Centerfield

I don't have cable and haven't watched it very often but I've seen people compare it to IMAO, which I find hilarious but is far from "well-crafted".

Stewart in his own venue ranges from moronic to brilliant. Actual journalism is not his venue.

The Daily Show is often funny, but you're right on target, Rick. If you don't share the same scorn, it's just stupid.

And, of course, 99% of the show is anti-Bush. Look, Bush deserves some heckling from the peanut gallery. He's not some kind of infalliable Pope or anything.

But I don't watch any more. I just got tired of the constant lopsided cheapshots.

I'm a fan of The Daily Show, but I don't watch it any more because we dropped to the bare minimum cable package. So we get 5000 shopping stations, 50 politics stations, the Spanish channel, the Canadian channel, and some public access channel that airs, seemingly non-stop, some guy's home video of his cat sleeping. Now if *that's* not riveting programming, then I don't know what is. Needless to say, we don't get high-class fare like Comedy Central. :-)

*Anyway,* I think what I like about The Daily Show is that it *is* moronic. Not that I love moronic shows--let me see if I can explain. Politicians can take themselves so seriously, and politics can be so bloody, and it's so easy to get caught up in the nasty, partisan, vicious craziness of it all. When our leaders, our newsmen (and women), our policies, and our politics start to get really unbearable and start to make us feel like nothing is ever going to change and that we're all doomed, there's The Daily Show to help you see it for the circus and the folly that it can really be sometimes. Jon Stewart and his show can take that edge off of the whole affair for 30 minutes. His show tells you that it's *ok* to laugh at all of this insanity once in awhile. It tells you to lighten up and to realize that there are so many places to find humor and so much to laugh at in this political world. And in a crazy election year like this one, where it’s easy to lose perspective, where the people of this country are at each other’s throats, well, there are times when we need to be reminded that politics, through the right lens, can be high comedy.

I watch the Daily Show. I think it's pretty funny at the top of the show...but the little pieces they do in the middle are usually so-so. They do take swipes at both sides, however.

The Daily Show is parody. Stewart's point is that Carlson and Begala shouldn't look at his show as news..but as a parody of what they're doing.

The Daily Show isn't a news show. It's making fun of news shows. And the fact that his show is often seen as actually more informative than regular news shows chaps him, I think. He's not out there to be the vessel for which people get their news...and he's being seen that way right now. He seems to sincerely believe it's due to the very poor way news programs are handling their reporting and analysis of stories.

I think he has a very good point.

The show is very clever, very funny, very mean (with sporadic exceptions as far as the first two qualities are concerned). It's like a good liberal blog but with the advantage of videotape for making its points. The show brings out the pomposity and pretzel logic of mainstream news coverage, and the sheer nastiness and dishonesty of Republican rhetoric. It also zeroes in on Democratic fatuousness but is constrained by reality -- there's just less for satirists to work with on that side.

So, sure, if you're determined to be conservative or even centrist, you're going to feel left out. But truthful satire doesn't hedge its bets or aim for blanket appeal. The program makes its points with logic and fact, and in satirizing news programs it also does their job better than they do. Which, of course, isn't saying much.

I think Jon Stewart is sometimes crude and often brilliant on The Daily Show. It's difficult to be "well-crafted" on a show that airs four nights a week, but there is often very funny stuff on it. Sometimes it's just a matter of letting the absurdities and contradictions of the current political discourse play themselves out. For example, on one program, Stewart played two tapes of Condoleeza Rice. In the first, she made certain statements about Iraqi WMDs. In the other, she absolutely denied making the statements contained in the first tape. Stewart did not need to say much in order to get a lot of laughs.

I read the transcript of Stewart's appearance on Crossfire. I think that Tucker Carlson was well deserving of the epithet - I might have chosen the words "pompous old fart," but "dick" serves almost as well.

Stewart's point - that it is sad that The Daily Show is being treated as a true news show - is a very important one. The news media are falling down - and this is a sad and serious state of affairs.

No fan here... I am with you Rick... I don't get it. My wife loves him, but she tells me that in order to enjoy Stewart's humor you have to realize that there is no intellectual point to it what so ever. I think I take myself to seriously to enjoy that kind of humor.

Here is the link for the video:

http://www.ifilm.com/filmdetail?ifilmid=2652831&htv=12

I read the transcript. I didn't laugh.

I went to IFILM and watched the entire thing. Lame in spots, but for the most part Stewart had me at least smiling while planting his lances, and he had me laughing outright several times.

