Daily Show Hits New Low

By Melissa Lopez (Bio | Archive)
April 25, 2008 - 17:34 ET

Last night's episode of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart", Stewart declared his frustration with the constant Democratic campaign coverage on his show. He decided to take a break on his "Cluster F--- to the White House" coverage and report on other topics. His closing remarks summed up his entire show, "... I think we mentioned the word penis in every act so far tonight." It may not be that big of a shock to those who watch Comedy Central that Jon Stewart would take on such a theme for a show, but it seems a little low how far he took it through some parts of the show.

In the first segment Jon Stewart claims that he will not talk about a popular story, but ultimately does by mentioning it. "Except we're going to do a little international news and no we're not doing the Congolese penis panic theft story. Although ,apparently, it really is a story in the Congo. Penis theft panic in the Congo, by the way you would be surprised about how few penises you have to steal to create a panic; really it's just one or two."

John Stewart followed up that story by making this derogatory remark about John McCain in the next part of the show. It is at this point when the show sinks to a whole new level.

STEWART: "Hey everybody, welcome back! We were talking about... you know, we're all a little sick of the Democratic contenders for the presidency and hearing about them and all the tough hard-hitting questions they had to endure and they're on to each other, who cares? But did you know there's another candidate in the race? One who is a Republican? And who is allegedly right now sitting at home soaking his aching balls in a chilled gravy boat full of Howard Deans tears? Oh, his balls are soaking. His name's McCain, John McCain..."

Lastly, Stewart interviewed British actor Colin Firth who has a movie coming out. Firth tells a story about being in a bathroom in NYC and someone taking a picture of him. Firth finishes telling the story and wants to get back to the movie, but Stewart is unable to drop the penis talk.

FIRTH: "But, anyway back to the film."

STEWART: "Back to the film you did. Uhh, is your penis in that?"

FIRTH: "No, no."

STEWART: "It's hard to move on to the ahh other topics at hand.


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What the heck is this about

April 25, 2008 - 17:42 ET by bigtimer

What the heck is this about with the guy...penis envy of some kind?

Really mature.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

It's Comedy!

April 25, 2008 - 17:43 ET by the curator

Mrs. Lopez,

I don't know if you're a regular viewer of the Daily Show... but, it's not real news.  It's comedy.  Not meant to be taken seriously.

And, while the target of the shows comedy is more geared towards conservatives, it's not exclusive.

Just the night before, Stewart chided Senator Clinton extensively, for her comments about voters.  Her statement early on that "its up to them (voters)."  And now that its up to the superdelegates and she's behind in the popular vote, she's marginalizing their impact.

And, Stewart is a HUGE McCain fan (personally, probably not politically). 

The "balls in the ice water" comment... was also said to be in the "tears of Howard Dean."

He's attacking both parties with one joke.  The man is brilliant with his humor.

Seriously, if this website wants to go after liberal bias in the MEDIA... great.  Stick with the media though and leave the comedians out of it.

 

"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000

tc.... Yeah that was a

April 25, 2008 - 17:48 ET by bigtimer

tc....

Yeah that was a regular laugh riot...

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

to each his own

April 25, 2008 - 23:56 ET by man_from_outer_space

Liberals don't think Coulter is funny and conservatives don't get Jon Stewart.  What is so surprising about this?  Non-story.

Hi man from outer

April 26, 2008 - 00:02 ET by bigtimer

Hi man from outer space...

You've been here for two years plus and somehow I've missed you....dang it all anyway.

You seem familiar though....hmmmm...enjoy the rest of the evenin' though...nice meetin' ya'. 

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

bt, there is something a little familiar about space-boy here.

April 26, 2008 - 00:24 ET by R D Helm

And I ain't talking about Spiff, either.

Does the SN Space Cowboy ring a bell?

Theme for Election '08: Who cares?

Evening

April 26, 2008 - 00:47 ET by bigtimer

Evening RD...

LOL...

Who knows....time will tell....

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

Evenin', bt. According to Noel, spaced_out_cow_pie here hails

April 26, 2008 - 01:04 ET by R D Helm

According to Noel, spaced_out_cow_pie here hails from Media Matters:

Yeah right

January 16, 2007 - 00:54 ET by man_from_outer_space

Yes, you guys are such light-hearted imps when it comes to Franken and satire.

http://newsbusters.org/node/2424

Eeeeewwwww......An ugly Spiff
January 16, 2007 - 01:02 ET by Blonde

 

Eeeeewwwww......

An ugly Spiffster clone.

