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Post by privateinvestor on Jul 24, 2011 9:06:46 GMT -5
The 15th anniversary of “The Daily Show” came and went this past Thursday without comment from host Jon Stewart. We have no idea if this was some sort of intentional omission or not, but we have our theories about why no mention was made of this milestone. Probably, the most likely reason was this: The show today is titled officially “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.”When it premiered on July 21, 1996, it was “The Daily Show with Craig Kilborn,” who stuck around until Stewart took over in January 1999. In other words, the Stewart regime probably dates its anniversaries from the date he started, which means we might see a 15th anniversary commemoration in January 2014, should Stewart still be on the show. But just because Stewart chose not to mark the occasion, it doesn’t mean we can’t. So, we salute thee, “Daily Show,” with our list of the five ways “The Daily Show” has influenced TV, show business and politics: 1) A bigger source of news than the news: TV comedians had long been a source of “news” for people who missed the early-evening newscasts and then only heard the headlines from watching the monologues delivered by Johnny Carson, Jay Leno or David Letterman just before midnight. But “The Daily Show” took the comedy-as-news-source idea to a whole new level – a satirical show that hewed so closely to an actual newscast that, for many people, “The Daily Show” and real news are now pretty much the same thing. 2) A cable cornerstone: In 1996, cable TV was nowhere near as strong a competitor as it is today vs. the broadcast networks – especially in late-night. Cable, of course, has made great strides in the last 15 years in leveling the playing field with broadcast TV, but the foundations for that growth are due to a handful of landmark shows – “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City” on HBO, for example, or “The Shield” on FX. But in the field of comedy (particularly late-night) no show did more to put cable (and Comedy Central) on the TV map than “The Daily Show.” 3) A talent factory: Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Josh Gad and about a score of other stars became famous on “The Daily Show,” which has had an uncanny ability to identify and nurture comedic talent. 4) Another thing for politicians to worry about: How “The Daily Show” will react to their pronouncements, missteps and/or misbehaviors has become yet another thing for politicians, particularly those on the campaign trail, to be concerned about. Generally speaking, there’s no escape. When politicians make mistakes, they can be certain “The Daily Show” writers will sharpen their pencils and make it hurt. 5) It’s more than just a TV show: Last October’s “Rally to Restore Sanity” – featuring Stewart and Colbert holding forth before an audience of thousands in Washington – demonstrated that “The Daily Show” (and “The Colbert Report”) is more than just a comedy show, as Stewart keeps insisting. “The Daily Show” is as much a symbol and a standard-bearer to a certain group of people as Glenn Beck’s old Fox News Channel show was to another group of people. “The Daily Show” is enormously influential, whether Stewart cares to admit it or not. The anniversary was not mentioned, but we still recommend you watch the July 21, 2011, “Daily Show”: xfinitytv.comcast.net/blogs/2011/tv-news/five-ways-the-daily-show-has-influenced-showbiz-politics/?cmpid=FCST_tvnews |
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Post by privateinvestor on Jul 24, 2011 9:10:55 GMT -5
4) Another thing for politicians to worry about: How “The Daily Show” will react to their pronouncements, missteps and/or misbehaviors has become yet another thing for politicians, particularly those on the campaign trail, to be concerned about. Generally speaking, there’s no escape. When politicians make mistakes, they can be certain “The Daily Show” writers will sharpen their pencils and make it hurt.
Not only that but the videos of missteps, and/or misbehaviors have become fodder for the INTERNET blogs as well. Right now Ms. Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin are getting their time in the sun but will Obama also get his fair share if he also missteps or misbehaves?? Stay tuned, I guess??
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safeharbor37
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Post by safeharbor37 on Jul 24, 2011 13:17:21 GMT -5
I think that comedians have always had influence on politics, most notably Will Rogers, but no doubt others before and after. All politicians understand that "becoming a joke" is a fatal blow to a political career [although some, like Jerry Brown, rise from the dead] ~ in most cases a politician can't get elected while being considered a "joke." That is a tactic Democrats use frequently, Palin is an example. Make a joke of those you most fear.
Probably, Stewart can thank Rush Limbaugh for his opportunity. Before Limbaugh, there seemed to be a tacit agreement to not insert humor in a news type political program, although it's always been OK for humorists to make fun of, particularly, politicians. Conservatives seem to have a virtual monopoly on political AM [and some FM] radio, but liberals seem to have more success on TV.
