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to get the humor of the daily show, the viewer needs to have a more than basic awareness of the events lampooned, which explains why the viewership is better informed than of latenight talk shows. if you don't follow current events and watch the news, the show isn't that funny.
the show's purpose is not expressly to lampoon politics, it is to lampoon the media. since it is an election year, and candidates use the media so effectively, the content is naturally slanted.
what made politically incorrect interesting as a current events opinion talk show, was that the pannel would include politicos and pundits and also pop culture icons... some of whom surprised the professional talking heads with their grasp of situations and insights. anyone who watched the original show or watches real time knows that bill has his own opinions and isn't afraid to mention them, but he has added something to the political satire and comedy arena that he was in as a standup. that tradition follows mark twain, will rogers, mark russell and his wacky piano shtick... and so on.
but when the humor hits too close to home, people get rankled, right? ask tucker carlson or ask the 24 hour news nets... msnbc is now regularly losing to the daily show in the 11-11:30 time slot, it's neck and neck with cnn, and rapidly gaining on fox.
the inside the industry buzz is that the daily show writers include many alums of the onion. which makes a lot of sense, if you follow both products. they came over to rework the show when craig kilborne left and jon stewart came in. even if you like or don't like what they have to say, they are doing a damn good job.
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if everyone is thinking alike, chances are no one is thinking.
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