Monday, June 22, 2009
TV Tonight's Daily Show
Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Not their finest half hour—or ten minutes, I should say. The Iran segment was painful to watch, and for all the wrong reasons. The attempt to salvage Jason Jones's jokey interviews with three men who have since been imprisoned and may be in very real peril... eesh. And Stewart's interview with the son of one of the men was... painfully off key. Jon's attitude seemed to be, "Hey, this is all going work out, right?" And the look on the man's face said, "Ah, no, my father is probably a dead man." A rare instance of the Daily Show losing its footing.
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1
I agree completely. My husband and I were just discussing that the Jones interviews were uncomfortable, knowing that the three men had been arrested. But, Stewart could have saved it, I thought. When he started the segment where the son was interviewed, I thought, okay, he's going to bring it back down and give some perspective here.
But, he still had a bit of a light-hearted tone once or twice, when, clearly, the son was shaken and very somber. I was surprised by that – they surely would have spoken before the interview, and Jon isn’t usually that tone-deaf.
It all felt a bit off to me, given that there is a good probability that these men are going to be treated badly. And it certainly wouldn’t be all that surprising if one or all of them were executed in prison.
But, he still had a bit of a light-hearted tone once or twice, when, clearly, the son was shaken and very somber. I was surprised by that – they surely would have spoken before the interview, and Jon isn’t usually that tone-deaf.
It all felt a bit off to me, given that there is a good probability that these men are going to be treated badly. And it certainly wouldn’t be all that surprising if one or all of them were executed in prison.
3
Yeah. No worky.
After Jon's first question he shifted gears and brought the somber, but the damage was done.
After Jon's first question he shifted gears and brought the somber, but the damage was done.
4
I had a similar reaction, particularly to the interview with the son. Making light of an ongoing ominous situation from afar is sufficiently sanitized. But the immediacy of dread and despair that hung over the son's appearance was overwhelming.
5
as it was wrapping up my husband said, "that whole thing made me feel very uncomfortable."
i must agree that the whole thing was a mistake.
i must agree that the whole thing was a mistake.
6
That's extremely disappointing, but it's hardly the first time I've had difficulty watching the show. I'd say I felt betrayed, but Jon Stewart and his have hardly stated that their on my side. Instead I just feel disappointed in myself for expecting more of them.
I wouldn't if Jon Stewart wasn't so damn brilliant every so often.
I wouldn't if Jon Stewart wasn't so damn brilliant every so often.
7
I haven't seen the show yet, but I'm inclined to let this slide. For all the good Stewart does exposing stupid shit, I think he deserves a freebie for the rare time he fucks up.
Damn prepositions... 'up he fucks'?
Damn prepositions... 'up he fucks'?
8
I agree. The interviews were bad too. the look on the guys face when he called Iran evil was painful. I hope they explained to him that it was a joke.
9
Stupid, under educated Americans - all in the haze of freedom and easy living.
They will all die.
Oh, make a joke, take it lightly. Ask silly ugly American questions.
They will all die.
Oh, make a joke, take it lightly. Ask silly ugly American questions.
10
Something tells me that they were trying their best to be satirical but, yeah, it was very very unfunny. And scary. And embarrassing. They should have presented it as a much more straightforward "we went to Iran to have fun, but the world changes quickly" and then thank them for their kindness and humor and then wish them well.
11
Yeah, it happens with The Daily Show every so often... Haven't seen the episode yet and now I'm not really sure I want to.
13
I've not seen it yet, either. Am I right that they sent Jason Jones to Iran before the revolution? So they're scrambling, trying to stick with the jokes they already had? You'd think that they could think of something witty on the fly, being the pros they are.
Jon Stewart has dropped the ball on important issues before. Anyone else remember his horribly uninformed interview with Jeremy Scahill regarding Blackwater?
But he's so often spot on that I tend to forgive the blunders.
Jon Stewart has dropped the ball on important issues before. Anyone else remember his horribly uninformed interview with Jeremy Scahill regarding Blackwater?
But he's so often spot on that I tend to forgive the blunders.
14
It was awkward but I think it was heartfelt and sincere. What would you rather have Jon said "So you think your Dad's gonna die?"
15
I actually love that Jon Stewart makes hideous mistakes and lets them air - one of the greatest things about Jon is that you know he learns from them. Fall-flat moments like this force on him the humility that distinguishes him from every other self-regarding basic-cable opinionizer, and that keeps him funny. It's a delight to see him continuing to get outside the bubble of stuff he's already well-grounded in. How many in his position keep taking the risks that lead to awful moments like this?
