo53219 Mar 2015 #26
I always felt that Jon was proud of the success of his show's talent, and his own Skittles Mar 2015 #27
The show was in much part due to great writing ksoze Mar 2015 #30
Dude's been at it for almost 20 years. WilliamPitt Mar 2015 #31
When your audience and salary are three times larger than the people you're mocking shaayecanaan Mar 2015 #33
 

Politicalboi

(15,189 posts)
1. I was sad when Craig left too
Thu Mar 26, 2015, 11:44 PM
Mar 2015

But then I got used to and liked Jon a lot throughout the years. He was our sanity through the Bush years. I wish he would stay till after the 2016 election, but I think he wants to go to directing. And he still has a young family, and all the money in the world can't buy those days back.

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
2. He also said he could no longer analyze cable news for a living, it was driving him mad.
Thu Mar 26, 2015, 11:45 PM
Mar 2015

I can relate!!!

I'm glad about Jason and Samantha though!

DebJ

(7,699 posts)
9. ^^This^^
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 12:23 AM
Mar 2015

Am I the only one who could see over the past years that he had lost some of his enthusiasm on the job?

It is pretty disgusting to have to analyze Fox news all the time..........

Journeyman

(15,001 posts)
3. I believe Jon's decision to leave is motivated by wanting to be with his children . . .
Thu Mar 26, 2015, 11:45 PM
Mar 2015

He made a comment the other night, that when he leaves the Daily Show he'll be able to enjoy dinner with his kids on a school night.

His decision may be influenced by the loss of the talent around him -- though many that you noted have been gone for some time -- and certainly finding new talent is difficult and not always a guarantee of success, but I believe he could find new people if he wanted to continue. Witness Jessica Williams, added in 2012, Kristen Schaal (2008), and Wyatt Cenac (2008). The show has been an exceptional showcase for some of the great comedic talent of our day, and continuing that would be difficult, but I'm sure Stewart could pull it off. After all, it's not like this is a weekday variant of Saturday Night Live.

 

immoderate

(20,885 posts)
4. No. Jon is not running out of comedians. New ones are always out there.
Thu Mar 26, 2015, 11:50 PM
Mar 2015

He has graduated many. And after 17 years he wants to rotate his crops. Someone else will come along. Remember Laugh In? TW3?

--imm

RufusTFirefly

(8,812 posts)
10. Alas, I was a precocious kid with a decent memory and liberal parents
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 12:30 AM
Mar 2015

By rights, I shouldn't even remember TW3. I'm afraid I don't remember the "Colgate Comedy Hour" at all, although I did see the the theatrical release of "Your Show of Shows," which was entitled "Ten from Your Show of Shows."

 

immoderate

(20,885 posts)
12. Colgate featured Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. (And others.)
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 12:46 AM
Mar 2015

My parents let me stay up late to see Dean and Jerry. It was fun, but in retrospect, I didn't really understand it.

--imm

RufusTFirefly

(8,812 posts)
13. Googling tells me I wasn't even alive when the Colgate Comedy Hour had its last show
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 12:51 AM
Mar 2015

Not by quite a bit in fact.

RufusTFirefly

(8,812 posts)
15. Haha! That's OK! It was a fascinating era
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 01:07 AM
Mar 2015

When I was a kid, we had two TVs stacked on top of each other. That's because one couldn't get sound, and the other couldn't get a picture! It seemed like a normal setup to me.

Many people view 1962 as the zenith (no pun intended) of television quality. Unfortunately, I barely even remember then.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
16. As a boomer, I remember the 70's had quality shows.
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 01:11 AM
Mar 2015

Taxi and MASH and MTM, long running standouts.
Carol Burnett!

to me, the music died around 1980, in lots of ways.

RufusTFirefly

(8,812 posts)
17. I remember those fondly, too
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 01:31 AM
Mar 2015

But the early 60s (which had live TV) had things like "The Twlight Zone" and "Playhouse 90," shows where great movie actors, writers, and directors cut their teeth. I no longer watch TV at all, but my favorite show from the Boomer era was definitely the British science fiction series, "The Prisoner." It was good enough and edgy enough that one key episode was even banned in the States because it was interpreted as an anti Vietnam War allegory.

 

immoderate

(20,885 posts)
18. Groucho's show ended in '61. Close.
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 01:35 AM
Mar 2015

Of course it's hard to generalize. The 50s were pioneering times. Lots of live TV. Imagine doing live dramas in real time. Captain Video!

And anything with James Garner.

--imm

Sherman A1

(38,958 posts)
25. I remember those well
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 03:58 AM
Mar 2015

B&W and eventually we upgraded to a counsel set with the stereo record player and the AM/FM radio in it. Got the first color TV sometime in the mid 1970's as I recall.

calimary

(80,693 posts)
22. Oh gosh! "That Was The Week That Was"! And "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In"!
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 02:25 AM
Mar 2015

Okay - anybody old enough to remember Danny Kaye's comedy-variety show? I barely do. Or Red Skelton's? I remember that one a little better. Or "The Jackie Gleason Show"? Not "The Honeymooners" - "The Jackie Gleason Show". And "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" and "The Carol Burnett Show." Comedy-variety shows used to be all over prime time.

There will be others coming along. I hear (and enjoy) a fair amount of Louis C.K. because of my son - who has also discovered the late great George Carlin. He LOVES George Carlin. Just as we thought he would!

Art_from_Ark

(27,247 posts)
28. I barely remember Danny Kaye,
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 05:38 AM
Mar 2015

but I remember Red Skelton fairly well-- especially Clem Kaddidlehopper and Freddy the Freeloader.

