Hands down the best thing on television at the moment is The Daily Show. Jon Stewart is a comic genius who is also an intellectual and let me tell you those two things are not often found in the same person. Time magazine recently voted him one of the 100 most influential people of 2005. If you don't have cable and don't get to see it most nights on 9.30 on the Comedy Channel, never fear, The Daily Show with John Stewart: Global Edition is back on SBS Thursdays at 10pm. There is an interesting review of the show by Kenneth Nguyen in today's Age. The caption in the photo on the online version is all wrong though because, as the article itself makes clear, Stewart is anything but postmodern. Rather he is more often than not pointing out how the postmodern emperor has no clothes. The Fox Network prides itself on informing the public with unbiased reporting ("no spin zone" - what a joke!). But one commentator says we should watch the Daily Show becuase "it's even better than being informed"! Stewart is "the most trusted name in fake news." So until the ABC resurrects Shaun Micalleff from the dead make mine Jon Stewart!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
"The Most Trusted Name in Fake News"
Hands down the best thing on television at the moment is The Daily Show. Jon Stewart is a comic genius who is also an intellectual and let me tell you those two things are not often found in the same person. Time magazine recently voted him one of the 100 most influential people of 2005. If you don't have cable and don't get to see it most nights on 9.30 on the Comedy Channel, never fear, The Daily Show with John Stewart: Global Edition is back on SBS Thursdays at 10pm. There is an interesting review of the show by Kenneth Nguyen in today's Age. The caption in the photo on the online version is all wrong though because, as the article itself makes clear, Stewart is anything but postmodern. Rather he is more often than not pointing out how the postmodern emperor has no clothes. The Fox Network prides itself on informing the public with unbiased reporting ("no spin zone" - what a joke!). But one commentator says we should watch the Daily Show becuase "it's even better than being informed"! Stewart is "the most trusted name in fake news." So until the ABC resurrects Shaun Micalleff from the dead make mine Jon Stewart!
Yup - the Daily Show is one of the best bits of entertainment in the intellectual and moral wasteland that is American television. I watch it every morning as I medicate myself heavily and brace myself for another self-esteem-draining day in academia.
ReplyDeleteBefore I went to bed last night I was flipping the channels (all 5 of them), and lo and behold! Jon Stewart! I couldn't believe that I could watch him here without needing satellite or cable.
ReplyDeleteSounds like my type of show.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to Hamish and Andy's new show starting next Tuesday called Real Stories which may be a similar genre. I'll do a review on my blog.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/060814/2/104xq.html
Apparently during the 2004 American Presidential election campaign, more Americans watched Jon Stewart's coverage than the mainstream television networks.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of him. I don't have pay tv, I'll check him out on sbs though. I love shaun macallef!
ReplyDeleteHave you read Shaun Micallef's book, Smithereens? It's hilarious.
ReplyDeleteNo can't say I have
ReplyDeleteDid you see Newstopia on SBS? What about Talking 'bout Your Generation?
ReplyDeleteYes I did see Newstopia and I enjoy "TAYG" but I think his Tonight Show format, the one where he would interview fake guests and be extremely rude to them, was his best work.
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