I went back and re-read the transcript.

Carlson and Begala didn't know quite how to handle him. And there's no doubt at all in my mind that he made them look like toal idiots in spots. Especially when they asked him about soft-balling Kerry, where Stewart replied....

"You're on CNN. The show that leads into me is puppets making crank phone calls."

Carlson is the one who took it straight downhill from there by needling Stewart with "butt boy" comments. Then when Carlson started to get actively hostile, Begala quickly moved to defuse and redirect.

BEGALA: We did promise naked pictures of the Supreme Court justices.

CARLSON: Yes, we did. Let's get to those.

The "dick" comment about Carlson came later, and Carlson earned it.

As someone who has seen all but 2 or 3 episodes of the Daily Show since February 2002 (when I got my TiVo), I can hopefully shed some light on why I think the Daily Show is the best show on TV and why Jon Stewart is dead right in comparing idiotic banter like Crossfire to Pro Wrestling.

First of all, the Daily is NOT partisan. People who think the Daily Show is a leftist partisan show have not been watching it for long enough. Back when Craig Kilbourn was the host in the mid-to-late 90s, they did some of the harshest anti-Clinton satire of anyone not name Rush Limbaugh. And during the 2000 election, they were as tough on Al Gore as they were on Bush.

The main target of most of the show's satire is the media itself, and the Crossfire segment really showed how Jon Stewart has really lost his patience with them completely at this point. Much of this started at the end of 2002 when Bush was making his case for war. The media began to portray everything in overly simple terms, where people on the 'left' are always opposing war, and people on the 'right' are always defending our country by going to war. The reality, as I think most of the people here know, is that going into Iraq was not a 'liberal' thing, or a 'conservative' thing. It was a 'strategy' for fighting terror, and we needed to discuss whether or not this strategy was a smart one. Instead, the discussion devolved to one where people where arguing over whether 'liberals' or 'conservatives' are right when it comes to fighting war (in more hypothetical terms), and intelligent discussion on history, Middle East culture, the real effect on terrorism an invasion would have, and our military preparedness for an occupation was pushed aside so that two idiots in suits could yammer on about how 'liberals' are pansies, and how 'conservatives' are uncaring while avoiding the real issue.

This massively retarded oversimplification by our news media is what has driven moderates like Jon Stewart (and myself) to take such a serious position about the role the media plays, and to chastise them for the damage they're doing for making everyone in America think that there's this simple notion of a 'left' and 'right' and that everyone has to try to guess who is the real god. Jon Stewart appears partisan these days because Bush feels he benefits by eliminating the center and making it seem as if the debate over Iraq is about whether or not you have to go after terrorists (the make-believe 'right') or not go after them (the make-believe 'left'). He's not anti-Bush as much he's against the dumbing down of political discourse. And I agree with him 100%.

The Daily Show takes shots at both sides, but way more at the right. Anyone who doesn't think it slants left, well, they slant left. But it's funny, and that's what it's supposed to be. I think it's the "straight" news guys who are chapped, not Stewart.

And Tucker Carlson _is_ a dick, so...

And for that matter, so many of the talking head news/opinion shows are so pompous, overbearing, and superficially serious that it's fair to say they're just about all dicks or whatever you want to call them. Gasbags is maybe nicer? When I flip to a channel and see 4 or 5 people dressed up and yelling and pointing at each other, I move on. It's these people who wrought Stewart, and they richly deserve all the lampooning they get. Tucker Carlson? Are you kidding me?

Hee hee. Yep, the Daily Show does slant a bit left, but you know, you've got to work with the material life gives you. Right now, and for the last few years, that was the Republicans and the Bush admin. If you give John Stewart a Kerry admin, he's gonna spend a lot of time skewering Kerry. No matter what Stewart's political leanings. Jay Leno's a good example. He's not a Republican, but he's been repeatedly accused of it because he's an equal-opportunity zinger.

I don't watch enough of Tucker Carlson to know what he's like on a regular basis, but he was being a dick the other night, and he got called on it. Never try to strike riffs off of a professional comedian, he'll set you up as the straight man every time! Carlson and Begala were both trying to play in the wrong league, but only Begala was quick enough to catch on and not take it personally. Carlson got mad--and got skewered. And he deserved it.

Big Fan! Jon wasn't trying to be funny, he was trying to make a point. Most people don't realize what his show really is (and was even before Jon, when Greg Kilborn hosted).

He isn't satiring polititians as much as he is spoofing journalists.

