Quote:
Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor
I mean, they're explaining to the audience what humor is.
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Hmm, I just watched it and did not take that away at all. Maybe we both need a second viewing. I didn't see them explaining what humor is to the audience. Rather they were analyzing the success of the shows, specifically focusing on what makes them the media darlings that they are.
Looking at the success of Fox News, the data shows that while viewership between Fox and CNN is evenly split amongst independants, conservatives have increasingly fled to FN as an alternative to what is considered by many to be a liberal bias among mass media.
http://www.stateofthenewsmedia.org/2...?cat=3&media=5
That said, while these two comedy central shows are popular among folks our age, the majority of the Fox News viewership may not be familiar...thus necessitating some explanation of what the shows are about. These two shows can be rather polarizing and are clearly left-leaning. I remember a time when the Daily Show was not like that, and personally I found it more amusing. I've gotten bored of the Bush schtick and would welcome something, anything else. Sure Bush provides them with lots of material, but damn, how many times can you tell the same joke? I guess it works with their demo though. I just prefer a bit of balance and variety myself, so I stopped watching.
What also is forgotten by many is that Fox News is more than just opinion shows such as O'Reilly or Hannity and Colmes. The majority of their broadcast day is just regular old news coverage. I think many seem to associate the network with one or two shows and forget about the rest of the programming schedule.
I used to be a huge fan of Fox News back in the day when they first launched...when I was back in college. It was an interesting alternative to the network and CNN news feeds, and tended to show angles or stories that were overlooked by all other media outlets. Over the past few years I have become more and more turned off as the network has become more sensationalistic and downright silly at time with ridiculous promo's and graphics. Seems a bit dumbed down at times. Got to be too much like CNN to me. Oddly enough, I like CNN international. Very different approach.
Anyway I went off on three or seven tangents. Original point - I don't think they were explaining what humor is and didn't see that clip as highly evidenced of the encroachment of stupid as you did, given the strong possibility that the majority of their audience may not be familiar with the Daily show and colbert report.
And now for awesome smilies:
