Left Wing? You Must be Kidding!? -- Olbermann's Humor an Evolution from Stewart/Colbert?

[berkeleynewscomedy]

Do liberals have to be joking to be on TV?

Does the amount of humor Olbermann, Daily Show, and Colbert have any larger significance?

(By the way, what else in the media has this kind of message and format?)

Are liberals ("progressives") funnier people?



I am also curious about these questions? Any thoughts?

What do you think the people who watch The Daily Show, Colbert, Olbermann are like, in general? How are they different?

Why do you watch The Colbert Report?

What else (TV, internet, etc.,) is as good for news as Colbert and The Daily Show?

How do you think Colbert, Daily Show, Olberman (others?) reflect bigger trends in our lives, society, world?

Thanks,
Chris

[e-mail]

[yy4me]

1. You have named the Big Three in my mind. We watch Keith

each evening and tape the other two for the next evening, the hour before Keith comes on. Then it is off to bed with a good book. Can you tell we're from the Northeast? Keith is on at 8PM.

WE watch because of the content. I find the subject matter of interest in all 3 shows and there is none of the FOX type BS that I see everywhere else. I should say that I used to see everywhere else. Maybe in my old age, I'm getting a little fed up with stuff about which I don't agree but that's how it is. Besides, even though I'm old enough to be their mother, they are all cute!

[Mabus]

2. My answers

Do liberals have to be joking to be on TV?

No. Liberals do not have to be joking to be on television but it seems to help.

Does the amount of humor Olbermann, Daily Show, and Colbert have any larger significance?

(By the way, what else in the media has this kind of message and format?)

The media uses "humor" all day long. In the mornings humor is used to pass off the newsreader baton to the next anchor(s) up or to segue into the weather. It's part of the media formula. They throw out a mixture of news ranging from "human interest" to "what you should be afraid of now" stories every hour.

Are liberals ("progressives") funnier people?
Yes but that's only because we can. Humor is something that can only be appreciated by those who can recognize nuance.


I am also curious about these questions? Any thoughts?



What do you think the people who watch The Daily Show, Colbert, Olbermann are like, in general? How are they different?

They are people who think for themselves and are interested in finding out what's going on in the world. Additionally, they understand the difference between humor and news. Hence the study that found that viewers of TDS knew there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Also they have an appreciation for the absurd. KO, TDS and Colbert all expose the absurdities in the world around us.

Why do you watch The Colbert Report?

Because he's funny. I watch to see what stories he is going to cover and how he's going to show how the media's coverage is absurd.

What else (TV, internet, etc.,) is as good for news as Colbert and The Daily Show?
My friends, DU (if you can wade through the muck), specialty websites (environment, science), e-mail lists.

How do you think Colbert, Daily Show, Olberman (others?) reflect bigger trends in our lives, society, world?

Yes but to a limited segment. Not everyone likes these shows because they don't understand the humor. They don't get the jokes because they're too apathetic to care about politics.

Thanks,
Chris