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Heartbreaker
Kittens, if it weren't too darn hot, I'd break out the widow's weeds, because after tonight's performance show I'd say that Mark… -
American Idol: Test
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So You Think You Can Dance: So Wrong It's Right
llkane wins! llkane beat Agent Michael Scarn 14 to 6.
The Colbert Report is great, but The Daily Show is still the master.
llkane said
God bless Stephen Colbert for taking on the greatest threat to America - BEARS! - but The Colbert Report is the bridesmaid to The Daily Show's bride. Colbert's got the blustering, blathering fool routine down pat, but at his best, Colbert only makes apparent what should already be obvious: TV is infected with blustering, blathering fools. Since those of us who watch The Colbert Report already think John Gibson, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly are fools, Colbert doesn't have to work too hard to make us laugh at them (and him).
Jon Stewart, on the other hand, is not playing a character. He's the sarcastic, exasperated voice inside all of us - only smarter. Rather than throwing up more blather, Jon works hard to clear it away and find the truth in all the BS. Even when he's not funny, he's always honest and genuine.
Lastly, The Daily Show also draws upon the diverse talents of its correspondents, whereas The Colbert Report is all Colbert, all the time...well, half an hour, four days a week. Over the years, The Daily Show has brought us some of the most talented folks now working in TV - including Colbert himself - while The Colbert Report, by its nature, never will.
Agent Michael Scarn said
Yes, The Daily Show may have brought about some talented folks and Colbert himself, I think this is an example of the student overcoming the master. By playing a character, Stephen Colbert provides more laughs during his show than Jon Stewart does with a comparable amount of wit.
I feel like a fake news show relies heavily on the charisma of its host. Jon Stewart's inability to keep himself from laughing at his own jokes (sometimes even the unfunny ones) can grow weary. Since Colbert left The Daily Show, many of the correspondents have not worked out, and the wider variety of topics it covers makes for a whole lot of less entertaining 'fake' news. The Daily Show often relies too heavily on Stewart mugging for the camera, something that gets annoying very fast.
Also, there is the fact that while The Daily Show has its share of hardcore fans, Colbert fever has swept the youth of the nation. Some of Colbert's antics may be borderline ridiculous, but his influence on pop culture is undeniable, ranging from Wriststrong bracelets to his own flavor of ice cream. In this case, the spin-off clearly overshadows the original.
llkane said
Well, the Colbert Nation is certainly more fervent than the Daily Show audience, but I think Colbert's cult of personality actually detracts from the quality of his show. If you look up "mugging for the camera" in the dictionary, I'm pretty sure you'll find Colbert's wrist saga, during which a third of his show was dedicated to his personal story. I agree that Stewart has been mugging a little too much recently, but I think that's a result the writers' strike, during which Stewart and Colbert had to rely too much on personal charisma, and the fact that Stewart is no longer an outsider making fun of the newsmakers, but an actual newsmaker himself. Perhaps Stewart's been taking himself a little too seriously recently, but at least his show has content that doesn't revolve around Stewart himself.
I'll also agree that the correspondents have been a bit lackluster lately, but how could they compare to Colbert, Carell, Rob Corddry, and Ed Helms? Colbert was the perfect correspondent, and nothing was better than those Stephen vs. Steven segments. But John Oliver, Larry Wilmore, et al. have moments of brilliance, and they're only getting better.
Agent Michael Scarn said
Forfeited Turn
llkane said
Forfeited Turn
Agent Michael Scarn said
Forfeited Turn
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Comments
The Counteragent 03/10/08
Brilliance trumps silliness in my book, thus Stewart > Colbert. I do love Colbert, but I'd rather see Stewart have a rational conversation with an interviewee than see Colbert act like a 12 year old around one of his.
HoneyBunny 03/10/08
Stephen Colbert's spin-off is a far greater jewel. He created something remarkably fun AND smart. Colbert takes the loony leap that Jon Stewart isn't allowed to take.
And even better, when guests visit Colbert, you get to see how sharp they truly are because Colbert's language exposes whether guests are in on the joke OR being the butt of the joke. You never know with Colbert. (For example-when Bush & the Republicans invited Colbert to a gala and Colbert's act completely insulted the confused room)
That's what keeps me watching and laughing. The Threatdown, The Word, The Green Screen Challenge, The Meta-Free-Phor-All, Screwing around with Wikipedia, trying to name a bridge in another country...
Colbert Rules!!!! Let Stephen host the Oscars next year and I'll watch all 4 hours.
Sunnydale 03/10/08
Stewart paved the way for Colbert. I love them both but Stewart has a slick show that combined humor and intelligence. Colbert shoots for silly that is sometimes even too much for my inner 12 year old. And has he been asked to host the Oscars yet? I'm guessing not.
demetrithegreek 03/11/08
There is no question that the day belongs to Colbert! When the writers were on strike Colbert got better. No, Colbert has never hosted the Oscars, but does Stewart have an eagle, a turtle, an ice cream, a bridge or a team mascot named for him? I didn't think so.
eieio 03/11/08
I think both of the hosts are "brilliant," if we're using that word, in their own way. I think the Daily Show is better because it has more substance. However, I feel Jon Stewart has become less and less fair and more of a left-wing version of the blowhards Colbert parodies. That's really disappointing. He needs to rise above and keep his integrity, like in the early days. No cheap shots, no talking interviewees down.
So I guess I would choose the Daily Show, but not as enthusiastically as I would have a few years ago.
huzzah 03/12/08
eieio, whoever controls the government is invariably going to be the most frequent target for TDS. Right now the right is in control. And Stewart & co. target the mainstream media as much as anyone else.
As far as "taking interviewees down", if someone comes on trying to promote a book that claims 2+2=15, I'd argue that it's responsible journalism to go after that. And responsible comedy to be funny while doing so.
eieio 03/12/08
I'm not taking issue with who Stewart targets, I'm bothered by how he is targeting them now. His primary focus has always been the mainstream media, especially the cable news shows, which is why I find it so ironic that he seems to be unconsciously becoming one of them himself. Besides, the right has been in power for going on 8 years -- the change is not with them, it's with him.
Case in point, for the "talking interviewees down," was his interview with John McCain a year or so ago (I know, there's been so many, but I couldn't tell you which one because I watch the clips out of order online). He and Stewart were going at it about the Iraq War and how it should be handled. McCain was making some really good points and trying to explain himself, and Stewart condescendingly interrupted him over and over with an incredulous "OMG, how could you be so blind?!" tone. It wasn't a situation of 2+2=15, it was two people arguing over whether to 2+2 or 3+1 is the real way to get 4. It was exactly the kind of thing I would expect from any windbag on right-wing talk radio. Stewart lost a lot of credibility with me for that one. And no, I'm not voting for McCain.
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