What was so inept of Carlson, was that he wanted to bash a show whose lead in is puppets, for not being hard newsy enough. Dick!

The Daily Show used to be my favorite comedy show on TV but in the past year Jon Stewart just became to slanted. Now I admit I'm a Republican and I have to watch that that doesn't slant my view but I was a Republican 2 years ago and I thought he was very funny then. Something has changed?

As for Tucker Carlson, I don't watch him on Crossfire. I can stand those shows. I do enjoy him on his PBS show (though I think its a bit overproduced).

The clip was uncomfortable to watch. Tucker couldn't see when his anger got the better of him and Jon took himself too seriously (and there's nothing sadder than a comedian who takes himself too seriously)

Anyway, I miss the old daily show.

Chris

AmyE,
You got a Canadian channel??!!! No fair...I want one. I'm a closet (not anymore :) Canada fan!

I'm a Stewart fan because he's funny, smart and immature; a very hard mix to make work. He's a release in very tense and mean spirited political season.

I was surprised at how harsh he was, but I was glad he fought back against these attempts to make him appear like he's an irresponsible journalist. He is a comedian and he can ask all the puff questions he wants. How dare they try and suggest he has their same level of accountability.

John Stewart and the Daily Show are not humorists as much as they are satirists. Very effective ones, at that!

The Daily Show is a great comedy show. Their skits, interviews, and bits are hillarious, but there is more to the show than that. There is something one must respect about the show. Jon Stewart is as willing to point out the faults of Kerry as he is with Bush. With matters of importance, he is very clear on telling things the way they actually are! That's refreshing!
Politicians treat the public like morons. They are so fake, and now this disease has spread to journalists and news channels. The lies, mis-representations, and misuse of numbers to benefit is disgusting, and it makes it hard for the people to have a clear view of what's really going on.

Noone calls the politicians on the lies! Instead, they feed them. This was Stewart's point. IT was valid, widely supported by even "Crossfire's" audience, and something that desperately needed to be said.

That is Jon Stewart's appeal. He had a half an hour to promote his book and instead he used it to encourage civil discourse and debate rather than the insignificant nit-picking that both parties are doing.

I guess in the easiest term, the reason Stewart and the Daily Show are so popular is because they're the one show that doesn't care about ratings, or prestige or anything but the society they live in.

Chris, you commented on how the Daily Show seems to be leaning farther left in the last couple of years. I don't think that's a coincidence. We've been dealing with Iraq for the past couple of years, and look at all the fodder W and his folks have provided for any satirist worth his salt. From Bush's aircraft carrier landing to the Swift Boat brouhaha, etc., etc...

I remember The Daily Show being very harsh with Gore during 2000, as well as with the dems during the primaries. But comedians mine where it's richest, and you have to admit that the current admin has provided more than enough fodder for any comedian.

So far as some people not getting the humor, that's just taste. Some people don't like Monty Python, or South Park, or Benny Hill. Doesn't make them bad people, or make these bad shows. Just different tastes.

Jon Stewart was proven to be the worst form of cowardHe acts as a Bush-hating attack dog and then when he’s called on it he whines “But I’m just a comedy show! Don’t take me too seriously!”
And he claims any show that doesn’t fit his political bent is working for the "evil corporations". He’s the classic example of Stalin’s useful idiot.
Finally, what was his point? That a show called "Crossfire" doesn't spend a lot of time on each issue? Hey, Jon, that's the whole gimmick of the show! If you don't like it, why did you come on? Hypocritical coward.

what makes jon stewart so appealing is his brilliant, razor-sharp wit and his ability to deftly skewer the pompous. left or right, no target is safe from his sarcastic intellect. less pedantic and ranting than dennis miller, stewart revels in his role as the tailor for the kings new clothes,

I am a 21 year old college student. I don't think I will try and make this sound fancy, but rather speak in the language I am familiar with. John Stewart and the Daily Show are great. I think it is really sad how many people might actually use the Daily Show as a source of news, me being one of those people. I don't take it word for word, but I feel it uses facts to support itself, making it hilarious. What is actually sad, is that there is nothing else out there. I don't think I am alone in thinking that a lot of young people just find the news to be crap. If I was going to watch real news, I would probbaly watch BBC.......because American media is full of itself.

But what do I know.

