: Make no mistakes…Well-informed slackers…
Kevin Collins has this to say about the influence of The Daily Show on politics:
Much of this unease stems from a Pew Research Center study that reported that “21 [percent] of people under age 30 say they regularly learn about the campaign and the candidates from comedy shows like…The Daily Show.” However, a new study by Penn’s Annenberg Public Policy Center shows that those who watch The Daily Show, on average, know more about the presidential campaign than even “national news viewers and newspaper readers.”
So while Bill O’Reilly may disagree, I would argue that The Daily Show is the most intelligent and worthwhile cable news program now airing. The Annenberg study doesn’t say why Daily Show viewers are so well-informed, but I propose that it is both because the show satirizes campaign narratives (i.e., Bush is dumb and Kerry is an elitist flip-flopper) and because, as “fake news,” it can abandon the artificial ideal of journalistic balance.
Let me suggest another reason: In order to find The Daily Show funny one must know what’s happening in the news prior to watching. Assuming this accurately describes the show’s prerequisites, Bill O’Reilly’s charge that fans are a bunch of “stoned slackers” is simply nonsense.
I read the transcript of Jon Stewart on OReilly, and one statement that stuck out (by OReilly, of course):
“Eighty-seven percent are intoxicated when they watch it [The Daily Show].”
Perhaps it’s true, if so, i’ve been missing out! But I’m skeptical and a quick internet search couldn’t confirm it. Anyway, it immediately reminded me of the ever-wise words of Homer Simpson:
“Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. 14% of people know that.”
O’Reilly’s comment says nothing about viewers. Of course people drink while watching a late-night comedy show
I certainly do!
You know I find it hard to take anything the former anchor of _Inside Edition_ says seriously.
Two former actors became governor of California (one of whom later became a very popular President) and a former pro wrestler became governor of Minnesota (to the perpetual embarassment of Garrison Keilor). One former actor and dancer became a Senator from California and one former and future actor became a Senator from Tennessee (you can see him every week on Law & Order). You may not take them (or Bill O’Reilly) seriously, but a great many of your fellow citizens do.
If you heard the O’Reilly comment with your own ears, then you apparently heard something that AP didn’t (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6117542/). According to this story, O’Reilly’s comment was a case of ribbing the guest and not meant to be taken as a serious accusation.
Charles… I went from the transcript. And, yes, he certainly could have been simply ribbing Stewart. He mentions the stoners a few times and even says he has the numbers to back it up (almost certainly ribbing). I suspect from the textual evidence that O’Reilly was being both humorous (in presentation) and serious (in intent). That is obviously my interpretation and could be completely wrong.
I’m certainly taking a swipe at O’Reilly–an easy target. But, in any case, he’s not the point here. What’s interesting is the contention that fans of The Daily Show are well informed. And I think I know one of the reasons.
I think you’re right, Dr. Cline. After having listened to the Daily Show’s “Democracy Inaction” book on CD this week, I laughed and laughed. But I also understood most of the jokes to begin with. People who aren’t interested in politics aren’t going to sit through that much political in-joking.
But that doesn’t mean that the audience *can’t* be stoned slackers. I knew quite a few folks in college who were a) stoned, b) slackers, and c) knew what was going on in politics.
I would compare it - obliquely - to the long-term fascination with Monty Python. The shows were a weird combination of dry humor, slapstick, and social commentary. But they appealed to an odd variety of people for those very reasons.
Plus, I think Jon Stewart’s potty mouth has something to do with it. (think Wonkette)
Different types of humor appeal to different types of people. Political satire is obviously going to appeal to people with some interest in politics; these are more likely to be more educated and with a distinct position on the issues. I think there is a certain degree of self-selection here; people that watch the Daily Show like that kind of humor because they know enough about politics to find it funny.
I like that, stoned slackers; I also like BoR-ing HeeHee You may steal that if you wanna. Nevertheless… Wanna see THE most efficacious, bellicose, avant-garde blog? “Step RITE up!!” yells the carnival barker. “We got yur oddest, freeksOnature here…”