Jon Stewart IS what Dennis Miller used to believe HE was

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

I just re-watched the Moyers-Stewart conversation, and as I did so I realized an amazing thing. I've always known Moyers is hyper intelligent, and his life has been much in the same vein as Walter Cronkite. He's a man I've long admired for his great depth of perception on a wide range of subjects.

On the other hand, I've always perceived Jon Stewart as being able to read his lines with feeling and a natural comedic empathy. Now I know that's simply not the truth.

Theirs was more than an interview- they were literally en rapport on a level far beyond what I ever expected to see. I saw two gigantic intellects comfortable in each other's presence, talking about subjects most here at DU merely skate along the edge of.

I now know that Jon Stewart has in incredible future ahead of him. How long do you think he can do The Daily Show? Although he's now entrenched enough he's become the 500 pound gorilla Dennis Miller used to think HE was, I honestly don't see him staying in that chair for many more years- there's far more inside him than just great comedic timing and a face with great expressions.

Jon Stewart, when he moves on, will be able to go anywhere he wants to go and do anything he wants to do. And I now see that with his amazing depth of intellect he will go far. Whether he will choose politics is anybody's guess- he'd conquer it if he wanted to try it. I personally hope he switches to "serious" journalism, and becomes a true Moyers disciple. He could become our generation's Cronkite. He could become our Murrow. Jon Stewart could, if he so desired, lead the battle to bring investigative journalism back from the brink.

Jon Stewart could become the voice of America.

[MadBadger]

1. I knew Jon Stewart was for real when he squashed Tucker and Begala on Crossfire.

[eleny]

3. That appearance clinched it for me

[countmyvote4real]

5. That was theatrical because it was real.

And it didn't have to be a real spanking to have the same effect. I have shunned CNN entirely since.

Dennis Miller is a whore that caught the wrong train. Trust me, we don't want that dick wad on our side. (It's late and I'm more than mixing metaphors. Sorry for the jigsaw puzzle, but I'm sure you can figure it out.)

[KT2000]

12. Yes - that was when hope

began stirring in me.
He shamed them. Good on him.

[Richard Steele]

13. Yup. That was a magnificent thing to behold.

Its excellence was not exceeded until Colbert's legendary
press club dinner performance.

[Frank Cannon]

20. "You're hurting America."

That was one of the greatest moments in TV history.

That was a shot heard 'round the world.

[aikoaiko]

42. video of Crossfire with Jon Stewart

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2652831

[Initech]

2. Jon Stewart is awesome, but he *IS* the Daily Show.

I honestly don't think I could picture the Daily Show without him. I know they had Craig Kilborn, but it wasn't the same then as it is now.

[MessiahRp]

4. Kilborn had a nasty reputation with those he worked with

He was never all that funny and actually came off as condescending to his audience whereas Stewart's sarcasm is aimed towards public figures and policies. Kilborn just seemed like a dick.

Rp

[Initech]

15. Yeah, I remember watching him when Daily Show first came on.

He seemed like a huge douchebag, I don't know how any of his interview subjects could stand him.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

6. Craig Kilborn never impressed me

He was a "created" talent, slotted into a role that simply didn't fit him. Kinda like Jay Leno.

[557188]

8. Uhh

Apparently you didn't see Kilborn on Sportscenter.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

9. Apparently not

AND I apparently never will. :shrug:

Uhh

[chknltl]

7. Jon Stewart is reaching a niche that Moyers is not ....

...in substantial numbers. He is undoubtedly aware that he is doing this too. He states in that interview that he is doing the best he can by doing what he does best. If at some point in the future he comes to the conclusion that what he does best is something other than the Daily show, then I suspect he will move on. Right now he has my support, I enjoy his shows, I enjoy his spin-off, The Colbert Report. I am glad that these two are reaching out to an important niche audience. I also enjoy Mike Malloy, Stephanie Miller, Randi Rhodes, (both of em), Thom Hartman and etc. Although their audiences have some crossover with Jon Stewart's, I am not so sure that they appeal as well to the bulk audience Jon Stewart appeals to. I wish it were so though, I tried hard to get my step daughter and her boyfriend(s) to get into Al Franken for instance...they couldn't have been more bored!

