Is Jon Stewart "The News"?

[Bilbo Baggins]

My 12 year old just whined "I don't wanna watch the news" when I turned on The Jon Stewart Show. Is this the new news? For the 12-30 demographic? Help.

[writer2]

If you google Jon, you'll find articles claiming the Daily Show is watched by a huge demographic. Some of the write-ups claim that the program is one of the best ways to reach a certain, valuable segment of voters--which is why Senator Biden rushed to appear on the show after his gaffe a couple of days ago. And yes, some of the articles claim the Daily Show is a substitute for some viewers for "real news". Like Fox News is for others. (Sorry, couldn't resist) ;)

[Roy Hobbs]

The 12-30 demographic is now in charge of and presenting the news.

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/712925/2/istockphoto_712925_baby_dj_one.jpg

[writer2]

That's the new anchor in my shop. Kinda bald, though.

[adam & doctor drew]

can he shoot his own stuff?

[writer2]

He took Rosenblum's class!

[Roy Hobbs]

Used to be our sports anchor...couldn't find any guys left in the business who do news.

[cinehead]

There's a 12-30 demographic?

[amp]

Originally posted by cinehead:
There's a 12-30 demographic?Yeah, they watch Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The younger ones eat sweet snacks cause they like the taste. The older ones eat sweet snacks cause they just smoked a fatty.

[Spike]

The Daily Show is parody. As parody, it's a form of commentary on the news. As commentary on the news, it is every bit as much "news" as most of the opinion shows on the cable news networks. Many of the same stories and issues end up getting discussed on The Daily Show as on Hannity. Didn't the Daily Show win some news awards for campaign coverage?

There used to be a promo for The Daily Show in which Jon Stewart says, "A recent study has shown that most Americans get their news from late night comedy shows."

Then he pauses for dramatic effect and suddenly says, "DON'T DO THAT! WE MAKE STUFF UP!"

In fact, they DO make stuff up. But even so, there's a fairly sophisticated system of cues that have developed to let the audience know what's been made up and what is real. Watch the show. You know when Stewart is giving real news facts, and when he's joking, because his tone of voice and facial expressions change. Sometimes they even switch cameras, letting you know that this part of the presentation is parody.

Thus, you can actually watch The Daily Show and still get a pretty good idea of what's going on in the world. I would say that qualifies as news.

[ February 02, 2007, 09:13 AM: Message edited by: Spike ]

[Mr T]

Originally posted by writer2:
That's the new anchor in my shop. Kinda bald, though.I thought he was our news director. They have the same hairstyle.

[The Thrill]

Originally posted by Spike:
The Daily Show is parody. As parody, it's a form of commentary on the news. As commentary on the news, it is every bit as much "news" as most of the opinion shows on the cable news networks. Many of the same stories and issues end up getting discussed on The Daily Show as on Hannity. Didn't the Daily Show win some news awards for campaign coverage?

There used to be a promo for The Daily Show in which Jon Stewart says, "A recent study has shown that most Americans get their news from late night comedy shows."

Then he pauses for dramatic effect and suddenly says, "DON'T DO THAT! WE MAKE STUFF UP!"

In fact, they DO make stuff up. But even so, there's a fairly sophisticated system of cues that have developed to let the audience know what's been made up and what is real. Watch the show. You know when Stewart is giving real news facts, and when he's joking, because his tone of voice and facial expressions change. Sometimes they even switch cameras, letting you know that this part of the presentation is parody.

Thus, you can actually watch The Daily Show and still get a pretty good idea of what's going on in the world. I would say that qualifies as news.The Daily Show does a great job of cluing you in when it's comedy time...sadly, you have to have half a brain to receive those clues. And a good portion of America doesn't any more...hence, they see it as the real thing.

Makes me do a lot of this: graemlins/face_banghead.gif

[s'news]

I like it. But I'm not in that demographic.

[YourMomsBox]

Originally posted by writer2:
If you google Jon, you'll find articles claiming the Daily Show is watched by a huge demographic. Some of the write-ups claim that the program is one of the best ways to reach a certain, valuable segment of voters--which is why Senator Biden rushed to appear on the show after his gaffe a couple of days ago. And yes, some of the articles claim the Daily Show is a substitute for some viewers for "real news". Like Fox News is for others. (Sorry, couldn't resist) ;) Uhh... sorry to tell you - but... Biden was scheduled BEFORE the gaffe... not after.

[writer2]

I did not know that. My mistake. You gotta admit--good timing for the Senator, though. ;)

[ February 04, 2007, 03:42 AM: Message edited by: writer2 ]