Jon Stewart and the 9-11 First Responders

[MsMusicRadio]

I think that Jon did a truly relevant show Wed. Night and said what needed saying. However, I no longer think that he can say he is just a comic. I think he is a news commentator and one of the great ones.

 

[recto101]

Jon is a great Media Critic because he exposes the Cable News channels as too propagandic.

 

[upstate29651]

Nope. Jon is a comedian. He lacks any gravitas to be considered a serious journalist. Plus he does not conduct any research on the stories that he "reports".

He remains a comedian, and anyone who gets their news from him....well, they have issues.

G

 

[arnoldevns]

It sickens me everytime I see people claim some kind of relevance to this show.
It's a comedy show. A joke. A big freakin' joke! Stewart sometimes makes brilliant comments, but he does it for the purpose of getting you to laugh. I did not see his show Wednesday night, but if it was a "serious" show, it was a serious mistake.

 

[FightingIrish]

Nope. Jon is a comedian. He lacks any gravitas to be considered a serious journalist. Plus he does not conduct any research on the stories that he "reports".

He remains a comedian, and anyone who gets their news from him....well, they have issues.

G

I dunno. Seeing some of the 'serious' journalists nowadays, who basically read teleprompters, do fluff entertainment news and puff pieces, host cheesy talk shows, or parrot propaganda, don't really make me respect their craft. Jon Stewart seems to do their job better than they do without really trying.

But let's face it, does real 'journalism', the kind we all grew up with, really exist anymore? Or is it really just turning people into morons?

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/a...leaves-viewers-less-informed-study-finds?bn=1

 

[LKellerIII]

Nope. Jon is a comedian. He lacks any gravitas to be considered a serious journalist. Plus he does not conduct any research on the stories that he "reports".

He remains a comedian, and anyone who gets their news from him....well, they have issues.

G

Well, of course. Nobody should get their news primarily from a TV comedy show. But I'm sure there are millions of people for which this has been true for decades. I'm sure you could find many people in the 70s who got most of their political news from Johnny Carson's monologue. During the Governor's race this year in California, the label "Governor Moonbeam" was revived by some critics for Jerry Brown. Johnny Carson thought that up about 30 years ago. People think Sarah Palin actually said that she could see Russia from her house because Tina Fey said it on SNL.

Don't discount the power of political comedy. From Mort Sahl, Dick Gregory, and Tom Lehrer in the 60s, and comedians like Will Durst, today - and of course, Stewart and Colbert. These people have the power to persuade, and make people think. Nothing wrong with that.

It's interesting that most of these comics have been liberal (though Mort Sahl always claimed that he was not liberal, and often criticized liberal politiicians), while the vast majority of popular pundits are conservative. Maybe the liberals need a few more Limbaugh-Hannity types, and the conservatives need more comics.

 

[azumanga]

Maybe the liberals need a few more Limbaugh-Hannity types...

The trick, though, is getting them to listen -- there are quite a few liberal-leaning radio stations and a great deal of Conservative talk stations. In some markets, Liberal radio is restricted to a low-power AM station in the inner city, while Rush can be heard on four stations.

...and the conservatives need more comics.

Maybe if Dennis Miller can get back into comedy...

 

[LKellerIII]

Maybe the liberals need a few more Limbaugh-Hannity types...

The trick, though, is getting them to listen -- there are quite a few liberal-leaning radio stations and a great deal of Conservative talk stations. In some markets, Liberal radio is restricted to a low-power AM station in the inner city, while Rush can be heard on four stations.

...and the conservatives need more comics.

Maybe if Dennis Miller can get back into comedy...

I read a column recently (by a liberal columnist - can't remember who) who postulated that the problem with liberals - and the reason the conservatives usually seem to control the issues - is that liberals don't appeal to peoples' emotions enough, while conservatives do. Maybe that's why liberal talk hosts never seem to do well on a national level.

I would assume that most comics are liberals merely because most people in show business are liberals. Maybe Tom Selleck or Jon Voight should put together a stand up act. Better yet - Bruce Willis, who is an amusing guy.