OT: Daily Show vs Colbert Report
Off topic, but in spirit of the former post on "Wildman versus 'Man vs Wild", I thought I would see how people felt about two other related shows: Daily Show vs Colbert Report. I'm a huge fan of Jon Stewart, but my loyalties lie with Colbert and his comedic genius. Thoughts?
February 25th, 2009 at 6:04 PM ^
Hate me for it, but I don't find either particularly funny.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:31 PM ^
Both are whats wrong with politics and comedy.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:14 PM ^
Love the Daily Show. Colbert Report, not so much.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:23 PM ^
The Daily Show was funny when the politics weren't so one-sided.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:09 AM ^
And I'm a liberal patsy, too.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:43 PM ^
but lately I've been liking Daily show better. Colbert occasionally gets a little too gimmicky and predictable for me. When he's on, though, Colbert is utter genius.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:59 PM ^
The Daily Show gets the nod.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:12 PM ^
shows like those and people in Philly that watch them
February 25th, 2009 at 11:29 PM ^
don't be a bitch.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:15 PM ^
I find the Daily Show to be unwatchable. Maybe it's just because John Stewart laughs at EVERY single one of his own jokes. Colbert is a much more talented comedian IMHO
February 25th, 2009 at 7:32 PM ^
The Daily Show has been rapidly going downhill over the past few years. They've lost a lot of their best talent. Colbert is consistently good.
Also, Colbert is inherently more biased and freely admits it with the concept of the show allowing you to check any feelings at the door. You know if you're a Conservative, he's going to be mocking you. The Daily Show has become progressively more one sided and is decidedly less open about it, maintaining that they make fun of all sides equally when that's less and less true.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:47 PM ^
Colbert is funnier than Stewart (I think his act is getting a little old) but the Daily Show has the advantage b/c they can get more interesting guests and they have great correspondents - I love Larry Wilmore, Samantha Bee and John Oliver. But if I could only DVR one, it would probably be Colbert.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:39 PM ^
Colbert. I think it's his deadpan delivery, and he plays the touchstone which allows others to make a fool out of themselves.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:42 PM ^
Rarely watch either at this point, but love Colbert almost every time I watch him. The way John Stewart debates Republicans in interviews instead of making jokes pisses the shit out of me.
February 26th, 2009 at 4:42 AM ^
Stewart has this David Frost complex when dealing with Republicans. He suddenly stops being a comedian and tries to turn it into "WHY DID YOU LIE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?"
It's as if he doesn't realize that no politician is seriously going to let himself be out-debated by the co-star of Big Daddy.
February 27th, 2009 at 12:18 AM ^
Except for the fact that they do get out-debated by the co-star of Big Daddy. :)
February 25th, 2009 at 10:52 PM ^
isn't that hard for me to choose from. Stewart was the first - he blazed the trail for Colbert, but Colbert has emerged as the greater talent. The guy is pure genius and never have I seen an entertainer with his improvisational skill in an interviewing format.
This guy is sharper than your average diamond tipped implement of slicing and dicing. He does an outstanding job every night of highlighting the ridiculaiety (yes, ridiculaiety) of humanity on the one hand in the first 20 minutes of the show, and then yielding the final 10 to some deserving but often unknown guest who's had the creativity and intelligence to think outside the box and offer our near hopeless civilization a possible solution to any one of a myriad of problems that trouble our present and future. All while mocking "news" show hosts who pander to a particular viewpoint, rather than just providing the news.
MH20 said "hate me" for not finding the humor in either of these guys shows. I don't hate you, or others who don't find them funny. I just feel bad for you because it makes me wonder what else you're missing.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:57 PM ^
Totally agree. Did you watch these shows during the writer's strike? Colbert was a million times better than Stewart, he's the superior improviser. Anyone who questions me should check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc1Y5L7DPcQ
February 25th, 2009 at 11:09 PM ^
his bears and balls skits are usually off the wall
i like that stewart has correspondents but only colbert can argue against himself and win
February 26th, 2009 at 12:25 AM ^
Colbert all the way
February 26th, 2009 at 7:42 AM ^
I think that Stewart and the Daily show have lost some of the humility that made them (IMO) great at first. Meaning that they used to have the attitude of "we're making fun of everyone but we're goofballs who are kind of losers ourselves". Now I think that they believe they know more than most anyone in public life, and no one (well, very few) is living up to their standard. That's a difference that I think shows through.