To call The Daily Show poorly crafted is to lack the skill to recognize good comedy craftsmanship. No other comedy show is as consistently clever and even-handed in its criticism. Does the Bush administration take more licks right now? Sure it does. Do you know why? Because it's the party in power. When Clinton was in power, guess who took the brunt of the blows? Perhaps memories run short, but the ruling party is always under greater scrutiny. Simply put, they provide the most material for comedians to work with. And the Bush administration has served as no exception.

The popularity of The Daily Show, I would argue, is twofold: First, they distill down the absurdity served up to us all in daily life (note: this is what satire is supposed to do) and second, present it to us in simple, yet often clever terms.

To dismiss the humor as sarcasm directed at people the show targets for scorn, I think, displays the writer's own inability to laugh at figures he or she favors, moreso than any axe the show has to grind.

And accusing Stewart of being too serious - when he's on a news show - is itself funny, although unintentionally I suspect.

Writing original comedy is very hard work, and it's always easy to be a critic. Instead, as I look around at the various alternatives I can't think of one satirical outlet that comes close to the shrewd output of The Daily Show, with the possible exception of Conan O'Brien, who's writing team periodically flashes with brilliance.

Finally, to frame Stewart's argument in partisan terms is to lose an important message because of your own leanings. Stewart's point was that the media is failing in its role as a balance, in a system which relies heavily on that media as a critical check.

It was wonderful to see someone stand up and call out the media for having become yet another form of entertainment, instead of acting as the watchdog we desperately need it to be.

Any fans of Stewart here? What's his appeal?

Umm. How about...he's right?

"I think I take myself to seriously to enjoy that kind of humor."

You obviously don't take yourself seriously enough to learn the difference between "to" and "too."

"Finally, what was his point? That a show called "Crossfire" doesn't spend a lot of time on each issue? Hey, Jon, that's the whole gimmick of the show! If you don't like it, why did you come on? Hypocritical coward."

Did you even watch the clip? He didn't take issue with the amount of time spent on each issue, but with the way they oversimplify complex issues with the unintelligent right-left dialogue that substitutes for substantive debate these days. And it's hard to call him a coward for going on their show and calling them partisan hacks to their faces...

I have watched the TDS since its inception and have to concur that anyone who thinks the show leans too far left never saw the show during the Clinton years.

There is also the fact that the Republican party is better at campaigning than the Democrats (read: using short catchphrases and "interesting" statistics to reduce the political conversation to polarizing soundbites - sadly it works). They excel at it, though the Democrats are sadly trying to catch up as fast as they can.

Stewart's point is that it is the newsmedia is failing at its job to mediate the discourse and call both sides when they aren't being fair or straightforward.

For anyone interested, the transcript of Stewart's appearance last year on NOW with Bill Moyers where he deals with some of the same topics.

http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_stewart.html

I love Jon Stewart!And i don't care what other people say!I don't think hes overrated!!!!!!!
hes funny and adorable.And if you do not like him then you can go to hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's face it, Tucker is a tightwad. Jon is right too.. whether or not you agree with his politics, networks have gotten too partisan. I give kudos to Jon for saying it like it is. It's about time. If you're not impressed by Jon then you're tuning into see news.. Here's a newsflash, The Daily Show is not a news program. It's a comedy show, so loosen your tie, relax and enjoy it. It happens to be brilliant. If Kerry wins, he'll be making just as much fun of him for the next four years.

I thought the segment with Jon Stewart was hilarious. What was truly funny was that Jon had both Begala and Carlson getting very defensive.

I agree with Jon in that the show is disturbingly "bad", but its not alone. You have Hardball, Bill O'Reilly, and of course Joe Scarborough. The only glimmer of hope was when Alan Keyes show died a merciful death.

Jon was funny in the segment but the seriousness of his argument was just glossed over by Begala and Carlson, who were both seeing their short careers flashing before their eyes as Jon was quietly destroying their credibility on national television.

No wait they have no credibility, and yes Jon was right in that its like watching professional wrestling, not news.

The only time CNN ever puts on something newsworthy is on the occasional "CNN Presents" news pieces, usually made by CNN foreign correspondents. The rest is short attention span theatre.

I must add my voice to the pro-Stewart side of this debate. Simply put: "The Daily Show" is the most accurate and honest news show in the country...and how sad is that? For instance, when the news broke about Halliburton being awarded the lion's share of the contracts (many of them no-bid) for the "reconstruction" of Iraq, "The Daily Show" told it like it was (with the outrage it logically deserved) while all of the major news outlets sat on their hands, afraid to even report it, knowing full well that it spoke clearly of the absolute wrongness of the current administration. Liberal or conservative, if you can't see the obvious corrupt cronyism in play between Halliburton and Bush & Cheney, then you're just an idiot, period.

