Posted on 03/24/2009 4:51:04 PM PDT by sinanju
...A serious man needs a serious mission, however, and this is suddenly a problem. With Bush gone and the Republican Party in chaos, most of Stewart’s targets have disappeared. Yet rather than pivot with the times and challenge those now in power, Stewart continues to attack the same old enemies, at this point mostly straw men and pipsqueaks. A couple of weeks ago, he spent an entire seven minutes mocking the crowd at a CPAC conference.
His studio audience loved it, though that isn’t saying much. Stewart’s audience would erupt if he read the phone book, or did his monologue in German, a response that over time is a threat to any man’s soul. During many segments, Stewart’s audience doesn’t laugh so much as cheer, a distinction that would bother most comedians. Stewart keeps them around anyway. Uncritical praise corrupts absolutely.
As Stewart becomes more self-righteous, he inevitably becomes less funny. Sanctimony is the death of humor, and also of innovation. Where a show like South Park challenges its audience’s every conceivable assumption, The Daily Show has become safer than Jay Leno, pandering night after night to the converted. Can you remember the last time Stewart said anything his viewers might disagree with?
Like most sermons, Stewart’s showdown with Jim Cramer ended with a neat moral lesson. Once journalists who cover business regain their sense of responsibility and “start getting back to fundamentals on the reporting,” Stewart said gravely, “I can get back to making fart noises and funny faces.”
But it’s too late. The great comedian is gone, maybe forever. Jon Stewart is stuck in lecture mode.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
I gather that this is how all satirists seem to go. When they start lecturing their audience they inevitably chase them away. I have no idea how Jon Stewart's numbers are doing, but I'm getting the distinct impression that he's become more of a fashion statement for the young and hip than anything resembling humor. As Carlson observed, his studio audience doesn't seem to come to laugh but merely to cheer on command.
Remember when Bill Maher was actually funny and evenhanded? Before Monica-Gate broke and he made defending Our Bill his sacred mission.
Even Rosie O'Donnell once did a pretty good job of PRETENDING to be the "Queen of Nice" for a few years before she took off her mask.
The last time I watched Jon Stewart was during the big black-outs of the east. Years ago, iow.
Jon The self hating jew who changed his name
Semanticists baffled.
I don’t necessarily disagree with anything here, but Tucker Carlson isn’t exactly a detached, neutral guy when it comes to Jon Stewart - the two have hated each other for quite awhile, since before their near-brawl on Crossfire a couple years back.
You beat me and said it much better.
I stopped watching since Obama was elected.
I expected Jon to blast/poke fun at the new admin as well.
Turns out Jon Stewart is just another Bill Maher political hack.
I love anything funny. Of course, I dislike Jon Stewart.
I didn’t know that Tucker and John were on the outs. I have never been able to sit through an entire episode of the show. As Tucker himself made clear, there’s just no entertainment factor when you know in advance exactly what Jon’s opinion will be on any imaginable issue.
I used to watch Stewart occaisionally, years ago.
Now, when I see that his show is coming on, I just change the channel without even thinking about it. He’s just a hostile, foaming at the mouth, left winger that exists to push an agenda using his show.
Harland Williams.
They need to bring back Dennis Miller. Now HE’S funny.
Encapsulating my biggest problem with Stewart's presentation. If the audience goes "Woo" more than "haha" you're entering polemicist territory.
How Jon Stewart Went Bad
This guy has always sucked. His confidence is so fake, you can tell that idiot is an insecure moron.
Really?
I didn’t think Carlson had it in him.
As for Stewart, there is some cognitive dissonance going on, he claims his is a fake show, but he’s trying to do “real” news, the two are like Vodka and Buttermilk, they just do not go together for long and only the hardiest souls will continue to drink it.
The last time The Daily Show had a good host was when Craig Kilborn hosted the show (though during today's era they want to pretend Kilborn never existed and act as if Stewart invented The Daily Show). The great thing about the Kilborn era is they never took themselves seriously. It was MEANT to be a dead on PARODY of the evening news (sort of like if "Weekend Update" on SNL was expanded into its own series)), and it brilliantly mocked the mundane world of news anchors. Craig Kilborn's era used to have the announcer deadpanning "The Daily Show... the most important news show... ever". But on Stewart's Daily Show, they actually BELIEVE that about themselves! Pathetic.
What is a Jon Stewart?
He seems like Rachel Madow but with smaller balls.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.