Defending the Daily Show
Last night as we were driving home, there was an interview of Lee Siegel on NPR because he wrote a book titled “Not Remotely Controlled”. Mr. Siegel is the television critic for the New Republic, and there was part of the interview that I immediately disagreed enough with to write about it here.
At some point of the piece, he is asked about his opinion about John Stewart and his current success. That’s when I was surprised to hear him make a rather sharp criticism of Stewart.
Siegel specifically states that the manner in which Stewart examines the news is such that people feel that all effort in the political landscape is a sham. In his specific words, it’s having a “paralyzing cynical effect.”
I’m going to have to remember the old days of the Daily Show. When Stewart started (taking over from Craig Kilborn), he used the same comedic formula in terms of what kind of content and guests. Then everything changed thanks to 9/11.
For days there was nothing but news and the repeated footage of the planes going into the buildings. Then after awhile I specifically remember two television personalities coming back on the air that made a huge difference in the national landscape. One was David Letterman, and the other was John Stewart. Both shows are based in NYC, and both had very well crafted and socially poignant things to say. Both shows from that point on immediately took a more political stance, but Stewart did so to a greater extent. Enough so that I became disenchanted with the obvious political focus of the show when I liked it for the pure comedy.
But my point is that I feel Stewart, and now Colbert, isn’t having the cynical effect Siegel claims. First is that of all the people I know that watch the show, all of them are news junkies that only look to the Daily Show for the comedic aspect of the news. They are more than well aware that any information they are getting from that source is being presented in a way meant for entertainment.
But the biggest thing is that if there is a cynical flood because of people like John Stewart, it’s because the populace is disenfranchised with the political environment. You know things like a candidate winning a popular election and not the presidency… Unpopular wars… Increasingly sinking economy… Those kind of things will make a society cynical independent of a cable-based comedy show.
Therefore it’s my contention that while Stewart has an air of cynicism, it’s product of the previous disenchantment with how the political system has deteriorated away from “by the people, for the people.”
Different kind of Police
I’m not sure if any of you have noticed, but there’s a mid season mini-show that is interesting. No, not Daybreak which couldn’t fill the time usually taken by Lost in the ABC lineup… I mean Armed and Famous on CBS which is filling the temporary gap in Jericho. It’s the show that looks like Tremors and Lost had a spin-off. You know, it starrs the ever so capable Skeet Ulrich. For those of you that know me, please re-read that entire last sentence with my sarcasm tone in your head…
But my distaste for an actor is secondary to their mini replacement which is mildly entertaining due to the cast – but more so because it was shot in Muncie, IN… The home of Ball State, which was once the top ranked party school in America for a number of years. This is where David Letterman went to school… Where my Wife received her Master’s degree… Where I saw Nine Inch Nails, The Jim Rose Circus, and Marilyn Manson back in my senior year of high school…
Vic made the comment that it was interesting to see that they shot the show to look like more of a metropolis than it actually is. It’s very true to anyone that’s been there. I liked the most how they end each show at The Sunshine Cafe. It’s a real trip and interesting to see all these folks in the role of police officer. Not only to see them in such a different role than standard celebrities, but also in an environment more representative of America than most would ever want to admit. 
My only problem is the voice in the back of my head that wonders how much of what they say is sincere and how much is playing to the camera. I hope for sincereity, but it’s not something I think exists in large amounts for most people and especially in productions with any relation to television or Hollywood.
PS – seeing La Toya in high definition is scarier than watching a preying mantis hunt butterflies on Discovery HD… And next week she goes undercover in a prostitution sting… That’s like a train wreck that you can’t not watch.
Advertising Disapointment
So when looking at one of my routine blogs, I unintentinally rolled over an expanding ad for BlackBerry and thought I saw something familiar. It took a few more times activating the ad, but one of my worst fears were realized when it became apparent that Douglas Coupland had become a paid endorser of a mobile phone. He’s coming down a few notches in my list of all that is just and right…
Just another time I shake my head and say “f***ing BlackBerry” – not because I don’t have one, but because of so many other reasons which now includes corrupting one of my favorite contemporary authors…
