So I, a patriotic Canadian, watched the State of the Union address. At least some of you probably know what I thought about it and about the President in general. The next night, I watched the Daily Show (a comedic news show for left-leaning folks like myself) and just about killed myself laughing. First up was a comparison of Bush's assessment of Iraq's WMD capabilities in last year's SoU and this one.
Last year it was hundreds of gallons of sarin, VX, and other chemical weapons, as well as an advanced 'nucular' program; this year it was "...dozens of weapons of mass destruction-related program activities..."
Naturally the comedians had a field day, and it was really quite amusing.
Next up was an interview with John McCain, who clearly thought Bush's spending had gone off the deep end -- $2 million to study the effect of cow flatulence on the ozone layer was my favourite of the examples he cited (though cows are in point of fact a pretty substantial source of atmospheric methane, both through flatulence and manure). There was a delicious little exchange between Jon Stewart (the host) and Senator McCain that went a little like this:
Jon: "So I hear you'll be in New Hampshire soon." John: "Yes, that's true, I'll be in New Hampshire-" Jon: "Supporting which Democratic candidate?"
So. My point? Watch the Daily Show on Comedy Central. It's hilarious. Sadly it's only half an hour. I was disappointed, though, that they didn't use this snippet from this year's SoU:
"Key provisions of the Patriot Act are set to expire next year." (Applause.) I think that was my personal favourite moment from the SoU.
Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :
quote:"Key provisions of the Patriot Act are set to expire next year." (Applause.) I think that was my personal favourite moment from the SoU.
Twinky -- mine too. Although I wished they'd left the camera on Ted Kennedy for just about the entire thing...
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
I watch the Daily Show once in a while(I love it, and don't really know why i don't watch it more), and happened to catch it last night.
The show was hilarious. And i really liked the John McCain interview. I think i'd vote for him on the strength of that alone. Posted by Rhaegar The Fool (Member # 5811) on :
Actually, I am an addicted Daily Show watcher, and about as ferverent a republican as you will ever find. I don't find it to be left leaning at all, just flat out funny. It insults reps and dems equally. I thought their comments about deans Yeeeeegah! and Kennedy's frantic yelling (Hes Gunna Blow!) compared to Kerry's monotone were hilarious, and Ialso chuckled my fair part at the SOTU jokes.
Rhaegar
Posted by A Rat Named Dog (Member # 699) on :
Actually, I'd say it's probably a really good thing that twinky and Rhaegar BOTH kind of feel like the Daily Show understands their point of view. Means it's not a bitter, angry show with an axe to grind. It actually takes a middle road that appeals to everyone on the grounds that people with power are idiots Posted by Rhaegar The Fool (Member # 5811) on :
Its just funny, it takes all these people who everyone is supposed to fear and respect (snickers at the thought of the 23 dem candidates) and makes them all look like complete fools, it is extremely refreshing. Yheir defention ofmid term elections "Yhe Most Importatnt Election...... Since The Last One....." I love it, I truly do.
Rhaegar
Posted by jehovoid (Member # 2014) on :
It's definitely funny first, political a distant second. And it's there to make fun of other news shows just as much as it is to make fun of the people who are in the news. And I think that Stewart handles the interviews with the serious politicians rather well.
Posted by Robespierre (Member # 5779) on :
The onion fits in this catagory of un-biased humor as well. Who ever is in power will get a thrashing. It doesn't seem like they have an axe to grind.
Posted by Rhaegar The Fool (Member # 5811) on :
And thats exactly how it should be done Robiespiiere. I can't spell.... yeah.....
Rhaegar
Posted by jehovoid (Member # 2014) on :
The Onion also makes up stories completely out of thin air, which gives them an added level of absurdity to their humor.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I'd just like to say that Stewart has in fact conducted some of the best political interviews I've ever seen on TV.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
WHAT
The stories in the Onion are not factual?
You LIE.
They are as true as many leading news publications, like the star or the inquirer.
Posted by Robespierre (Member # 5779) on :
quote: Robiespiiere. I can't spell.... yeah.....
Its right there on your screen...
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
Jon Stewart fans, check out the transcript from his interview by Bill Moyers.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
In this week's onion:
quote: Bush Vows To Discover, Legalize Aliens On American, Martian Soil
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Tom D,
I agree with you about the interviews. he has some very good ones. One of my favorites was Madeline Albright's. She told a story about Arafat and Sharon at Camp David, and how Clinton ditched her ther with them,. They did not speak to each other directly. They would say "Tell him that I did this," when they were in the same room. Cracked me up.
My favorite show so far was the other night. Michael Jackson's look-alike was being interviewd by one of the fake Dateline dudes. The pretend discussion expanded to include other look-alikes, and how they fare when the celebrity they look like is in trouble. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.
Liz
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
Rhaegar and Robespierre -- good point. I agree that the Daily Show lampoons whoever happens to be in power. The Onion, too.
And I'm certainly not above making fun of left-wing politicians myself Posted by jehovoid (Member # 2014) on :
I was only trying to say that the Daily Show has slightly more substance than The Onion, mostly because they take stories that are currently being covered in the news and they use actual footage that you would see on other news channels. And unlike The Onion, it's a daily thing (hence the name), and so they are able to react to the real events as they're happening in a way that The Onion can't. But yes, the special reports that the other correspondents do are very much like The Onion.
Okay, I'm definitely talking way too seriously about these things.
My favorite Onion headline this week:
quote:African American Neighborhood Terrorized by Ask Murderer
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