Great post and observation btw. I agree in that I also sense that Stewart and Moyers are very much intellectual peers. I am in awe of both of them! For what it is worth I used to like dennis miller.... up to the day he turned into an anti-American that is. Now-a-days when I see his unshaven mug on TV I am VERY quick to hit the channel changer. His "rants" are not worth even a second of my time.

[ClayZ]

10. K and R

[KharmaTrain]

11. Stewart Has Depth...Miller Never Did

Yes, that interview is awesome in just watching the body language and respect the two men had for each other. We were eavesdropping on their interaction...how a great interview should be conducted. You learn not just from what they say, but how they say it. For those who didn't see this interview, it's well worth the watch.

Miller was lucky to have great writers behind him. Al Franken wrote a bunch of the Weekend Update stuff as he was a head writer of the show at that time. Miller also had a short bit...Update...he rarely appeared in any skits or appeared to do much else on the show. I could see his lack of talent when he attempted his first syndicated show...other than his rants (which became more essoteric and less funny) and a lame take-off on Update, you could see he couldn't interview and you could see he couldn't write his way out of a paper bag.

Stewart understands comedy is best served in the realm of reality...that truth is funnier than contrived and cynical is not mean. You need substance to be able to reach that level...and the great comics and writers are able to do that. Yes, Jon has many great years ahead and I would think Comedy Central would love to see him continue TDS for as long as he wants to. The only thing that will stop Jon is burn-out...and I sense he realizes that as well.

[tavalon]

22. Yeah, the burnout thing is what can get an optimist

and make no mistake, Jon is quite the optimist. He does this because he cares. That is what I saw on Crossfire. Before that I saw him as a stellar comedian. I figured out then that he was a stellar comedian who cares.

[Up2Late]

14. Nah, Even when Dennis Miller was at his best, he wasn't half as funny at Stewart.

Believe it or not, back in the mid-1990's I saw a triple bill Stand-up show, here in Atlanta, which was Dennis Miller, with Jon Stewart opening and David Spade following Stewart.

Jon Stewart KILLED!!!!:headbang:

David Spade Sucked. I think he was drunk or just not into it.

And the Dennis Miller was a total let down.

Jon Stewart was by far the best of the three, even back then.

[XOKCowboy]

16. Or he could do a sitcom after TDS..

I mean come on... He is a comedian and a damn fine one.

Either way I'll be a fan.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

34. NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A sitcom after TDS? That is blasphemy!

[Bitwit1234]

17. Dennis Miller - like Darth Vader - went to the dark side.

He thought he could pull on the republican hype. He wasn't funny to begin with and his defection made him worst. He should have stuck to character acting in movies. He did a better job.

[Gregorian]

18. When Jon became the new host, I didn't think he'd last long.

The Daily Show was phenomenal from the very first show. It was great before Jon showed up. I feared a bit when Craig left and Jon took over. And until recently, I kept waiting for the waning of the Daily Show. But it never happened. Just the opposite. And now I see Mr. Stewart showing his true colors. That first became apparent when he "raided" the Hardball Crossfire set. Where he took on a lamenting tone and literally lectured the journalists of this country for their lack of courage and integrity.

I think of Jon as a regular guy. I think he does as well. Maybe I'm selling him short. Maybe in this day of bubble headed bleach blond talking heads he comes across as something rare.

I should add though that his last few interviews have proven him to be way beyond just a regular guy. He has held his own with Bill Krystol, and that is no small task. His guests have been adversaries to the moans of people on this forum. He didn't burn his bridge with McCain. In fact, I'd say Jon Stewart's strongest point is his bridging. He never ever burns a bridge. We've all heard that we should keep our enemies close to us. He's done far more to expose our enemies by keeping them close than he could ever have done by dealing a single bridge burning blow.

I think the Daily Show will run it's course once the fascist fodder is no longer. Maybe after the 2008 election. I hope not. But Jon will eventually move on. I think what he's doing IS serious. So I can't imagine where he'd move on to. Until then, I won't miss a show.

[melody]

19. Dennis Miller was his material -- Jon Stewart is his material

These days, Dennis Miller reminds me of Orson Welles ... a pale shadow of former promise, reduced to pimping
product.