MFOS
January 16, 2007 - 01:05 ET by Noel Sheppard


MFOS,


I see from the adminstrator functions that you came here from the
Media Matters website. Anything you'd like to tell the class concerning
your affiliations?


Regardless, the point of the previous poster was Franken making a
joke about a criminal having his testicles attached to a DieHard
battery, and how conservatives might respond. He didn't address Franken
making comments about Bush adminstration officials being executed for
treason. Do you see a difference? ns

 

We got ourselves your basic Hilbot here. And I think he's a re-run, too.

Theme for Election '08: Who cares?

And I think he's a re-run, too

April 26, 2008 - 01:13 ET by shawn228

Are you really sure it is him RDH? :-)

shawn, ROFLMAO!

April 26, 2008 - 01:23 ET by R D Helm

Dayem, Shawn, you watch waaaaaaay too much TV.

And I'd like to think there is a resemblance here, too.  :-)

Theme for Election '08: Who cares?

"The "balls in the ice

April 25, 2008 - 17:53 ET by ckc1227

"The "balls in the ice water" comment... was also said to be in the "tears of Howard Dean."


He's attacking both parties with one joke. The man is brilliant with his humor."

Now if only his humor was....humorous. The joke may have been brilliant, but it wasn't funny. Not that I'm a prude or anything, it just wasn't funny.

By the way, did you know that about 40% of youths get their news from comedy shows like this? Apparently, they don't know it isn't "real" news, which is scary.


Opinion

April 25, 2008 - 18:08 ET by the curator

 The joke may have been brilliant, but it wasn't funny.

I laughed.  Hard.

 about 40% of youths get their news from comedy shows like this? Apparently, they don't know it isn't "real" news, which is scary.

And apparantly much of the news is correct!

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=319

PEW Research Center says Daily Show and Colber Report viewers are more correctly informed of the facts on national and internation stories than the average FOX viewer!

 

"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000

tc... I'm glad you

April 25, 2008 - 18:22 ET by bigtimer

tc...

I'm glad you laughed...the PEW poll matters not to me..neither does what news show I watch to determine if I am smart enough and well informed for people like you.

It still isn' funny to me...and I'm no prude either.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

Congratulations

April 25, 2008 - 18:26 ET by the curator

That's good that you have such a well rounded sense of independence.

But, I wasn't trying to persuade you of anything.  I was just stating an independent organization ranks Daily Show/Colbert Report viewers as more informed of the facts of national and international stories than general FOX News viewers.

Whether or not you 'care' about those numbers doesn't change them, however.

If you choose not to 'believe' those numbers... well, that's your perogotive.

 

"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000

This wasn't about numbers

April 25, 2008 - 18:29 ET by bigtimer

This wasn't about numbers curator....you may want to read again what it was about though.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

I know

April 25, 2008 - 18:46 ET by the curator

I'm aware its about the author's claim that the Daily Show has "hit a new low."

My contention is, it's a comedy show.  Stick with going after libearl bias in media.

(the fact that the Daily Show entertains as well as informs is just an added bonus.) 

 

"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000

I have seen times when he

April 25, 2008 - 19:42 ET by bigtimer

I have seen times when he is funny over the years and LMAO...this isn't one of them.

I'm leaving it at that.

"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill

ckc -- 40% of youths? The

April 25, 2008 - 21:06 ET by Jack Bauer

ckc -- 40% of youths? The guy only gets about 1.4 million viewers. Not many people are watching him at all.  That's a small audience even in England, let alone the masssive US market.

News of his influence is greatly exaggerated. Though he does get more than Olbermann.

Vote 4 change. Vote 4 anything. See Jack & Mr Shy's first campaign ad for the ONLY viable 3rd party candidate.

The "balls in the ice

April 25, 2008 - 20:19 ET by Jack Bauer


The "balls in the ice water" comment... was also said to be in the "tears of Howard Dean."


He's attacking both parties with one joke (sic). The man is brilliant (sic) with his humor (sic).

Sure that's frackin; hilarious. About as funny as actually being kicked in the balls by Stewart hinself. It's pure genius. The man is a cross between Groucho and Woody.

But seriously folks, the totally scripted Jon Stewart and his 100 writers are truly boring old farts, just the wrong side of lame. Poor old Jon, he is to humor what Britney is to child care.

Vote 4 change. Vote 4 anything. See Jack & Mr Shy's first campaign ad for the ONLY viable 3rd party candidate.

ok

April 25, 2008 - 20:40 ET by the curator

Poor old Jon

Yeah.  I'm sure all that fame and success he has with the show is a real drag for him.

 

"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000

Stewart: Strictly B List

April 25, 2008 - 21:00 ET by Jack Bauer

Huh? So what? You think he funny because he has "fame and success."