And the Jackie Gleason Show-- "Live from Miami Beach-- It's the Jackie Gleason Show!" And Jackie's trademark greeting "How... sweet... it is!" In his role as Ralph Kramden, he always reminded me of Fred Flintstone.

I wasn't allowed to watch Smothers Brothers or Rowan and Martin because my mom was afraid I would start reciting lines from those shows in front of my very conservative grandparents. But I was able to catch some phrases from other kids in school, like "Very interesting" and "You bet your bippy" (which my mom thought was vulgar).

Carol Burnett was a great show, with Carol, Tim Conway, Lyle Wagoner, Vicki Lawrence and Harvey Korman always good for laughs.

thesquanderer

(11,953 posts)
29. It was the other way around
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 09:49 AM
Mar 2015

re: "In his role as Ralph Kramden, he always reminded me of Fred Flintstone"

Ralph came first.

Art_from_Ark

(27,247 posts)
32. But in my world, Fred came first
Sat Mar 28, 2015, 12:35 AM
Mar 2015

I probably started watching the Flintstones around 1962 or so, and didn't start paying attention to the Jackie Gleason Show with its Honeymooners segment until several years later.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195466/

 

Jim Beard

(2,535 posts)
5. I have a feeling that Jon
Thu Mar 26, 2015, 11:58 PM
Mar 2015

has been encouraging his young and long time employees to find employment while they still paycheck support, I really think he is that good of a person.

CreekDog

(46,192 posts)
21. thanks for that, I think there's a basis for thinking that
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 02:11 AM
Mar 2015

he took that one little news show and created a genre.

i'd like to see him keep doing it and i'll bet HBO offers him something that he can just do once a week and it will be awesome and he can live a human life, which he deserves.

or maybe he will make more movies, perhaps even something that is satire, much as his show is, but for the big screen.

he's talented, he's smart and people seem to love to work for him.

 

truebluegreen

(9,033 posts)
6. The new show with Jason Jones and Samantha Bee has been in the works for years,
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 12:05 AM
Mar 2015

and the pilot was ordered last October. Comedians have been cycling through the Daily Show forever, using it as a launching pad for their careers, and yet the show always finds more. I actually prefer the newer faces; Samantha Bee never tickled my funny bone.

As for what drove Jon over the edge, I'd say it was a combination of boredom (SSDD) and the feeling of being Sisyphus--pushing the same fucking boulder up the hill for 17? years, only to see it tumble back to the bottom. How many times can a comedian do the same gag? It might be apocryphal but I heard Meet the Press was sniffing around. If that's true, they are even dumber than I thought. I bet he can't wait to get away from the political/media genre; like Colbert, they can't pay him enough to watch that shit.

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
11. "They can't pay him enough to watch that shit." EXACTLY!!
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 12:31 AM
Mar 2015

Hell, I can barely watch those 5-second CLIPS of that shit anymore.

BobTheSubgenius

(11,535 posts)
19. It IS sad. It's the end of an era, and a project that was so sorely needed at times.
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 01:49 AM
Mar 2015

Cold comfort, but I'd rather see it go out while he and the show were still on their game.

calimary

(80,693 posts)
23. Well, there's always hope. Heck, I read earlier this week that there's even talk of bringing
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 02:32 AM
Mar 2015

Olbermann back to MSNBC. Maybe just vaporous ideas merely being kicked around in public - Phil Griffin evidently expressing regrets about his leaving. That'd actually be pretty doggone great if Olbermann got back on the air Monday through Friday. It'd be great to have that nice loud voice chain-sawing through the bullshit again. He'd skewer the bastards! And it'd mean ratings.

 

ErikJ

(6,335 posts)
20. He's probably been hoping to quit for the past few years.
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 02:02 AM
Mar 2015

The daily pressure on him must be pretty high. Maybe he'll come back in a couple yrs.

Bucky

(53,786 posts)
24. Corddry wasn't funny.
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 03:03 AM
Mar 2015

The end of political comedy isn't about to happen.

I'm going to enjoy the new Daily Show crew...

Dennis Miller and the new correspondents: Andrew Dice Clay, Victoria Jackson, Jimmy JJ "Dino-Mite" Walker, Kelsey Grammar, and Meatloaf.

Skittles

(152,963 posts)
27. I always felt that Jon was proud of the success of his show's talent, and his own
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 05:32 AM
Mar 2015

maybe he just wants to do something else - his latest film got some great reviews

ksoze

(2,068 posts)
30. The show was in much part due to great writing
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 09:57 AM
Mar 2015

Those writers will continue and breath new life into new shows. Clearly Jon was an excellent host, but much if not all of that material was due to an incredible and celebrated writing staff, combined with a perfect and clearly invested host in Jon.

 

WilliamPitt

(58,179 posts)
31. Dude's been at it for almost 20 years.
Fri Mar 27, 2015, 10:01 AM
Mar 2015

He wants to make movies now. Good for him.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." -- Dr. Seuss

shaayecanaan

(6,068 posts)
33. When your audience and salary are three times larger than the people you're mocking
Sat Mar 28, 2015, 08:52 AM
Mar 2015

suffice to say you're not fighting the power any more. The networks are jumping all over each other trying to get on the news-satire bandwagon. You have Maher's show, Oliver's, Stewart's and the other spinoffs in the pipe. Even in Australia we have the Project, the Chaser, Shaun Micallef and the Roast. Four news satire programs for a nation of twenty million people.

How many people watch cable news any more anyway? Maybe a million on a good night. Probably less than your average kitten video on Youtube. In five years they'll be battling to pay their power bills. There comes a time when making fun of a sad and irrelevant relic just isn't funny anymore.

The problem is not that people are watching cable news. The problem is that they are not watching anything at all, aside from fatuous crap on their phone.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The dismantling of the Da...