TVSquad

I gotta tell you, I like John Oliver quite a bit. And Back in Black hasn't been nearly as funny since Black stopped writing them himself (the show's writers do it now).

Actually, seeing those "Ten F'N Years" segments makes me want to see TDS bring back an old columnist, actually; so many good ones haqve gone on to...uh...something less that stardom that I'm sure one of them could be persuaded to return at a time when the show needs them.

Reply

I fully agree with Sam on his first 2 points: John Oliver has been outstanding every time, and "Back in Black" is just Lewis Black reading Daily Show shtick in a really loud, angry voice. I forgot what Black's comedy was really like until I saw his recent HBO special.

There's also Demetri Martin, the Trendspotting guy, who they should definitely use more. I agree with Joel that Bakkedhal and Jones haven't gone anywhere. Jones is just annoying and unfunny. I don't understand Joel's objection to having a British accent on the show...it's reporting on world news, not just U.S. stories. Why not have a more international flavor? Funny is funny. Dave Gorman (Poll-smoking, I think), the other Brit, has also been very good.

I think they should continue to add a few more new faces until they find ones good enough to keep around. (Oliver, Gorman, Martin, and Hodgeman are in that camp for me, but they're not all utility players like the C's or the Great Samantha Bee.)

Reply

Bring back Beth Littleford!

Reply

I think the show will hit its stride again with the mid-term election coverage. It's the "InDecision" coverage that garnered the show so many of its awards.

Reply

i can't believe nobody mentioned Ed Helms, the guys fantastic

Reply

bring back MO ROCCA

Reply

I remember being really disappointed when Vance DeGeneres left. They always manage to find great new talent.

Reply

As far as the new "reporters," I love John Oliver and Jason Jones has really improved his game recently. I can't stand Bakkedahl and agree that Back in Black is hit or miss recently.

Last night there was a new, black guy on the show. I can't remember his name but he had a great deadpan delivery, and I thought had potential. Between him, Dmitri Martin and John Hodgman, I love the direction they're going with some of the guest correspondents. It reminds me of This American Life on NPR. I just wish they'd grab Sarah Vowell!

Reply

As good as Jon Stewart is?

I'm sorry I didn't realize that good is laughing pompously at your own jokes while pulling a stupid expression and over acting.

How many times will he play a clip, say 'WHAAAAAAAT?' (spit shoots out of his mouth) and then butcher what the great writers wrote with his whinyness?

TDS is good, but he is just an annoying ass.

Reply

i'm a really huge fan of Lewis Black's work/stand-up, and have been since right before his first HBO special back in 2004. and even though i love HIS stuff, i must say that his segments on TDS are getting dry. he hasn't been part of the writing staff for about three years, and it's obvious to any regular viewer. having seen other BinB segments from around '99 to '03, i must say that they were a lot better than the tripe he gets stuck delivering now. i guess it's because he's on so sporadically that whenever there is a Back in Black on, it turns out to be all hype more than substance.

also, from what i can tell following his stand-up/other works he might be the next to say fare thee well. he just filmed a pilot with fellow comedian (his opener) John Bowman for the history channel, he's got three more movies coming out this year and he is constantly on tour. plus, he's still working out the kinks in his Comedy Central deal for a special (maybe a series) called "Red State Diaries"

who knows, but i have to agree with the others on this. the random addition of correspondents is getting tiresome. John Hodgeman is the best of the newbie reporters in my opinion. but other than that, i must say that The Daily Show is not as good as it used to be.

i think, personally, it's because in reality the politics and screw ups that the Bush Admin. and world politics in general keep pulling are all the same, so the joke gets old and can lose it's edge. there are some things that are obviously just too stupid these days to make fun of even more.

from my standpoint, nothing has really changed in the world of US politics when it comes to fresh material really. just because things are getting worse and worse, doesn't mean the punchline will get better and better.

Reply

The SENIOR Black Correspondent is Larry Wilmore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Wilmore
and I agree he has great potential, as does the Poll Smoking guy (I'm a PC)

Reply

I love John Oliver on the show, but then I am predisposed to like him as I have been following his work in good ol blighty over the past few years (particulalrl his radio stuff) and the few times I have met him, twice actually, he has been a thoroughly nice bloke.

