Jon Stewart: You're a dick
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- fate
30 minutes agoFrom Salon: Jon Stewart to Tucker Carlson: You're "a dick"
"I think you're a lot more fun on your show," said Tucker Carlson to "Crossfire" guest Jon Stewart this afternoon. "And I think you're as much of a dick on your show as on any other," Stewart shot back. It wasn't the faux avuncularity we've come to expect from Stewart on "The Daily Show" but there, of course, he's playing a role. Here he was himself -- and he wasn't buying any of it.
From the moment Stewart sat down he made no secret of how repugnant he found the show. In fact, he said to Carlson and co-host Paul Begala that he had been so hard on the show he felt it was his duty to come on and say to their faces what he has said to friends and in interviews. What he said was that their show was "hurting America," and he was being only slightly hyperbolic. Stewart told them that when America needed journalists to be journalists they had instead chosen to present theater.
Carlson, trying to affect an air of dry amusement that a comedian would presume to lecture him, important pundit that he is, but looking as if his bow-tie were about to start spinning, could barely contain his outrage. In an absolutely mind-boggling moment, Carlson tried to counter Stewart's criticism by pointing out that during John Kerry's recent appearance on "The Daily Show," Stewart asked the candidate softball questions. "If you want to measure yourself against a comedy show," Stewart said, "be my guest."
Paul Begala tried to put a more conciliatory face on things by pointing out that theirs was a "debate" show. Stewart was having none of it. "I would love to see a real debate show," he said. And went on to tell them that instead of holding politicians' feet to the fire by asking tough question, "you're part of their strategy. You're partisan -- what's the word? -- uh, hacks."
It's almost a cliche by now to talk about "The Daily Show" being more trusted than real newscasts, but Stewart showed why. He pointed out to Carlson that he had asked Kerry if he really were in Cambodia but "I don't care," and when Carlson asked him what he thought about the "Bill O'Reilly vibrator flap," Stewart said, "I don't." It was as concise a demonstration of the triviality of the media as you could hope for.
"I thought you were going to be funny," Carlson said toward the end of the interview. Stewart responded, "No, I'm not going to be your monkey." And that was what was so bracing.
Stewart's "Crossfire" appearance is going to generate talk about how prickly he was, how he wasn't "nice" like he is on "The Daily Show." But prickliness is just what was needed. If you've built your reputation as a satirist pointing out how the media falls down on the job, you're not going to make yourself a part of their charade.
I've heard people talk about "The Daily Show" as an oasis of sanity, a public service. I couldn't agree more. Stewart's appearance on "Crossfire" was another public service. He went on and acted as if the show's purpose really was to confront tough issues, instead of being the political equivalent of pro wrestling. Given a chance to say absolutely what he thought, Stewart took it. He accomplished what almost never happens on television anymore: He made the dots come alive.
- fate0
Stoleded from Yayhooray
- unfittoprint0
Jon Stewart shouldn't be underestimated.
During the last two years, the daily show made what major news networks forgot.
- scarabin0
isn't he not in the daily show anymore?
i thought he was replaced by that chick
- mrdobolina0
nah he is still on it.
- no_info0
sweet... no sell out
- fate0
scarabin, lol, wtf? What chick?
- blaw0
nice to see mainstream media called to the carpet.
i don't know who wrote that original post (not you, fate?), but it was well written. nice job.
- j_red0
holy crap this is the best thing i've read all year:
- fate0
Oh yeah, I didn't really see that comentary at the end, which is good and true.
- sblais0
22 minutes in canada did that years ago...
- mrdobolina0
noone in america is familiar with that sblais. any insight?
- sblais0
its a show in canada which did a weekly summary of the news events, but did smart satirical analyis on them... it was much more canadian focusing on canadian issues and canadian politics...
"the show's volatile mix of news parody, sketch comedy, scathing editorial commentary and the collective comic genius of the dynamite cast and their alter egos""This Hour Has 22 Minutes provides a half-hour every week where the tax-paying citizen can feel some justice has been served to our civil servants. It's a place where the most trusted journalist Walter Cronkite puts Greg Thomey in a head lock; where Cathy Jones gives marital advice to our nation's leaders; where Mary Walsh hosts a 'sleepover' for the nation's leading female politicians "
- mrdobolina0
Ahh sounds cool, my cable system in milwaukee doesnt have any canadian broadcasting. I bet that will change in the next few years though.
- sblais0
yea, its been around for like 10 years...
- Abandoned0
watch it http://www.ifilm.com/filmdetail?…
- mrdobolina0
Wish I could see it, also wish I could see that crossfire that was on. I checked my in demand cnn and it isnt on. my cable bill is 130 a month, gimme the fucking crossfire, damn.
- mrdobolina0
abandoned , you are in my cool book forever.
- sblais0
sweeett! thanks
- BonSeff0
i cant believe that ass was holding john stewart to pressing the hard issues on comedy cantral
- mrdobolina0
I agree Bonseff, the funniest part is that crossfire is the 'debate' show. Stewart fucked them both up especially tucker carlson.
if you have hbo, put on bill maher.