"The Daily Show" may refer to itself as "fake journalism" - and granted, they have relied more on that in the past - but, in their headline and editorial segments, at least, they've discovered that they can report what's coming out of the current Republican regime with no alteration, and it's more absurd than anything that a team of America's most clever comedians can come up with.

Someone wrote that he thought Jon Stewart was a coward for appearing on "Crossfire" . . . on the contrary, can you think of anything braver than a man going on a so-called debate show and challenging its hosts? Begala and Carlson, they argue and snipe for a living. They're a pair of jackals. Stewart walked into that studio and spoke his mind, without censor. A question for the person who wrote in and called Stewart a coward: would you have the courage to do that? I doubt it. The man is fearless.

In ten years, no one will remember tucker charlieface or whatever his name is, but stewart will be remembered. Don't be afraid of the truth.

Jon Stewart and the Daily Show are the only things on TV worth watching other than Futurama and the Simpsons. What happened to you America? You used to be cool.

I lean to the right

That being said i find TDS to be one of the best shows on tv today. I have for many years and have to agree with most of the posts about the show. I started watching it back when craig kilbourne was the host. I was upset when jon stewart became the host because i thought that craig had better delivery. But craig didnt have the bite that Jon does. I liken Jon Stewart to that of Trey Parker, and Matt Stone, (love them or hate them) they are all equal opportunists when it comes to comedy.

Jon leans towards the left in his personal views, but to say the show is propoganda for the left is just wrong. The history is that the right is in front of the camera more right now. Bush is pres. pure and simple. When Clinton was in office the show would dig at him just as hard.

I believe that jon's main point on crossfire and one that came across in his new book is that the media is in serious trouble. Here is a quote from the book that explains what his thoughts truly are:

"A free and independent press is essential to the health of a functioning democracy. It serves to inform the voting public on matters relevant to its well-being. Why they've stopped doing this is a mystery."

"These spineless cowards in the press have finally gone too far. They have violated a trust. 'Was the president successful in convincing the country?' Who gives a s**t? Why not tell us if what he said was true?"

TDS is a satire of the news, from the headlines about the elections (in election years) to the fake onsite reporter, to the human interest stories, the entire program is designed not to be a news show rather a satire of a news show which it does well.

To further add to this point here are excerpts from the Ted Koppel interview with Jon at the Democratic Convention:

found here: http://www.lostremote.com/archives/001905.html

"But we're separate. We're a peripheral, we're a Sunday bar. We're reactive and not actual news, so if you don't like Jon Stewart, you'll have to go to another comedy program, not a news program."

"No, but you CAN say that's BS. You don't need humor to do that because you have what I wish I had which is credibility and gravitas. This is interesting stuff, and it's all part of the discussion and I think it's a good discussion to have, but I think it's important to take a more critical look. You know, don't you think?"

I recomend reading the whole transcript to understand those last two quotes.

Jon is trying to open a debate about the state of the press today, but far to often people call his show a news show, one that is not. To the comments above that he runs to that defense often, and that he is a coward for doing so do not understand the meaning of satire, and understand what TDS is trying to do. Several posters on other boards have it right. Comedy, and satire are only funny because they speak to the obsurdity of the situation. they speak what we are all thinking in our deepest darkest minds. Sometimes areas that we do not want to go because of Political Correctness.

Ted Koppel and Carlson, both don't want to listen to Jon because they dont see him as having an opinion because he is a comedian. It is they that dismiss him first. He points our the obsurdity of it by saying i am a comedian by trade, this is true. I don't think he has ever used it as a defense more an argument against the points of the opposition.

I think people are seeing the Crossfire thing wrong here. What Stewart is saying and what he is 100% correct on is that it doesn't mean jack who you vote for, but that a media NEWS show should not be so biased in their reporting which our media has come to be. The media is supposed to be for US, the citizens, to help us find the truth amongst the lies yet the media has turned into a lie fueled politician machine the last few years. I think Tucker Carlson is a dick, he always interrupts his guests and he's a nasty smart ass! If he wants to report the news, then report it, but don't dis Stewart for his "opinions" on a COMEDY show! You are supposed to be a unbiased reporter of facts on a NEWS program Carlson you jerk!

Jon Stewart is brilliant. I've been watching his show for years now and I can honestly say that Jon has made it very clear not to take what he says too seriously. It's a comedic news spin-off. Those people at Crossfire deserved what they got. They looked at everything Jon said as something comedic when he was being completely serious. They treated him like a monkey and in all seriousness, they were being complete dicks.