Wow. I bet you couldn't find more than 1 in 10 people who have ever heard of Jon Stewart. The guy has a million, two viewers on a good day. You know how pathetic that is in TV terms? O'Reilly reruns get more than that.

Beside it's all relative. Compared to me he's got "fame" and "success." But who hasn't. So what?

Compared to Letterman, Leno, Williams, and dozens more, the guy is strictly B list. He'll be on Dancing With The Stars one of these days.

Vote 4 change. Vote 4 anything. See Jack & Mr Shy's first campaign ad for the ONLY viable 3rd party candidate.

I'm sure you're off

April 25, 2008 - 21:04 ET by the curator

You think he funny because he has "fame and success."

No.  I think he's funny because he makes me laugh.  I sarcastically said "his fame and success must suck," because you lamented for him that life must suck.

 I bet you couldn't find more than 1 in 10 people who have ever heard of Jon Stewart.

I think you drastically underestimate his popularity.

the guy is strictly B list

If by, "B list" you mean "two-time host of the Academy Awards," and "rumoured replacement for Letterman when he retires..."  Then, sure... I'll agree to his "B list" title.

 

 

"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000

His audience is less than

April 25, 2008 - 21:16 ET by Jack Bauer

His audience is less than an O'Reilly re-run. That's just a fact.

I think you vastly exaggerate his popularity.

As for Letterman ... Dave will die on stage at the Ed Sullivan theater taping his latest show. He ain't ever retiring. Believe me. He can't live without it.

Now he IS a sporadic comedic genius, even though his politics suck.

Sorry, Stewart is just not a genuinely funny guy. Robin Williams could read the phone directory out loud, and he'd be funny. Stephen Wright could say nothing for five minutes and you'd be laughing out loud.

JON STEWART IS NOT FUNNY, even with a 100 writers.

Vote 4 change. Vote 4 anything. See Jack & Mr Shy's first campaign ad for the ONLY viable 3rd party candidate.

Thats Fine

April 25, 2008 - 21:21 ET by the curator

I'm not arguing whether or not he's funny.  That's an opinion.  If you don't think he's funny - cool.  Neither does my girlfriend.

And, of course O'Reilly has much larger numbers.  That's not a fair comparison really.  They're totally different.  OReilly is a ratings juggernaut... but, he's been on the air longer... he's on a much higher rated network... and a much higher rated timeslot... and he's an opinion guy... Stewart is a comedian. 

I don't know who you would or could compare Stewart to... but, he's hosted the Academy Awards twice... and its known he will be considered a replacement for Letterman when Dave retires (or dies).

So, B-list?  Eh.  Maybe.  But, a lot of people know who he is.  That's not a debate.

Funny?  That's a debate.

 

"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000

Jack

April 25, 2008 - 21:25 ET by shawn228

I totally agree with the curator. I find John Stewart pretty funny. Not always, but usually.

If he is funny to an individual is an opinion, and not everyone has to agree. Just like how many people do not find Newsbusted funny. You can still be a conservative and not find the humor in Jodi Miller right?

shawn buddy .. you and I

April 25, 2008 - 21:33 ET by Jack Bauer

shawn buddy .. you and I share similar tastes as we know, and sure, you can't always agree on funny.

But be honest... you CANNOT think that balls "gag" was funny. Even if you like Mr Leibowitz? It was pants ( a brit expression for sucks. ) C'mon dude.

Vote 4 change. Vote 4 anything. See Jack & Mr Shy's first campaign ad for the ONLY viable 3rd party candidate.

"by the way you would be

April 25, 2008 - 18:29 ET by NL207

"by the way you would be surprised about how few penises you have to steal to create a panic; really it's just one or two"

I don't know about where this clown lives, but if somebody came around here looking to steal a penis, it would sure as h*** make the news. Can anybody say, John Wayne Bobbit?

"but if somebody came

April 25, 2008 - 21:18 ET by shawn228

"but if somebody came around here looking to steal a penis, it would sure as h*** make the news."

I'm not sure about finding a penis around here, but there are a few d*cks and a$$h*les. lol, just kidding.

never have cared

April 25, 2008 - 18:44 ET by bigpapa

for Mr. Stewart...

not really funny,, tries to be too "cutesy" or something..

I don't care who he likes or doesn't like,,, that would be like asking a 5 year old what he thinks about politics.\

 Stewart is just making money by pandering mostly left and they eat it up...

Yup.

April 25, 2008 - 18:45 ET by the curator

Welcome to capitalism and free speach.

 

"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building."
-George W. Bush, October 11, 2000