Frequent Soapblox.com readers have probably noticed the lack of Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert clips lately. I am a proud Daily Show/Colbert fan and a firm believer that their comedy duo is not only the funniest programming currently on television (by a wide margin), it is also the most intelligent programming a person can digest with accuracy that rivals and exceeds most local and network news shows. I’m not the only one who has said that Jon Stewart’s curse-filled commentaries on the absurdity of the Bush Administration are more intelligent than network news programs like, hmmm, let’s say “To Catch a Predator.†Surveys prove that Daily Show watchers are more informed than all of the network news shows, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer and even Newspapers! (FYI Fox viewers and the morning news watchers came dead last), but I digress. Where is Jon Stewart? He’s been supporting the WGA Writer’s Guild strike against the big studios, and while I 100% support Stewart’s move, I must admit, I miss Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert’s biting criticism of current events.
Today on NPR, a writer for the Daily Show, Kevin Bleyer talked about the groups absence from the center stage of political commentary. It’s the most we’ve heard so far from the nation’s most brilliant comedy think-tank, so I certainly enjoyed it. He talked about how Jon and the gang would love to get their hands on all the issues that are currently going on. These guys make their living commenting on the absurdity of our world and they don’t get much more absurd than George W. Bush!
The reason I miss Jon Stewart & friends so much is that they honestly feel like the only honest voice of dissent from anywhere Left of center. I mean, we have NPR, which has been under pressure from the Bush led Bureaucracy to be more “fair and balancedâ€, and there is leftist Pacifica and pro-Democrat Air America, however neither one is as satisfying, unbiased nor as honest as The Daily Show & Colbert Report. It is one hour a day that I miss more than words can really do justice, and with the intensely topical humor, the reruns and online clips are poor substitute.
I am watching the Writer’s Strike here with watchful eyes. I have family that is affected by the stop of production as well as the fact that it affects my overall geographical economy (as I live in Los Angeles). Not to mention the fact that I am a writer and like to see my brethren do well. It is not the big shots that will benefit the most from internet revenue, it’s the small time paycheck to paycheck writers that potentially will. While those affect me greatly, I must reluctantly admit that my no.1 reason for seeing the strike end is to get Stewart and Colbert back on the air (LOL).
It is a hard strike to watch too. The bad guys are clearly the greedy producers. We all know that here in LA. These guys will screw you over just for the enjoyment of it, they certainly don’t need the money. They have no leg to stand on trying to deny the people who write the material they make a fortune from the right to make money on the internet. They say it’s too soon, but since they’re making money now, that’s a piss-pour argument, and the public knows it. That’s why they’re breaking out the big guns. Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane, infamous damage control PR strategists, have been hired by The Alliance (or the big greedy studios). In addition, these PR guys are known for their aggressive attacks on the competition. It’s a sign that the studios clearly know they are losing the war, and a sign that their digging in for a long hard battle.
So no Jon Stewart any time soon! It IS a hardship to endure, but one that I’m certainly willing to make to support the strike. If Jon Stewart can pay his employees even while they’re on strike, I can certainly go without my favorite TV show for a while.
Divided we are weak, United we are strong.