The Daily Show is actually a HUNDRED times more hilarious if you are an informed viewer and actually watch the major and cable network news shows.

It's skewering of the media (it's original intent after all!) is so seamless that the denizens of "Crossfire-Land" don't get the joke. The reportage on the Daily Show is such a humorous caricature of "on the spot" and "hard hitting" journalism (and I use that word lightly) that it would be absurd if it were not so dead on!!

The media itself fuels the Daily Show. When it begins getting the joke, maybe, just maybe, they'll see how ridiculus they have become.

Crossfire is a fabulous show. Me any my wife watch it every day while eating popcorn. We love to see the views of the right and the left. Isn't it so cool that in a democracy we get to see our sides debate it out politically in such a manner. ... how absurd did that whole previous paragraph sound?

I think we are doing a disservice to Jon Stewart by referring to him in terms of the "right and left". That was his whole point people! Its absurd that the political system today devides us into these simple categories. Please stop. There simply isnt two views on any single discourse and to break american politics down that simply is nuts... and please, I dont want to hear soemone say well we have centralists...ok im gonna go barf now.

The system as it currently is set-up is designed to control your mind. The more television you watch, the more drowned into this nonsense you become. Think about it, you cant debate a television set... Once you turn on your television, you have subconscioulsy accepted to input into your brain information which the establishment has set up for you ;). They present the "left" and "right" views to you. They present was is acceptable debate and discourse, anythign outside of that, adn you are too whacky to be heard...

Jon Stewarts show is about the only thing I think is worthy of me being brainwashed by.

Just my 2 cents

AK

Jon Stewart rocks and what he did on Crossfire only proves it all the more. Recent polls (pre-Crossfire) have shown that viewers of the Daily Show are not imbeciles at all - quite the contrary, they are very intelligent people who cannot be satisfied by the mainstream media, "don't step out of bounds", news club in this country any longer. For me, Jon Stewart and the Daily Show is a shot in the arm. I really look forward to watching it. Some of the softer, more satiric "reporter" pieces are pretty stupid at times, but some of them are right on target and funny as hell. For people who say it's imbecilic, wake up and smell the coffee. Jon Stewart is extremely intelligent, quick, and he's not afraid to tell the truth. Some may just be very afraid to hear the truth. You need to take another look at what you're watching every day and ask yourself why you don't deserve to know what the mainstream media won't show you. I'm more and more disappointed with my old network standby in what they have to know but don't show.

I am definitely a fan, but agree that the show can border on borish at times. Mind you, I think boorishness can be appropriate when you are doing a comedy show about politicians and other public figures who take themselves way too seriously.

Furthermore, I think the Daily Show does have moments of brilliant parody as well. The best example I can think of is a semi-regular skit they do where elementary school children read the transcript from a debate show, such Hannity and Colmes.

As for his Crossfire appearance, I applaud it for two points: 1) he has always declared his disdain for Crossfire (particularly Novak) and I would be disappointed if he would go on the show and act all chumy just to push the book, and 2) his point is one that needs to be heard about Crossfire and the shows like them. It isn't a "debate show" as Carlson and Begala claim, but rather a vehicle for partisons to share their beloved "talking points." In other words, they have no concerns about the stregnths and weakness of an issue, but only in making sure their party leaders look good. That means is that the show is not about debating issues, it's about political power.

I love Jon Stewart and the Daily Show. Correspondents such as Ed Helms and Steven Colbert are absolutely amazing and hysterical. Contrary to what O'Reilly may think I am actually slightly older than the 18-25 demographic and am not a stoned slacker. I'm a 28 year old professional woman with an MBA.

Stewart and the rest of the cast brilliantly capture the absurdity of politics and the media.

I have to agree that it would have been hypocritical of Jon not to slam the show and the hosts given regular negative comments in the past. As someone that has grown increasingly interested in politics - I too find it painful to watch or listen to the likes of Novak, Hannity, Scarborough, O'Reilly, Limbaugh and wonder how they sleep at night passing off their commentary as an semblance of a news program.

Good for Jon for calling them on it and I wish the media was held more accountable (equally accountable) for its actions. The discrepancy of the protest of Rathergate versus Fox News' Chief Political Correspondent writing a "fake" article is ridiculous.

i like to blog, because people care what i have to say. they really do. i know they do. they have to!!!!1111

I believe Tucker insulted Jon before he came on his show? Jon came mainly to promote his book probably and this happened. People need to realize that Tucker and Cross Fire started it.. I hope future show hosts show Jon more respect or they may get their heads stomped in too.

