Infinite Monkeys

I love you brother but you couldn't be more wrong on this one. John Stewart used to be funny for the sake of being funny. Now he claims he doesn't want to be anyone's "monkey." He takes himself way to seriously. He may be more self-deprecating than Bill Mahrer but he's in the same category of comedians who think they are making a Serious Satirical Statement about the media.

Also, if Stewart's show is just a "comedy" then why does he have a Presidential candidate come on and answer serious questions? Its a bit disingenous of him to make such a silly claim.

The truth is that The Daily Show is entertainment. So is Crossfire. I suspect that Tucker Carlson knows that he's just a dancing monkey in a bowtie while Stewart thinks he's the reincarnation of Jonathan Swift.

Now, I did consider the Monkey reference to be uncalledfor.

Actually, I agree that Jon has started to take himself too seriously. The other TDS players seem a less so. But I think that his point on Crossfire was, while overstated, important: While TDS is about comedy first and presents itself as such while also engaging in media satire and the occasional (tho more frequent) "serious" interview, shows like Crossfire present themselves as being about serious discussion of the issues when they are, in fact, pseudo-intellectual WWF bouts (to steal Stewart's analogy).

It was ridiculous for Carlson to try to chastise Stewart for not asking harder questions to Kerry. First of all, Stewarts guests are like guests on any other "typical" talk show: there to promote a book, movie, or (in this case) a campaign. I would not expect Leno, Conan, or Letterman to ask "hardball" questions either.

Second, while Stewart will occasionally be tough with a guest, he is more frequently an "equal opportunity softie" - see John McCain, Bob Dole, and Pat Buchanan as examples. He was even quite deferential to Newt Gingrich when I saw him on. I just watched the Bill O'Reilly episode on TiVo last night, and he was as easygoing with O'Reilly as with anyone.

Of course, I don't want to make more of this than it is. It's all just television, and more than anything I was entertained watching Stewart lay into Carlson harder and harder as Carlson tried so unsuccessfully to "turn the tables" on Stewart.

Jon Stewart is just like Michale Moore. When it's convenient (i.e., when he is pressed), he's "just" a comedian. Otherwise, he takes himself waaay to seriously.

And to use John McCain as an example of a media hack being an equal opportunity softie is, well, silly. John McCain is a media darling. He is THE media darling. A "maverick" Republican.

you can bitch and whine about stewart as much as you want, but it doesn't change the fact what he wooped carlsons ass and everyone knows it