Stewart and Colbert [and SNL on Weekend Update] seem to be fairly even handed, taking shots whenever the opportunity presents itself. I am sure that they are all knee-jerk liberals [like Bill Maher] and take particular pleasure in skewering Republicans and conservatives, but I've noticed that they will point out particularly stupid acts by even those they may favor politically.
I'm reminded of Harold Stassen who was a significant political figure, but became a joke line after he tried to gain the nomination for President one time too many. [/size]
I think that it's unfortunate that much political information is available only from such as Stewart and Limbaugh, etc., but it beats the mainstream news which fails to inform and isn't even funny.
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djAdvocate
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Post by djAdvocate on Jul 24, 2011 14:04:50 GMT -5
dismissing commentators as entertainers is a huge mistake that both liberals AND conservatives make.
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Jul 24, 2011 14:38:20 GMT -5
...I think many, many entertainers are influential in our modern day vernacular... and it can affect cultural awareness, political awareness, etc.... but no real surprise, imo...  |
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djAdvocate
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Post by djAdvocate on Jul 24, 2011 14:40:49 GMT -5
...I think many, many entertainers are influential in our modern day vernacular... and it can affect cultural awareness, political awareness, etc.... but no real surprise, imo... no. this has been going on for a very very long time- at least since Shakespeare, and probably a lot longer. |
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Jul 24, 2011 14:57:23 GMT -5
...I think many, many entertainers are influential in our modern day vernacular... and it can affect cultural awareness, political awareness, etc.... but no real surprise, imo... no. this has been going on for a very very long time- at least since Shakespeare, and probably a lot longer. ...I'm confused... why say "no" when you agreed with me? Shakespeare is a great example of another entertainer who influenced his modern day vernacular... |
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Post by maui1 on Jul 25, 2011 12:24:55 GMT -5
i like jon's fair approach to all. if you act stupid he calls you out, no matter your race, party, sex, religion.......everyone is subject to blistering if needed.
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djAdvocate
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Post by djAdvocate on Jul 25, 2011 12:36:08 GMT -5
no. this has been going on for a very very long time- at least since Shakespeare, and probably a lot longer. ...I'm confused... why say "no" when you agreed with me? Shakespeare is a great example of another entertainer who influenced his modern day vernacular... no = no big surprise. |
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Jul 25, 2011 13:48:01 GMT -5
i like jon's fair approach to all. if you act stupid he calls you out, no matter your race, party, sex, religion.......everyone is subject to blistering if needed.  |
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Jul 25, 2011 15:25:57 GMT -5
...I'm confused... why say "no" when you agreed with me? Shakespeare is a great example of another entertainer who influenced his modern day vernacular... no = no big surprise. ...gotcha...  |
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Post by ed1066 on Jul 25, 2011 15:55:36 GMT -5
Stewart is defintely skewed left, though not as egregiously as Bill Maher, Keith Olbermann, Katie Couric or other joke "news" readers. Colbert's fake conservative shtick is old and tired, and he would be selling jewelery on late night TV if it weren't for Stewart. The only thing he's pandering is an idea of conservatives harbored primarily by bigoted elitist liberals. The other 99% of the population just thinks he's a jackass...
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on Jul 25, 2011 16:24:39 GMT -5
Of course he is skewed left. Unlike everyone else who is supposedly unbiased, he makes no secret of this & doesn't pretend otherwise. However, he is more than willingly to call out stupidity & hypocrisy on all sides.
I thought Colbert now had a bigger following than Stewart, but maybe I was wrong.
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jkapp
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Post by jkapp on Jul 25, 2011 16:29:15 GMT -5
I don't know if I would say it has shaped politics, but I believe it has gotten more people (especially younger people) to pay attention to politics and politicians and get more involved/informed about political matters. At least as far as federal and some larger state matters are concerned...I think a lot of people still show very little interest in more localized political issues.
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jkapp
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Post by jkapp on Jul 25, 2011 16:31:39 GMT -5
Stewart is defintely skewed left, though not as egregiously as Bill Maher, Keith Olbermann, Katie Couric or other joke "news" readers. Colbert's fake conservative shtick is old and tired, and he would be selling jewelery on late night TV if it weren't for Stewart. The only thing he's pandering is an idea of conservatives harbored primarily by bigoted elitist liberals. The other 99% of the population just thinks he's a jackass... I don;t even bother with Colbert...IMO the man can't tell a joke - and he tells them all the same way. I can at least watch Jon Stewart and laugh at some of his stuff (I never got the Beck schtick, though, probably because I've never seen any of Beck's shows?) |
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