America, The Book is great by the way.

Ok,

Here's my two cents worth: I've watched the Daily show for the past 6 or 7 years and I do believe that he bashes both the right and left on a pretty equal basis (for the record I consider myself a moderate). The "humor" stewart portrays should not be taken as humor. It is the truly sad state of politics we have today. The "humor" we see on the daily show includes a politition making a statement one day and saying the direct opposite two days later. This should not be construed as humor, but in the sad times we live in today, we laugh this political behavior off.

I beleive the daily show gives its viewers real news (true quotes made by real politicians) and then actually lets the politicians off the hook by making fun of them. This is where the mainsteam media should take over - they need to stick it to the liars we see every day. It is this total lack of understanding by the mainstream media that gives Stwart his ammunition on "real" news shows like crossfire.

Do any of us actually think Kerry or Bush are going to keep all the promises they make during this campaign? Of course not.

Now stop for a second and think about that...

We're electing liars and we know it. What's worse is we don't give it a second thought. We just go cast our vote for one liar or another.

Stewart uses sarchasm to make the viewer think - the viewer has to wonder if he is actually seeing news or if the daily show is just making it up.

Wait -- what's that you say? Make the viewer think? Crazy talk.

The networks certainly think so...

Look people, Jon Stewart went to Crossfire and was able to basically hold his own on what is supposed to be a REAL hardcore political show, and his appearance made the show look so terrible because he was actually being real and spontaneous, whereas Carlson and Begala are a couple of snakeheads who pretend to pretend to pretend...etc. The reason we don't have journalism any more is because the hacks and the journalists can't be differentiated. EVERYONE is in Spin Alley now.

The funniest thing was that Carlson Tucker behaved exactly like George Bush upon being questioned or criticized. He was practically quivering, and you know what, Carlson? YES, you were SO being SUCH A DICK!!!!!

Thank God someone on television finally had the guts to say it. Thanks, Jon Stewart, buddy, we need you - especially we need you to point out the dicks and laugh at them on TV, that's the greatest public service I think I've seen in a long time.

I find "The Daily Show" to be quite funny and also brings a little humor into the world of "politics" which most of the time is hunorless and insincere. I don't think that Jon Stewart or the producers of the show intend for it to be anything other then entertaining..."Fake News"...remember! Everyone needs to lighten up a bit and just enjoy the ride.

As for Stewart's appearance on "Crossfire" all I can say is "HURAAAAH"!!! Thank you Jon, for bringing something besides "Spin" to that show!!

People that called Jon Stewart a coward is so right.And Jay Leno is a coward to because he didn't ask a enough hard hitting questions for John Kerry.Regis and Kelly featured John Kerry also.So now that means Regis and Kelly have a responsibility to report the news now.Jesus Christ!What is wrong with you people!Hes a comedian hello!!!!!!

Jon Stewart is a genius and was right on to confront crossfire. I am grateful there is some sanity left on television.

I used to enjoy discussing politics, but recently it has become so personal, absolute, selfish, irrational and mean-spirited that now I’m very reluctant to enter into such discussions. Unless I know that my counterpart is not a true-believing ideologue bent on dogmatically crushing my point of view, I steer away. In my opinion, politicians encourage this behavior, and the press allows them to get away with it without making them answer the important questions.

Which brings me to the topic of this blog, i.e., Jon Stewart and TDS. What a breath of fresh air! Wasn’t it nice to see Begala and Tucker incisively brought to task for their debasing of journalism and (gasp!) the audience actually laughing and applauding. How refreshing it was to see criticism that did not depend on, and solicit, vitriol; but instead was right on the money AND made people laugh! It’s time for people to realize that the press is failing us because it has become the unquestioning mouthpieces of politicians. If it takes the humor of Jon Stewart to help begin to make that clear, I’m all for it - way to go Jon!

Jon Stewart is the most intelligent newsperson on television today -- funniest since he refuses to admit that he is...

He's an equal opportunity abuser -- was just as hard on Clinton as he is now on Bush. The problem or joy is that Bush is a complete moron, and a dangerous one at that -- as are all the people around him.

As a Republican who is absolutely disgusted at what lengths the republican party will go to -- lie, cheat, bad mouth their own party, etc., fail to admit to their mistakes, and are taking the country into the toilet (oh, and blaming it on Clinton's BJ), I've become a democrat.

