Bill Moyers' Journal, a new version of his '70s news program of the same name, "debuts" tonight with an interview with Daily Show host Jon Stewart. I put "debuts" in quotes because the series actually debuted with "Buying the War" on April 25, but tonight marks the first time the new series finally settles into its regular timeslot.
Below is a clip from tonight's show in which Stewart pithily describes The Daily Show as "very serious people doing a very unserious thing." I think that not only describes The Daily Show perfectly, but also describes what makes the best satire, whether it's television (The Daily Show), movies (Blazing Saddles), or Swift's A Modest Proposal. The best satire comes from either a real love of what's being satirized (Young Frankenstein), or the need to twist real anger and frustration into something comedic (Blazing Saddles, The Daily Show).
While I still like The Daily Show, it's Stewart's occasional side-stepping into more serious territory (usually in his interviews) that makes me prefer The Colbert Report, a show that remains, apologetically, within the parameters of true satire and never strays.
Bill Moyers' Journal airs tonight on PBS. Check your listings to see when it airs in your area.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-27-2007 @ 9:43AM
Ender said...
I disagree. I will always prefer TDS because of the mixture of satire, and Jon being straight about what he feels. Colbert will always have to play his character.
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4-27-2007 @ 9:44AM
Adam from TV Squad said...
Point well taken, Ender.
By the way, I love the book Orson Scott Card wrote about you.
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4-27-2007 @ 1:21PM
Karen said...
I agree with Ender.
The Colbert Report may be FUNNIER because it never stops being satirical, but the Daily Show is BETTER because it takes the time to hold off on laughter from time to time and truly recognize the degraded times we live in. The closest Colbert gets to that is in the captions on "The Word."
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4-27-2007 @ 1:49PM
Joey Geraci said...
I used to think the same as you, Karen, but now I think the Colbert Report is just better, generally anyway. Don't get me wrong, the Daily Show is still highly enjoyable, but the Colbert Report is more fun. I get to the point of almost looking forward to the end of the Daily Show because that is when Colbert starts.
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4-27-2007 @ 2:05PM
Pat said...
Personally, I've never understood why viewers feel it necessary to compare/evaluate the shows in relation to each other in the first place. Despite the prior TDS connection and obvious rapport of Jon and Stephen, the two shows are separate entities with separate goals, and I think each is tremedous in its own way.
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4-27-2007 @ 9:30PM
GhaleonQ said...
*yawns* Surely, funnier writers could have been interviewed?
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4-28-2007 @ 1:01AM
Adam from TV Squad said...
"*yawns* Surely, funnier writers could have been interviewed?"
Obviously, Stewart was chosen because of the popularity of The Daily Show and its "role" in public discourse about politics and current events.
Are you saying a better person could have been chosen who also satirizes current politics and media, or are you just making a personal statement about Stewart?
There's nothing wrong with using these comments to say you dislike Stewart, I'm just trying to understand whether you wanted to simply express your dislike for him, or if you had someone else in mind Moyers could have interviewed who does what Stewart does, but better.
I hope this doesn't sound sarcastic; I'm honestly trying to understand where you're coming from.
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