Young and the propaganda of late night TV

Special to Free Republic | March 4, 2004 | Polish Proud

[PolishProud]

"Young People And the News" read the headline. The news item stated that young people were getting their news from late night comedians such as Jay Leno, Dave Letterman, Jon Stewart et al. http://www.soc.american.edu/main.cfm?pageid=874.

Could this be true? Could today's youth actually be stupid enough to allow comedians to affect their opinions?

Upon monitoring The Late Show, one immediately realizes just how bias and bad Leno's jokes are. Leno's not even in the same class or the same galaxy as Johnny Carson. For example Leno told what he claimed was his favorite joke, about a guy that swallowed several hundred coins. When doctors were ask about his condition the response was "no change." This is one of Leno's better jokes.

But last Friday night, February 27, was a very unusual night. Leno did not tell one stupid Bush joke. For the last two weeks Leno's comments went like this: "Bush's nose grew" as he gave reasons for the Iraq war, but he also told us that there was "no truth to Kerry's alleged adultery." We learned that Bush was popular with NASCAR drivers because that's were "oil is number one."

Regarding the up coming presidential election, Leno commented that it would be "between someone new that MAY screw up and someone who HAS screwed up." That was a real belly slapper along with the hilarious story that "Bush was told his dog "Spot was put on a farm" after the animal was euthanized. When Rosie O'Donnel married her significant other, according to Leno, "Bush wanted to congratulate the groom."

Regarding Leno's jokes; how lame are they? After most Jokes the audience CLAP not laugh. They must have to change the bulb in the clap sign nightly. Lastly we were told that President Bush wanted to see The Passion, but heard it was in Aramaic Latin and he wondered why only "Arabs and Latinos could understand it."

From time to time Leno throws in Clinton jokes mostly about the ex-president sexual proclivity. But the young can relate to ragging hormones, whereas the alleged stupidity of Bush is a disqualifying trait.

And sadly Leno and Letterman are the most moderate of late night comedians, the Bush bashing of Jon Stewart is beyonf the pale. You get an idea of where Stewart stands when Bill Moyer, of PBS fame, asks him in an interview whether he is presenting an "old form of parody and satire or a new form of journalism." Moyer is referring to a skit whereby Stewart conducts an imaginary debate between Governor Bush and President Bush. Supposedly pointing out the hypocrisy of GW which Moyer thinks is very funny. Will Stewart now present a debate between Senator Kerry and presidential candidate Kerry? Don't hold your breath.

I once had a conversation with a young man who was riding the wave of the finance business. His rationale for not reelecting the president was that Bush was ignorant and because he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and was not concerned with the common man.

His opinions were right off the teleprompter of late night talk TV.

[LisaMalia]

I normally don't watch Letterman, Leno, etc. but I hadn't changed the channel after the local news, so I heard his monologue. Leno got in a disgusting jab about President Bush and his military service.

Since I don't watch him, can anyone tell me if Leno has ever zinged Kerry on his post Vietnam anti-American activities?

Looks like Hollywood is showing their liberal bias in the late night genre, and that is probably (sadly) where too many people are getting their news.

[Oztrich Boy]

Could this be true? Could today's youth actually be stupid enough to allow comedians to affect their opinions?

I confess my opinions have been greatly influenced by Jonathan Swift, Voltaire, Mark Twain, H L Mencken, P J O'Rourke.

Despise not the jester. Often he is the only one telling the truth.

[oldgrunt]

Leno is not funny, but none of today's comedians really are. My guess is that they just lack the background the older generation carries along. That and being in showbiz seems to taint one's views. They are like most of the new so-called country stars: boringly all the same sounds. There are a couple that reflect the traditional ways.

[Semper Paratus]

People who watch those shows don't vote that much.

[Extremist]

I don't watch Leno but loved Letterman until his attacks on Bush became so moronic I just couldn't stand to watch him either. Fox should come up with a conservative late-nite show to compete with these jerks.

[Burkeman1]

Don't watch Leno Or Letterman- but catch Conan on occassion as his humor is vibrant. I like Jon Stewart and the Daily Show. I have seen him do some zingers against all sides.

[RightWingAtheist]

From the ages of eight through twelve, Mad magazine was my primary source of political info.

[old3030]

That probably means you were one of the best informed 12-year-olds around and may be why you love freedom today. Sadly, most Democrats and other socialists could learn a lot from [i]Mad[/i].

[SpinyNorman]

Ya know, looking at Leno's face, and comparing it to Kerry's, one has to wonder if there is some DNA match there. Both from Boston.......Hmmmmmm.......I wonder if Conan's "Little Jay Leno" could be put to work as a little John Kerry? LOL!

[Zack Nguyen]

I find the Daily Show hysterically funny. Though I'm sure the writers are leftists, they usually get pretty good digs at the Democrats as well.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Direct Sat TV here, I have not paid for, nor had ABC, CBS or NBC for years, have no idea what transpires on the alphabet networks and could care less.

[Mr. Bird]

It was my understanding that today's young people (of voting age) were increasingly getting their "news" from Comedy Central's "The Daily Show". Doesn't surprise me, but doesn't concern me either. It's a pretty smart show, and it's about as balanced as you can get on TV anymore. No, it's not real news, but it's safer than Dan Rather.

Young people do NOT watch Leno; young people never watched Carson. The Tonight Show is for insomniacal married people with no cable.

[7thson]

I was flipping through channels the other night and caught a segment on The Daily Show. Right near the end of one skit about sending a reporter to cover the Hawaiin primary and another to cover the Alaskan primary. That was funny, especially when Stewart notes that the film clip that was showed, Dennis the Menace was not there. The reporter says, yeah, but the meat just fell off that roasted pig. The guy in Alaska than shouts "Man, this is bull***t!"

[7thson]

I beg to differ with the young never watching Carson. I use to watch it all the time when I was young. But back then, the Hollywood people knew their place in life. I also use to watch Tom Snyder's Tomorrow program.

[oyez]

Leno and Kerry are Massachusetts buddies. I wouldn't expect Jay to jab him very hard. Leno must have hired a new staff of writers over the last couple of years. Its difficult to even get a smile out his recient monologs. The only time his programs get any interest is when he brings in other people or when he does "Jay Walking" or its spin offs.
The only "stars" he has on are pushing their latest book/movie. Maybe Jay should hare the Queer Eye team to do a makeover for his prograkm.

[GSWarrior]

I have news for you....it's not just the young. I'm sure we all know people whose world views are formed by the likes of Leno, Bill Maher, Larry King, Roger Ebert, etc.

But it's nothing to get up in arms about, IMO.

[StriperSniper]

His opinions were right off the teleprompter of late night talk TV.

Spot on, I know lots of that kind.

[petercooper]

75% of the people who watch this stuff can't name the Vice President, or find Australia on a map.

[chronotrigger]

"Could this be true? Could today's youth actually be stupid enough to allow comedians to affect their opinions?"

Duh. People today are so lazy that they don't want to actually analyze current events (work), instead they want to be entertained. Also, I once heard that 1/4 of all Americans, if given a portrait of George Washington, could not identify him. So it's not like it's just the young.