If there was one voice that was missing during the presidential election it was Jon Stewart. His biting commentary could have provided insight during a contentious election, but he is now coming out of seclusion to offer his opinions and advice.
During a discussion with New York Times TV critic James Poniewozik and author Chris Smith, the former Daily Show host discussed how he thinks the 24-hour news cycle didn’t play too much of a role in Donald Trump’s victory and the Daily Show’s ultimate legacy. The event was organized around Smith’s book – The Daily Show (The Book): An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff and Guests – where Stewart exposed upon what made the Daily Show special. But he was quick to point out that satire doesn’t have too much influence on things:
“I think of one of the lessons of this book and what we’re talking about is to put satire and culture in its proper place — that controlling a culture is not the same as power. And that while we were all passing around really remarkably eviscerating videos of the Tea Party ― that we had all made great fun of ― [they were] sitting off a highway at a Friendly’s taking over a local school board. And the lesson there is, as much as I love what we did and I liked it, there is a self-satisfaction there that is unwarranted, unearned and not useful.”
Stewart also took the time to discuss the ever growing trend of fake news, saying he was “enjoying this idea,” but scoffed at the notion it plays a bigger role in anything. And he got real about the media and cable news, saying they didn’t pay a part in Trump’s victory:
“Trump didn’t happen because CNN sucks. CNN just sucks. He happened because that’s the push and pull of this nation at all times. It’s a push and pull between nativism and a more inclusive multi-cultural approach. It’s a country that writes in its founding document all men are created equal but only white men who own property can vote. That’s the earliest contradiction, and we’ve been fighting that battle ever since.”
Sharp commentary like this is why Stewart will be missed as a talking head.
(Via The Hollywood Reporter)