February 26th, 2009 at 10:20 AM ^
Looks to be the winner here. I agree. He is a much more talented comedian, in particular with regard to subtlety and timing. His interview with Papa Bear contained so many veiled insults that Bill didn't catch right away, 'twas magnificent.
But when The Daily Show had Craig Kilbourn, A. Whitney Brown, Colbert, and others... now that was amazing stuff. Not even close to as pretentious/serious as it is now.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:20 PM ^
Remember Steven and Steven? That was hilarious.
Am I the only one who thought Kilbourn was a lot funnier than Stewart?
February 26th, 2009 at 11:14 AM ^
A lot of people used the word "genius" in this thread. Ha.
February 26th, 2009 at 11:24 AM ^
Colbert annoyingly insists on maintaining an arrogant faux-arrogance that enables him to waste vast amounts of time each episode literally cheering himself on, literally patting himself on the back, and/or literally dancing around to get himself more standing ovations.
This was a funny back-drop or premise for the first season. But, now (!), it is stale.
If Colbert dropped this old act, then I'd rank him first between the two. Until then, though, I only see him as an amateur. After all, it could be argued that comedians land upon grandiose "me, me, me" humor soon after graduating from fart joke school.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:43 PM ^
"arrogant faux-arrogance" is my new phrase of the week.
February 26th, 2009 at 9:59 PM ^
I love Colbert's energetic intro's.
Overall though, The Daily show gives me more pure laughs. I like the writing better, and some of the corespondents are awesome.
I miss Rob Cordrey. That dude was funny as hell.
February 27th, 2009 at 12:16 AM ^
I think the problem with this thread is that nobody is looking in to the fact that both of these shows are more than just comedic acts. Personally, I think they are some of the most intelligent shows on TV because you must be keenly aware of current political events to get half of the stuff.
With that said, I think the Daily Show is a better show because, while it is on Comedy Central, the guests Stewart gets are A+. He gets congressmen and women, former presidents, world leaders, and high profile authors. Even though Stewart can be annoying at times, the actual dialogue on the show is of a higher order than most on TV. Except for the Rachel Maddow show, perhaps.
Okay...let's hear how I just brought politics into the Michigan blog world, but this thread beckoned.
February 27th, 2009 at 1:59 AM ^
Keenly aware of current political events? Really?
I realize this is dickish, but I can only imagine these shows appear intelligent when compared to the likes of cartoons, Lost, and The Bachelor. I'm not bashing these (well, not the former two, at least). I'm just saying they are--by design--dumbed down. Because they are television--television crafted to appeal to the masses. Because, as with all broadcasting companies, appealing to the masses pays the bills. And, in 'MERCKA(!) [and many other places worldwide], the masses are the collective antithesis of intelligent.
To be fair, though, I think the title "intelligent television show" either (1) requires exceptionally high expectations/standards or (2) is naturally oxymoronic.
February 27th, 2009 at 7:45 PM ^
You failed as soon as you mentioned Rachel Maddow.
February 28th, 2009 at 3:19 AM ^
If you care to offer some substance to your "claim," then I'd be happy to have a discussion about the state of political discourse currently taking place on TV. I fear that you're one of those people who thinks that volume (as in how loud someone talks) and arguments without factual support somehow translate into a legitimate political discussion.
I know that politics are taboo on this message board, but I also know that ignorance deserves to be called out. Obviously, you're not a golfer.
Just stick to Fox News and enjoy yourself. I have no shame in admitting that I engage in considered and fact-based political thought.
February 27th, 2009 at 11:12 AM ^
I have only good memories of Philadelphia, Ann Arbor and Detroit. We're just outside the bubble here in the high desert of New Mexico and everything looks different. I take back the cheap shot.
February 27th, 2009 at 7:36 PM ^
he's a much better actor/comedian. I think stewart is just as good at writing. But stewart's interviews are just painful. A colbert interview might not be very informative, but it's always more entertaining.
and colbert really sticks it to the republicans, he takes their hypocrisy and rubs it all over their faces.
like this:
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/77580/october-30…
but daily show does a good job of blasting the media with video montages of their stupidity.