Is Jon Stewart still a comedian?: NY Times

[Cowperson]

Jon Stewart insists he's a comedian while grousing about the state of how the news is covered.

The New York Times examines whether or not Jon Stewart should actually be given the "out" of being "just a comedian" when facing his critics.

"Stewart needs to be more self-aware," wrote Dan Kennedy, a media critic at The Boston Phoenix, an alternative magazine, on his blog. "By offering serious media criticism, and then throwing up his hands and saying, in effect, 'Hey, I'm just a comedian' every time Carlson took him on, Stewart came off as slippery and disingenuous. Sorry, Jon, but you can't interview Bill Clinton, Richard Clarke, Bill O'Reilly, Bob Dole, etc., etc., and still say you're just a comedian."

On his show, Mr. Stewart does tend to hold softball interviews. When Henry Kissinger appeared last year, Mr. Stewart called him "Sir," too much in awe to press him on anything substantive.

And when Ed Gillespie, chairman of the Republican National Committee, appeared in August, Mr. Stewart begged for an interview with President Bush and promised to be nice.

"I don't make fun of people to their face," he said.

"I know," Mr. Gillespie said. "That's why I'm here."

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http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/24/weekinre...cave.html?8hpib

Cowperson

[transplant99]

He will be on 60 Minutes tonight as well.

[300spartans]

What the hell is wrong with calling people Sir?

[Agamemnon]

Originally posted by 300spartans@Oct 24 2004, 03:41 PM
What the hell is wrong with calling people Sir?

I guess that depends on how you feel about Henry Kissinger...

[I_H8_Crawford]

Originally posted by 300spartans@Oct 24 2004, 09:41 AM
What the hell is wrong with calling people Sir?

Would you call Milosevic or Polpot "Sir" if you're interviewing them?

That's why people would have an issue with Kissenger.

[Table 5]

Originally posted by I_H8_Crawford+Oct 24 2004, 12:16 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (I_H8_Crawford @ Oct 24 2004, 12:16 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-300spartans@Oct 24 2004, 09:41 AM
What the hell is wrong with calling people Sir?

Would you call Milosevic or Polpot "Sir" if you're interviewing them?

That's why people would have an issue with Kissenger. [/b][/quote]
The New York Times gives anyone the proper prefix of Mr and Mrs, no matter who they are ( so they always say Mr. Hussein for example ). Saying "Sir" is pretty much the same, it just gives a sense of gentlemanly respect, even if you're not the biggest fan.

[CaramonLS]

Sorry, Jon, but you can't interview Bill Clinton, Richard Clarke, Bill O'Reilly, Bob Dole, etc., etc., and still say you're just a comedian."

Haven't Lettermen, Leno and a couple other late night TV show hosts has this line up? That arguement definately doesn't hold water with me.

Not to mention his show makes me laugh more than any other show on TV, last time I checked Comedy Central never aired any REAL news casts.

[Agamemnon]

Leno does fake headlines, and I don't see anyone complaining about his blurring the lines between news and entertainment. Stewart is just proving much better at it and has found a decent comedic niche... his show probably wouldn't be as popular as it is right now without the election, he just knows what people are interested in.

[Claeren]

Isn't what the NY Times is saying Jon Stewarts whole point?

His fake news station IS news by todays standards and that is wrong, stupid, and a betrayal of the public's trust.

While the (generally) right wing cable 'news' shows and just plain stupid 'extreme left v. extreme right, lets yell at each other for the fun of it' shows he is coming down on appear to be hard on their guests the fact is they are really just as soft on them as he is if they share their agenda, and just loud and full of empty rhetoric if they don't. How many times has Bill O'Reilly simply started yelling at guests he didn't agree with? Or thrown out questions that were very much formulated to build support on the right to guests he does agree with?

When Jon Stewart is going out there he is doing a parady, same guests, same questions, but he is not so full of himself as to think it is news. When others do the same thing on Fox or CNN people of America (and the world) are left taking it seriously..... I can see why he is concerned...

The problem for Jon Stewart (and his conscience i think) is that while his show is funny on the surface there is a very sad message about the state of society laying beneth it all...

Claeren.