If you don't "get" the Daily Show, you're exactly the type of person the republicans love -- more concerned with being consistant than questioning the reality of the situation.

Jon Stewart for President :)

Jon Stewart is a satirist, and the subject of Daily Show satire is the media.

He has a gift for words, for sarcasm, and I would suspect a high level of intelligence.

His criticism is of the enormous media leviathan, and how even in the best of faith, he cannot avoid becoming food for this beast (he's getting drawn into politics, more left), and how quickly most people in the media (with such poor ideas, and poorly developed understanding of their own aims, principles and prejudices) control the format of public discourse and consequently politics itself.

As for HIS politics, I wouldn't take him too seriously. He plays the part of a reluctant entertainer, reminding the American people that one of the most important aspects of media is the ridiculousness of it.

How could anyone sitting in front of ten television cameras, paid to read horrific tales of violence WITHOUT DEEP COMPREHENSION, and who are there largely because they are pretty possibly take themselves as seriously as the people seem to do in the media?

That is the comfortable place of irony immaturity and humor the Daily SHow occassionally takes me too.

I wouldn't ask a man doing something reasonably well to justify himself with my own lack of understanding.

Wow!! This topic has really generated some energy. Again I do like Stewart but I like when both side are skewered.

I'm curious about one thing. I'm getting a mixed message about Stewart here: 1) he's very funny because he's right on but 2) don't take him seriously (as opposed to a "real" news show) because he's just a comedian. Huh?

I also like Countdown with Keith Oberman. It is news right? Then why do I sometimes feel like I'm watching SNL's newscast. The "lines" seem very blurry now days.

Help me I'm lost. Am I supposed to take it all seriously or not? I guess I'm not hip enough to really understand

It's just sad when people in the Media have to center their stories around political vomit. I don't care about Chenney's daughter nor do I care about Mrs. Bush or if Kerry was actually shot or not. These things have no effect on how well either of these candidates can lead a country. I think that Stewart is right in saying that the media is just a lemming to the politicians that will spit out whatever these camps want them to.
People are watching the Daily Show to really learn whats happening in the world why? Because they are smart enough to realize all the things that the show jokes about is true. To say that you can be an idiot and still understand the daily show is an understatement. This show has more grit and better guests than any news show on right now. I'm sick of Fox's dribble that leaves me wondering "I wonder what Fox and Friends will be wearing tommorrow". If you like not to think and have your decisions made for you, watch regular news. If you want to be your own person and really take a look at our ridiculous system, watch the daily Show.

What I enjoy about the Daily Show is that it tends to skewer processes and procedures rather than individuals. The exception is Dick Cheney who is consistently equated with the devil. But on Crossfire, Stewart lamented that news now is entertainment. The difference is that the Daily Show is openly entertainment and the nightly news and talking heads pretend to be something else. And we let them get away with it because we like to be entertained. It's the imperial mentality - tv is our coliseum. Everything is drama because reality is often slow and quiet and that's not good tv.

I think that Jon Stewart is a smug and smarmy jack-ass and an unbelievable hypocrite. he sits there and lectures these guys about being partisan, and his daily show is the most leftist, Bush-bashing show in the world, whether it's a comedy show or not. And then when the same accusation is thrown at him, he runs and hides under the defense of being a comedy show. To me, self-righteous liberal comdian hacks like Stewart exemplfy everything wrong with extreme liberals. They love to finger point, they love to complain, they love to point out everything wrong with conservatives. Then when liberals are accused of something, they say, "Oh, I'm just a comdeian, what can I do." and by the way, how about a little class and dignity. I don't care what party your're from- thre's no need to be using foul language on a news show. Stewart can take his potty mouth back to Comedy Central where his groveling left-wing sheep can laugh it up at his unbalanced, biased cheap-shots.

anybody that has stopped watching the daily show because its "too left" is a moron. you should stop watching it because you think it isnt what its meant to be, and thats entertaining. the only reason it seems "too left" is because the president is "right." of course theyre going to focus on the person running things, thats what they do. they made fun of clinton, gore, and now kerry. any time kerry has done something stupid they show it, its just that bush fucks up more.

on a side note, countdown with keith oberman is probably one of the best "news" shows right now. good call chris. sure, there are somre stories on it that arent that important but keith does a great job of just reading what has happened without adding too much of his own opinion to it, which is how news is supposed to be.

Daily show owns you all

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