With Stewart and Colbert gone it feels like a natural check against the stupidity in America is about to be lifted, and that is genuinely worrisome. They both really guided my generation for a formative decade. I really have to give it to them and Comedy Central for what they built, they probably pushed America towards progress by a not insubstantial degree.
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Jon Stewart is leaving The Daily Show "later this year"
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DrForester
Kills Photobucket
If you were to include the Crossfire interview, where yould you rank it? It would be a tough fight for #1 between that interview and the 9/11 speech.
I have to disagree withe the Cramer interview. Mostly because, that was Cramer punishment. To go on and take it. He knew it was coming, and he knew that's all that would happen to him. And to be quite honest, Jon felt like he was going easy on him. Like the whole thing was staged. It was not the spontaneous and unexpected decimation of the Crossfire Interview.
Yeah the Crossfire interview pretty much defined Jon Stewart's abilities in the context of his show. I was debating whether to put it in there since I included the O'Reilly debate. Honestly if I were to put it in, I'd probably put it in at #1. It just was everything Jon Stewart was capable of, and it marked the absolute demise of Crossfire as a concept and show. Such a simple mark against the format of modern American political punditry, encapsulated in a single sentence: “Stop hurting America.”
9/11 was probably more important in terms of what the country needed at that moment, but I think in the context of the show itself and what Jon Stewart is capable of I think the Crossfire moment was the best summary of his tenure there. He's funny, but when you're his target he can absolutely take you by surprise and pants you.
Edit: And yeah, the Cramer interview is nowhere near the Crossfire thing. I just didn't include it due to the fact it wasn't on his show, but I didn't feel the 'staged' part. I mean, sure he was supposed to take it, but even I felt uncomfortable for the guy... Stewart was just giving him a good old fashioned humiliation
See, this is the problem. No one can fill his shoes completely. I don't think anyone out there is the full package. I think Bassem comes the closest though.
Yeah the Crossfire interview pretty much defined Jon Stewart's abilities in the context of his show. I was debating whether to put it in there since I included the O'Reilly debate. Honestly if I were to put it in, I'd probably put it in at #1. It just was everything Jon Stewart was capable of, and it marked the absolute demise of Crossfire as a concept and show. Such a simple mark against the format of modern American political punditry, encapsulated in a single sentence: “Stop hurting America.”
9/11 was probably more important in terms of what the country needed at that moment, but I think in the context of the show itself and what Jon Stewart is capable of I think the Crossfire moment was the best summary of his tenure there. He's funny, but when you're his target he can absolutely take you by surprise and pants you.
Edit: And yeah, the Cramer interview is nowhere near the Crossfire thing. I just didn't include it due to the fact it wasn't on his show, but I didn't feel the 'staged' part. I mean, sure he was supposed to take it, but even I felt uncomfortable for the guy... Stewart was just giving him a good old fashioned humiliation
Crossfire definitely would be #1, he went on there and not only owned the shit out of them but got the show canned. Who does that?
OrangeGrayBlue
Member
I'm heartbroken. I can't even eloquate how surreal this feels. I've been watching Daily Show consistently since I was 10.
I agree with those saying Jessica Williams is the funniest correspondent presently. Wouldn't mind if she got a chance as host.
I agree with those saying Jessica Williams is the funniest correspondent presently. Wouldn't mind if she got a chance as host.
Orbis Tabula
Member
No one is going to be a carbon copy of Jon Stewart. Everyone will be better in some respects and worse in others. Frankly, I think the emotional aspect is simultaneously one of the least important, as well as one of the most common.
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
Edit: And yeah, the Cramer interview is nowhere near the Crossfire thing. I just didn't include it due to the fact it wasn't on his show, but I didn't feel the 'staged' part. I mean, sure he was supposed to take it, but even I felt uncomfortable for the guy... Stewart was just giving him a good old fashioned humiliation
That's just it though. He was there to be humiliated, and he knew what was coming. He sat there with stupid "I've been a baaaad boy" look on his face, just waiting for it to be over, because he knew that was it. I just didn't feel natural.
a secret-boss
Banned
do you guys think its going to go on forever.
its good to exit while on a high note
its good to exit while on a high note
IdreamofHIME
Member
Its funny how he hated Bush, but the material that administration provided on a daily basis kept the team in a surplus supply of material...while Obamas terms have seen the shows best work only come about when Fox news fucks up.
I guess the idea of Hilary in power is too much for him.
I guess the idea of Hilary in power is too much for him.
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
Well, owned Carlson anyways. He got the other guy too, but to that guys credit, he caught on early how bad this was and, knowing he was totally unprepared, kept his mouth shut almost the entire time.
I think we all knew he'd get creamed, I think he knew he'd get creamed, what made it awesome was it was far past the degree we thought it would be at the time. I sort of figured it would be a slightly longer interview where he got shamed, I just didn't think Jon would do it to the degree he did though.
Lol True enough, that dude saw the way the wind was blowing.
Yeah i mean I respect the point totally, but I was shifting uncomfortably in my chair whilst being entertained so I guess it just functioned for me.
Poor Jim Cramer, totes incompetent
Yeah I agree, but if I was choosing candidates, the emotional center would be at the core of what I look for. Like, that'd be a "have or die" sort of situation. I don't need someone super funny, but emotionally authentic and politically adept are key.
Yeah, I mean the show was already on fumes but Jon Stewart definitely closed the lid on that casket. Who could take it seriously after that? I think it was like American Crossfire viewers suddenly had cold water poured on their face and was like 'oh yeah that's right this shit is manipulative tripe, what was I thinking?'
