Late Night TV Speculation Getting Interesting
According to this report in Broadcasting and Cable that came out today, NBC maybe courting Comedy Central mainstay Jon Stewart for the opening when Jay Leno retires. If that was to happen NBC would probably see Conan O’Brien fly off to another network and they would have to pay a reported $40 Million Dollar buyout to the ‘Late Night’ host for the snub.
Is it just me, or do you feel that Stewart would be ill-equipped at hosting ‘The Tonight Show’? I feel O’Brien has been the funniest late night show host for a number of years and if the Peacock network does, in fact, let him walk they are making a huge mistake. O’Brien is an acquired taste which gets better each time you see his uncanny humor. Jon Stewart, who is the flavor of the month, may see his Cinderella slippers unable to fit if public opinion shifts in the near future.
I agree with you, Frank, but for different reasons. I don’t think Jon Stewart is a flavor of the month. I think Stewart is a very potent figure the American households – in politics. And granted, the line between politics and entertainment is blurred, and has always been so on late-night, a time slot usually bent on skewering Presidential mishaps. Jon Stewart is so powerful because he can mix the relevant with irrelevant. He also works because, quite bluntly, a lot of visiting political figures on the Daily Show underestimate him, leading to remarkably candid interviews.
But I don’t know how Stewart would fair on late night, with skits as well as guests primary of the celebrity nature. Its not that it isn’t a good fit, Frank, but I don’t its the same fit people are expected. And though I place Jon Stewart over Conan O’Brien, I have to agree – Jon’s no Jay.
Lol, its not because stewart is some super intellegent political savant, it works because of the moore effect. He can bullshit all he want, and if he ever gets called on it, its “comedy”.
Quig, go back to watching the “Half-Hour News Hour.” That really is more your speed.
Because obviously, only a nutty convervative would think jon stewart is anything but a hard line centrist…