In contrast to you I really haven't enjoed the two Asif Mandvi segments, and I think you can really tell he is an actor doing a job as opposed to a comedian as he has almost no timing.

Finally of the new people I really enjoyed Larry Wilmore's segment, it is clear they spent a while searching for a black guy to add something to the show and I think they may have found someone who could be very good.

Of the guest correspondants I think Hodgman and Demitri are great, but their appearances should be kept to once a month each so it is kept fresh. Back in Black isn't great, but Lewis' delivery is such that the rants are always worth listening too. While Dave Gorman was good too, but his role will be very limited being a Londoner, so he will only be able to do the show when he is in the states.

Of the remaining four 'regular correspondants', I like Bakkedhal on filmed segments a lot, but his green screen stuff is lame. I feel Jason Jones has never found his footing and the pompous schtick that he puts on is ver grating. I have never been a huge Samantha Bee fan, but she is still at least very good. Significantly though there is a need for Ed Helms to step up, I think he has to take the baton and follow Colbert and then Rob to be the 'star' correspondent.

Reply

Samantha Bee is awful. Her segments aren't the least bit good (does she right the crap like her Snakes on a Plane segment, or do they just give her the worst of whatever they come up with?), and she doesn't deliver them well either. She has no character, I don't know what the heck character she is supposed to be.

I agree that the Mandvi guy has been pretty funny. I was in stitches when he called the war in iraq "Operation Doing Us a Solid".

Reply

I actually like most of them. Jason Jones is the weakest of the group, but I think they are all pretty funny.

The trendspotting pieces with Dimitri are hilarious!

Reply

I actually enjoy Samantha Bee, I think she should be the next one to be the head correspondent in Rob's absence. Her work tonight on "Future Shock" was hilarious.

Reply

I LOVE John Oliver!!! All of his reports so far have not only had ME cracking up, but they've caused Jon to crack up too...which is always a good sign. With Oliver it is the great combination of great writing and fantastic delivery. I really hope that he stays around for a long long long time.

I do not like Asif Mandvi at all. He comes off as very smug, and where that may have worked for Colbert, Mandvi is just not funny. Get him off the screen please.

I've never cared for Samantha Bee, but she has done some funny stuff.

I always roll my eyes upon learning that Back in Black will be a part of the show that night. I believe I may have laughed once at that.

I actually like Jason Jones. I thought that his report that he did in FL was very funny. I think that he really has potential. Jason has stated in interviews that the hardest part of the job for him is sitting across from someone and making fun of them to their face. I think that once he gets over that he will be much better.

Just my humble opinions.

Taya

Reply

Martin, Hodgeman and Mandvi are each distinctive and will grow just as Samantha Bee did after her rough first few months. But the guy I'd really like to see join the TDS party...?

Those of you familiar with the videoblogosphere will recognize the next two words:

ze frank http://www.zefrank.com/theshow

Reply

Corddry leaving is no bigger hit to the show than any of the other talented correspondents they've had over the years. TDS, like SNL before it, is simply a training ground for comic acting.

I think that's OK.

All that being said, its nice to see that they're finally getting some minority correspondents. For as good as that show can be, it's been whiter than Kate Moss' nose in a blow-filled igloo for far too long.

Reply

That's indeed the way successful shows go. These kind of regular shows are cyclical. The shine and then they rest. For instance, I think Colbert is on fire right now, and TDS a bit down, but we should never forget that TDS is very sensible to current events, and some do provide better material than others.
Anyway, I think that this is still a very potent comedy hour, and it's still a source for comedic inspiration, thing that SNL should try to become again...

Reply

>For as good as that show can be, it's been whiter than Kate Moss' nose in a blow-filled igloo for far too long.

LOL

I'm glad there bringing on minority correspondents too. Mandvi is pretty hilarious although I can see his deadpan humor getting old. You don't see too many Arab/Middle Eastern people in TV/Movies at ALL these days. The SENIOR Black Correspondent is Larry Wilmore who's a writer for The Office (he also wrote Fresh Prince of Bel Air as well as the under appreciated The PJs) and his segment was funny as well, but I doubt that he would have the time to be a full time correspondent.

Reply