Colbert is Rude

[DeathsHand]

I remember when The Daily Show wasn't just about politics politics politics...
But come on... Intellectually dishonest cowards?

Especially with Colbert... I mean, he's someone who's frequently made a mockery of religion (This Week in God on The Daily Show, and numerous times in his attempt to portray his Right Wing character on Colbert Report), but is in fact a devout Catholic himself... Apparently even a Sunday school teacher at some point in time (though you can't always believe everything the internets tells you)...

And while I'm not saying he and Stewart are closet Republicans, and there's no denying that Jon Stewart leans to the left, I think that sometimes it's the same way with their political humor... Especially when you consider that they're not the only one's writing the material for the show...

But hey, for a number of years back when The Daily Show really hit it's peak, The Republicans were the ones in power... House, Senate and President... Them focusing most of their political jokes on the guys up top wasn't much different than how you're pinning the "intellectually dishonest coward" remarks squarely on the two hosts...

Though these are the opinions of someone who is not offended by anything... Except maybe people getting seriously offended by comedy (or "comedy")...

Quick on topic note: The Colbert interviews in which guests become frustrated with his act are cringe-worthy for numerous reasons..

[Typhoid]

The Daily Show and the Colbert Report are entertainment.
Don't go into it with the idea you're going to get facts and news - it's all supposed to be entertaining, in a tounge-in-cheek fashion, or sometimes a smack-in-the-face blatent fashion.

They even say they aren't news shows. Stewert often refers to it as a "fake news" show. And right there, that should easily tip you off that it's not intending to give people real news. Because it's not real news. It's a comedic spin on current events.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by Typhoid

The Daily Show and the Colbert Report are entertainment.
Don't go into it with the idea you're going to get facts and news - it's all supposed to be entertaining, in a tounge-in-cheek fashion, or sometimes a smack-in-the-face blatent fashion.

They even say they aren't news shows. Stewert often refers to it as a "fake news" show. And right there, that should easily tip you off that it's not intending to give people real news. Because it's not real news. It's a comedic spin on current events.

And right there is what I believe is the dishonesty. As long as both shows adamantly brand themselves as "entertainment", they can make whatever statements they like with whatever bias they like without ever having to be responsible for their content. Yet, Stewart and his ilk want to be taken seriously when they see fit. If your looking for specifics as to why I feel so strongly about this, listen to the jokes on the next Daily Show. Each joke uses "real news" as the set-up, followed by the punchline. Often times, the writers misstate, omit info or openly lie in the "real news" set-up. Also, their interviews with political figures are hilariously bad. Democrat or left leaning guests are essentially fawned over, while Stewart almost verbally attacks those on the right with disingenuous questions, and then to top it off his interviews with right wing guests are almost ALWAYS heavily edited, especially the one with Jonah Goldberg just recently.

Michael Moore has played at this game for years. "Hey, its just comedy, but I'm deadly serious." Whenever they are taken to task, its just comedy. But they are to be taken as serious intellectuals and opinion makers as well.

The worst part is that Sterwart's show isn't even funny. He tells more "applause jokes", also called pandering, than "funny jokes". Like Bill Maher, he'd rather get applause than laughs, being the lord of the reighteous satire. There is a dropping, palpable arrogance to those like Colbert, Stewart and Maher. I call it megalomaniacal comedy.

Another liberal comedian, Lewis Black, manages to actually be funny, and he's funny even moreso because of his intellectual honesty and lack of arrogance. Me? I'd rather laugh, so I'll watch Black.

[Typhoid]

Originally Posted by Professor S

And right there is what I believe is the dishonesty. As long as both shows adamantly brand themselves as "entertainment", they can make whatever statements they like with whatever bias they like without ever having to be responsible for their content.

I don't know, maybe I don't see it as big of a deal as you because Canada's had shows like that for numerous years before the U.S ever did, with The Royal Canadian Air Farce and This Hour has 22 Minutes.

They do the same basic things as the other shows do, except with more of a SNL-feel to it.

The difference between Air Farce/22 Minutes and Colbert/Daily Show is that the Daily show and Colbert Report set themselves up to look like an actual news station. Much like Fox.

I personally think CNN news can get away with "entertainment" too. I actually laughed while watching it last week. I felt bad because of the subject, but the stance on it, I mean.

But just don't take it as news, and you're fine. Because it's not news. If you look to the Daily Show or Colbert Report for news, you might as well go to the McDonald's value meal for healthy living.

[BreakABone]

Originally Posted by Professor S

And right there is what I believe is the dishonesty. As long as both shows adamantly brand themselves as "entertainment", they can make whatever statements they like with whatever bias they like without ever having to be responsible for their content. Yet, Stewart and his ilk want to be taken seriously when they see fit. If your looking for specifics as to why I feel so strongly about this, listen to the jokes on the next Daily Show. Each joke uses "real news" as the set-up, followed by the punchline. Often times, the writers misstate, omit info or openly lie in the "real news" set-up. Also, their interviews with political figures are hilariously bad. Democrat or left leaning guests are essentially fawned over, while Stewart almost verbally attacks those on the right with disingenuous questions, and then to top it off his interviews with right wing guests are almost ALWAYS heavily edited, especially the one with Jonah Goldberg just recently.

You can believe whatever you want to believe and I doubt anyone would change your mind.

But if I'm not mistaken the Jonah Goldberg interview was about 20 mins when they taped. For a show that is at best 22 minutes long what the hell did you expect him to do?

He even made a note of it before they aired the segment that it was heavily editted for time.

But you will just say it was editted in their favor anyhow.

[DeathsHand]

Originally Posted by Typhoid

If you look to the Daily Show or Colbert Report for news, you might as well go to the McDonald's value meal for healthy living.

"More Americans get their news from The Daily Show than probably should."

[Fox 6]

I Cant stand people like Glenn Beck, Nancy Grace, and Bill O'Riely. So when i see somebody like Colbert is imitating them and going over the top and poking fun at all these people I just love it.

[Professor S]

Breakabone - So knowing there would only be a few minutes to fit in an interview, the Daily Show would have an interview go for 20? I never said Stewart wasn't smart, just dishonest. The interview was planned to go long, to be edited "for length" and then broadcast. Once again, at least the real news channels do it live so there is no question. I'd love to see the full length interview be made available.

Fox6 - You have provided an excellent example of what I'm writing about. They pander to you. I think Colbert is funnier than Sewart, though, especially with the whole Bear thing. His satire is more pointed at the medium of political punditry than specifically biased against right wing opinion, but his interviews are just as pathetically bad and dishonest as Stewart's. For the record, I hate Nancy Grace and Bill O'Reilly probably more than you do (don't forget Anne Coulter and Sean Hannity), because they m ake my party look bad (I am now offically a Republican because I wanted to vote in this year's primary). I love Glenn Beck, even with his sometimes over the top flaws, just for his excellent bullshit detector when it comes to lies from both sides of the political isle.