16
Although watching Jones' interviews was painful, I thought that in and of itself was valuable. The Daily Show succeeded, perhaps more than a solemn news anchor gravely reporting the news would have, in making the viewer uncomfortable and thereby invoking our empathy. I was moved, especially by the conclusion of the interview. What struck a sour note for me was the abrupt change in tone needed to interview Bill Russell.
17
I didn't actually think the Jones's interviews were that bad. I mean, these were done before the revolution and the three men are portrayed very positively (as was the general populace of Iran in the previous Jones segment they aired). It was heartbreaking to watch knowing that these three men are in really grave danger and the lightheartedness seemed to me to underscore the point that things have gotten out of control quickly. The interview that John did after was how where they needed to bring it all together and drive home the heartbreak and horror of the situation and I definitely found that Stewart fell short. That being said, I do appreciate that he changed tacts as gracefully as possible but I agree he should have realized it sooner.
Also, no offense to his actual guest (I did not watch that interview), but I think he should have been bumped and the son given more time. It could have been done graciously ("look, we'd love for you to come back, but this is an ongoing situation and we need to get the word out now"). I feel that that was the worst oversight of all...
Also, no offense to his actual guest (I did not watch that interview), but I think he should have been bumped and the son given more time. It could have been done graciously ("look, we'd love for you to come back, but this is an ongoing situation and we need to get the word out now"). I feel that that was the worst oversight of all...
20
the beginning of the show was so fucking funny that it made the weird "ummm this isn't really funny, guys...." moments of that segment even worse. i felt mostly uncomfortable that the men being interviewed didn't get the joke. i doubt they watch the daily show very often.
21
Agreed. This didn't work for me at all. I think a few transitional moments or phrases would have made all the difference.
But I will forgive The Daily Show their occasional honest mistake. Still miles better than all the others.
But I will forgive The Daily Show their occasional honest mistake. Still miles better than all the others.
28
I just watched the segment dreading being disappointed, and I thought it was absolutely fine. He tried cracking a joke in the beginning of the interview with the son, but as soon as the son didn't respond, he shifted gears and was absolutely respectful and serious. I had no problems with it at all.
The same goes for the Jason Jones segments. The fact that they did this with the Daily Show a week ago just highlights the sadness of the situation, and they didn't make light of it so much as juxtaposed how fucked up the situation is over there to our perceptions of it even a week ago.
Being able to use humor to highlight how depressing things are is one of the hardest skills in comedy, and I think Jon Stewart and crew managed to pull it off well. Certainly much better than the grumps here are making it out to be.
The same goes for the Jason Jones segments. The fact that they did this with the Daily Show a week ago just highlights the sadness of the situation, and they didn't make light of it so much as juxtaposed how fucked up the situation is over there to our perceptions of it even a week ago.
Being able to use humor to highlight how depressing things are is one of the hardest skills in comedy, and I think Jon Stewart and crew managed to pull it off well. Certainly much better than the grumps here are making it out to be.
29
Agreed. I'm reaaaally not opposed to making jokes about serious things, and Stewart is the king of doing that in ways that are smart and sensitive (which is why I'm such a fan), but last night was a big FAIL.
31
@28 - Look, I thought the Jason Jones interviews were uncomfortable because of the knowledge of the future, but funny if you ignored the context. Which is why I thought, okay, if they run this funny piece, and then Jon brings it back down a notch, all will be good.
But the misstep at the beginning of the interview with the son was just terrible -- this guy is worried that his father is going to be indefinitely imprisoned or tortured or executed, and Jon's making light of it? He did recover somewhat, but still... Like Violet, I'm not at all opposed to joking about serious things (and I think that TDS typically does an excellent job with this), but last night was a no go for me.
But the misstep at the beginning of the interview with the son was just terrible -- this guy is worried that his father is going to be indefinitely imprisoned or tortured or executed, and Jon's making light of it? He did recover somewhat, but still... Like Violet, I'm not at all opposed to joking about serious things (and I think that TDS typically does an excellent job with this), but last night was a no go for me.
32
To me it looked like Jon wanted to give the guy an opportunity to lighten the mood himself - not to just assume that the guy wants to be serious the entire time, and the second the guy didn't take to that, he went serious. I agree it wasn't the best executed segment in the world, I just don't think it was a serious misstep or in any way disrespectful.
33
I think we were all uncomfortable because there was a bit too much real news reporting going on. Jon didn't know how to handle it (hence the uncomfortable and slightly distasteful jokes), and we, as an audience expecting a funny, light-hearted take on world events, were not adequately prepared for any serious somber realities.
It's not the shows fault, it's not Jon's fault...I'm impressed that they had the guy on, knowing the gravity of the situation.
It's not the shows fault, it's not Jon's fault...I'm impressed that they had the guy on, knowing the gravity of the situation.
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