The NY Times just put out an article comparing Jon Stewart of the Daily Show fame to Edward R Murrow. The Times sites journalists of previous decades as having a pivotal influence on policy for exposing the issues of their day to gather enough political attention to drive action. There’s little doubt that Jon Stewart is doing the same today. The Daily Show recently became the most popular late night show on television beating out prime time night spots like Letterman and Jay Leno. Their format does have an advantage in that it is shorter and strictly political so they can remain focused and fill a shorter space with more entertainment. It’s a harder task for a longer show.
Jon Stewart has a very convenient shield being a satire show. He claims that he’s a comedy show and not the news. Technically that shield sticks. However anyone who’s watched the show knows that Jon Stewart takes on contemporary political issues head on. He does so in a way that speaks to the details of the issue as well. Cable news only has 120 seconds to cover each topic of the day, so you’re only able to get a kindergarten level of understanding of the issue. Popular panel formats offer more depth, but usually degrade into name calling and shouting matches on prime time networks. The reason most young people willingly admit they get their news from the Daily Show is that it’s the spoon full of sugar that helps the news go down. It’s entertaining, educational, and usually contains a moment of realization that something in our government is wrong and needs to be changed. This leaves the viewer entertained and angry at the same time.
That is a powerful combination that no one else does well, except for the Colbert Report.
I am inspired by what Jon Stewart and Steve Colbert have been able to accomplish. Speaking truth to power behind the veil of comedy is an age-old Western tradition, and it gives me hope and joy to see it alive and well in these two. They will be able to pass the 85 test with flying colors.