Man I could not disagree more. Sure, people can try, but you can tell when someone is emotionally authentic. In the world of political punditry and humour, it's incredibly rare to get someone who feels like they're not just putting on a show but actually feel deeply the issues they're speaking to. I can list on one hand the number of times I ever thought someone in this line of work was being emotionally sincere. Maybe I'm just extra cynical, but I feel much of the time people put on a show of emotion rather than actually feel it. Jon Stewart really obviously deeply cared about many of these issues because they were important and was occasionally quite confused that things turned out the way they did, because they seemed so self-evidently wrong. There was just a tinge of childlike innocence in there, but this allowed his analysis of subjects to take on that final critical bit of depth that most other shows of this type lack.
For me, I actually believe being laugh-out-loud funny is less important. I mean the show needs to be humorous (and certainly not as unfunny as a Bill Maher stand up), but that all needs to be a sideshow to someone's command of the issues and their ability to authentically care about them (and, more importantly, convincingly demonstrate they care, a nearly impossible task for most in this position).
BigJonsson
Member
Gitmo should take over
I totally get what you're saying, I'd love to see their short list though. You know they've got one at this point, no way they announce this without one. They either have a very short list or know exactly who they're getting.
dead souls
Member
Damn, end of an era. I gave up on the show years ago though, around the time of that godawful Rally to Restore Sanity. Colbert was a million times funnier than Stewart, and John Oliver has rendered both of them obsolete.
They probably have candidates for sure. The biggest mistake transitions like this can have is if they try to "fill the shoes" of the previous person. Jon Stewart is unique, I agree with people ITT saying you can't really get someone who fills all his unique personality traits that made him such an effective individual in this role. I hope whoever they choose they give the freedom to recreate the show in his/her image. And that they headline emotional authenticity and political adeptness before gut splitting humour. Funny is important, but I think with a good enough writing team and halfway competent person to deliver the content you'll get close enough to where you need to be there.
But man, if someone doesn't know the subjects they're talking about in any depth it shows quick and it becomes embarrassing. A liability even. When Jon Stewart went against his high profile guests, you sort of knew the man generally knew what he was talking about (albeit, his own perspective on what any given political subject of the day meant to himself and the country). You never felt like Jon Stewart was treading water or was out of his league (well, rarely enough anyway that it was never a problem).
So I hope they are very smart in testing the person they're going to have replace Stewart
equippedwithtowel
Member
dead souls
Member
No it wasn't. It was bullshit "both sides do it" false equivalency garbage.
I can't believe this is happening. I really thought he'd be with us during the 2016 elections...
I love Gitmo.
equippedwithtowel
Member
Both parties are up their own ass. Just because one is worse on virtually issue doesn't mean it's not pertinent advice.
GregLombardi
Member
It's horrible and shocking news. The man is a legend though. He has the right to do whatever he wants, and whenever he wants to do it. I hope he still contributes to the national discourse in some way. But he's already a legend.
dead souls
Member
They weren't attacking both parties at all. It was more like this: Here's some actually in office republicans saying batshit crazy stuff and here's Code Pink saying some batshit crazy stuff. See everyone, both sides are awful.
That's nothing more than a cheap false equivalence and rendered any point the rally was trying to make moot.
Dragoon En Regalia
Member
If he's voluntarily retiring from the show, then I hope Jon and the show writers/producers/crew finds success with the activities he takes on after this, and that Comedy Central might fill the gap with a show half as good. Last Week Tonight is my preference for a spiritual successor, good thing my family has an HBO subscription. But cable users ought to have access to shows like this on channels they already get. Seems like the end of an era for late night this year.
Suikoguy
I whinny my fervor lowly, for his length is not as great as those of the Hylian war stallions
Much of Oliver's show is posted legally on Youtube by HBO, so there is that.
Miles Quaritch
Member
I'll miss Jon, but I'm okay with this.
The show is in dire need of a shake up and I'm not sure it would be possible with Jon still at the helm. I just hope it doesn't turn into something that's too similar to The Nightly show...
The show is in dire need of a shake up and I'm not sure it would be possible with Jon still at the helm. I just hope it doesn't turn into something that's too similar to The Nightly show...
-Plasma Reus-
Service guarantees member status
This will have sociopolitical consequences on a large scale..
Or there's a campaign looking for a press officer!
(Now, that'd be... interesting!)
Yeah, seriously. Stewart is a pretty huge source of news to America. Sorry if that's hyperbolic.
I figured this was coming, he will be missed but at the same time this is a great opportunity to give a young talented person the spotlight and make him or her a star by helming the daily show. If they choose wisely they could end up with another strong influence on the side of reason.
By playing his Office character.
This is a good point. The show lost something a bit after Obama took over, he didn't have the passion to slam him like he did Bush. He was rolling along roasting Bush, then Obama took over and he was on a high but after awhile he realized he was gonna have to start ripping him and his heart wasn't in it.
Diprosalic
Banned
that might sound cynical but i don't think they would go with two black hosts b2b.
If anybody would, they would. I just don't think she's host material. Her humor doesn't come from the right place IMO. She's too much of a character.
Honestly, I don't see any current correspondent stepping in properly and that's a problem.
Bitmap Frogs
Mr. Community
Holy shit.
And right before a presidential?
DAMN
And right before a presidential?
DAMN
acheron_xl
Member
I don't know why, but I really kinda want Moshe Kasher to take over the host seat. I just think he'd do a good job, for some reason.
It's over in like 7 months.
LegendofJoe
Member
Someone new has to step up to fill the cable political satire void? It can't be Oliver until he leaves HBO, so who out there is capable of taking over for Stewart/Colbert?
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