[tavalon]

21. I met the real Jon

The day he did the intervention on Crossfire. I've followed him closely since. If he chooses to leave comedy, he will go into politics. I just don't think he will leave comedy because I think he gets that he has much more of a voice there. And he saw as well as all of us did the amazing power that Stephen Colbert weilded at the Correspondent's dinner. He wants to influence the discourse and he gets that he has a venue right where he is at.

Jon Stewart already is the voice for the disenfranchised America.

[SmokingJacket]

23. Dennis Miller must be beside himself with jealousy.

Back in his SNL days, you could almost see him becoming something good and interesting. Instead, he chose the path of the assholes.

He must be lying awake at night, kicking himself.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

24. I agree. He let his ego take over, quit honing his biting humor and instead chased

the almight dollar.

Then, he finally sold himself to the lowest bidder. Sad. MKJ

[madokie]

25. no that stupid bastage won't ever realize it

I never liked dennis when he was on snl, damn sure don't today

[tinfoilinfor2005]

37. He admitted as much one night on TDS.

He was lamenting his lack of popularity compared to Stewart's, and Jon chided him about the dark side, inviting him back "to the light". They are long time friends, and even though there was a lot of tongue-in-cheek spoken, I think Miller regrets a lot of his career decisions. But he doesn't appear to be the kind of person that can publicly admit to being wrong about his philosophies since this would prove that his tedious overlong rants had been for naught.

[MurrayDelph]

40. I saw that episode

Dennis Miller's idea of political humor was to use "big words" to tell what were basically variations of
the "Your momma's so fat" jokes that have been around for decades.

[donco6]

26. Who is this "Dennis" person?

Was he the guy with the monkey?

:sarcasm: and :rofl:

[Prophet 451]

27. "serious" journalism might be a mistake

Not because I doubt Stewart has the talent for it, I'm sure he does but because if he goes that route, he risks becoming "the establishment". As a satirist, he is free to speak truth to power in a way that "serious" journalists cannot.

[EnviroBat]

28. I've tuned into Dennis Millers "Show" recently...

About as itellectually stimulating as a tractor pull. Dennis Miller is a pompous ass.

[Virginia Dare]

29. I saw Jon Stewart's stand-up show on Sat. night..

he fucking rocked!!! The whole audience was rolling for two straight hours.

[Czolgosz]

30. On his best day, Miller is a worm who dreamed of becoming a caterpillar; Stewart is a butterfly.

[NoPasaran]

32. Best. Putdown. Ever!

:rofl:

[bleedingheart]

31. Back when Dennis Miller was on "Evening Magazine" here in Pittsburgh

I knew he was a talentless ass....

I was happy when he got his "big break"...because he left Pittsburgh..

I am really hoping that when he finally takes his final nose dive that he doesn't come back...cuz we don't need more assholes like him around...

[TwilightGardener]

38. I remember that show! Wasn't Rudy Giuliani's ex-wife also one

of the hosts of that program (Donna Hanover), along with Dave-somebody? Do you also remember "Punchline", a kiddie show an Saturday mornings that Miller used to host? I used to work with somebody at Pitt who knew Miller pretty well, and also thought he was an arrogant ass. But he USED to be funny, IMO.

[bleedingheart]

39. yep...l remember the shows

[Joe Fields]

33. As for the Murrow thing, K.O. has already copped that title.

Don't you find it ironic that the only "real" news we are getting from television comes from "entertainment" shows, such as The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and Countdown?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

36. A little ironic, and slightly disheartening.

At least now the word is getting out about Faux "News", and Olbermann is roaring like a lion on MSNBC (and other venues), much to the chagrin of the MSM. Colbert, I believe, is dancing on the razor's edge between hysterically funny and deadly serious. I hope it's a place where he can keep his balance, because his service is every bit as valuable as Stewart's.

[Marie26]

35. Yep

"Jon Stewart could, if he so desired, lead the battle to bring investigative journalism back from the brink.

Jon Stewart could become the voice of America."

IMO, he already is. And he already is leading the battle to make journalism matter again.

[Johonny]

41. I think John will stay at the show a long time

Like Carson he's found his niche in the vast wasteland of the entertainment industry. I also think he likes helping other comics. TDS has now placed several comics into bigger roles. As long as John keeps attracting such good talent to support him, he will stay.