Jon Stewart

I think the man is gifted.  He is mad funny.

But I seriously think that a significant proportion of young people get their news from him.

And that’s scary!

15 responses to “Jon Stewart

    • And wouldn’t that be awful:

      Fascinating study.

      It would be fun to see if ignorant people who watch Stewart become knowledgeable people or if it’s knowledgeable people who enjoy fantastic political comedy.

      I don’t think that he tries to make serious efforts to educate his audience. I think he uses comedy to make the point that Republicans suck. And again, he is a master at his craft.

      • Not so sure that it’s a bad thing pino – we’re talking about a youngish demographic, people who traditionally pay no attention at all to what’s going on in the world or in politics; only get involved when they’re personally affected.

        A few years back O’Reilly interviewed him for the full hour. And he repeatedly said that he was a comic first and that his comedy was ‘informed by’ his politics. Which I thought was exactly right.

      • we’re talking about a youngish demographic, people who traditionally pay no attention at all to what’s going on in the world or in politics; only get involved when they’re personally affected.

        You have a point. However, he’s not talking about what’s going on in the world. He’s making jokes.

        he repeatedly said that he was a comic first and that his comedy was ‘informed by’ his politics. Which I thought was exactly right.

        I go back and forth on that.

        I think he is a comic. But I also thinks of himself as an influencer as well. He clearly is Liberal and he wants other people to be Liberal as well.

        • Ahhh, don’t we all want to exert some influence .. . I’m no comic, but I want everyone to be liberal. Then we could all sit down over some organic barley soup – served in our hand thrown bowls – and do some wicked macrame together.

      • Ahhh, don’t we all want to exert some influence .. .

        We do.

        But what gets me about Jon is that he shrugs it off as if it’s just “I’m a clown doing clown things”. He knows he has an agenda. We blog. He “comics”.

        I love his schtick, but it’s clearly an agenda.

      • I think there’s an important differnence between an ‘agenda’ and a strong liberal bent or point of view. My liberal bent informs (to use his word) how I see the wrold and how I judge events. I try – I really do – to get past it and read a lot of conservative stuff. But in the end I yam what I yam. (By the way, you and Sean often make me rethink things)

        But even if we stipulate to an ‘agenda’ – so what? Famous people, entertainers, big business personallities – they all have points of view. Some bring it to their ‘act’ and some don’t. (Business celebrities almost always DO). Most of the talking heads on tv have strong partisan leanings, express them pretty openly and in a few, I see an actual ‘agenda’ (Ed Schultz, Huckabee, Maddow for instance). Most of the calbe and radio talkers though pretty much bloviate and change positions to suit the event (NOT Schultz or Huckabee, but definitely Limbaugh and Hannity et al). They’re all different.

        Anyway pino – why does it matter if Stewart has an agenda?

      • I think there’s an important differnence between an ‘agenda’ and a strong liberal bent or point of view. My liberal bent informs (to use his word) how I see the wrold and how I judge events.

        So, Hannity has an agenda. Maddow has an agenda. Limbaugh and Olbermann. All agendas. But I don’t think people go there for news. They go there for a specific slant. In the same way, Stewart has an agenda. My concern is that kids go there for news. They think he’s a news reporter, not a commenter.

        By the way, you and Sean often make me rethink things

        Thanks. Sean is better at it than I am. He has is much more leveled and fact based. I work in facts sometimes too, but I “commentary” more often. Makes me sound overly partisan.

        But even if we stipulate to an ‘agenda’ – so what?

        I’m distressed that people get news from Jon in the same way you would be distressed that people get news from Rush.

  1. Anyway pino – why does it matter if Stewart has an agenda?(Moe)

    Pino is probably jealous because Stewart is just so much better at getting his agenda actually listened to, even by the right. 😉

    • Pino is probably jealous because Stewart is just so much better at getting his agenda actually listened to, even by the right.

      Check this out:

      Jon Stewart is leaping ahead of one of his most popular targets: Fox News.

      The comic’s TV program, The Daily Show, beat most of the entire Fox News network in terms of total viewers, according to the May Nielson ratings.

      Mr Stewart’s show averaged 2.3million viewers, while most of the Fox News prime time and day time line up averaged only 1.85million viewers.

      But then this:

      Mr O’Reilly recorded 2.8million total viewers, compared to The Daily Show’s 2.3million.

      O’Reilly is beating him by .5 million viewers. That’s more than 20%.

      Anyway, Jon is massively funny, and yes, it bums me out that he’s liberal.

  2. I doubt Stewart has an ‘agenda.’ A perspective or point of view is different than an actual agenda. I guess he does want to point out hypocrisy and stupidity among our political elite.

    He also pointed out how CNBC and the financial “news” industry failed the country by being a mouth piece for corporate interests who were lying throughout the final bubble years. His interview of Jim Cramer (and shows leading up to it) was a cultural event, and much more journalistic and to the point than a lot of what was on TV. To be sure there was good newspaper coverage and books about the financial crisis, but so much TV/talk radio “coverage” was simplistic story lines designed to demonize one side and avoid criticism of the other.

    • Good reminder Scott, that a top target for Stewart is the media. He’s done some riffs on CNN that are exquisite. Or, as pino put it, ‘mad funny’. But sad too cuz we all pay the price for the lousy job those guys do.

      Remember when he confronted Crossfire on CNN? The beginning of the end of that show.

      • I think Stewart’s at his best when he takes on the media. I show some clips in my class, which students like but also opens a discussion on how we need to look beyond what the media tell us.

      • I think Stewart’s at his best when he takes on the media. I show some clips in my class, which students like but also opens a discussion on how we need to look beyond what the media tell us.

        Virtually ALL of Stewart is classic. Much of it can be used in class.

        Kudos to you for doing so!

    • I doubt Stewart has an ‘agenda.’ A perspective or point of view is different than an actual agenda.

      I think he wants Liberals elected.

      I guess he does want to point out hypocrisy and stupidity among our political elite.

      I think he hides behind that.

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