Star Spangled Staggers

US politics from outside the beltway

Fox News puts Jon Stewart on the spot

The Daily Show host had a tougher time than normal when he appeared on Fox News on Sunday.

By Duncan Robinson Published 20 June 2011 13:03

The host of the Daily Show, Jon Stewart, went onto Fox News Sunday last night. This, in itself, isn't really big news. Stewart regularly appears on the network and exchanges matey banter with the sometimes insane Bill O'Reilly. The formula is pretty standard whenever Stewart goes into enemy territory. The Fox News host accuses him of being the doyen of mainstream liberal bias, before Stewart declares: "Hey, I'm a comedian! Don't take me seriously."

This time, however, was a little different. Jon Stewart reeled out the same lines as usual (he's a comedian working on a comedy show, not a news anchor on a news show, etc. etc.) but Wallace was ready for them, pointing to a Baltimore Sun critic who recently wrote: "When [Stewart] is wrong, he goes into the tap dance of saying he's only a comedian and shouldn't be taken seriously."

This stumped Stewart momentarily. A raw nerve touched, Wallace dug his finger in a little deeper. "Honestly, I think you want to be a political player," said Wallace with a smirk.

Rather than laugh it off - like a comedian - Stewart seemed riled. "You're wrong. You are wrong," he replied sternly. Wallace then continued to poke, arguing that Fox was simply an antidote to mainstream liberal bias. This seemed to get to Stewart, who shot back, rather too forcefully: "Who are the most consistently misinformed media viewers? The most consistently misinformed? Fox, Fox viewers. Consistently, every poll."

Wallace then ruined what threatened to be an interesting debate by pointing to a clip of a "comedy roast" skit broadcast elsewhere on Stewart's network and a joke involving Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee's penis, which rather let the Daily Show host off the hook. "It's not exactly masterpiece theatre," argued Wallace. "You're the counterbalance to that. I'm suggesting that there is bias and you only tell part of the story." (Presumably because the joke focussed only on their sex video, rather than the break-up of their ill-fated marriage.)

Before this, however, the interview highlighted Stewart's awkward, and rather unique, position in the US media. Stewart might not want to be seen as a politcal player or a news anchor, but his comedy makes him so. His comedy is ideological and political - and that is why it's good. But the form it takes - a mock news show, that reacts to current affairs - blurs the lines between journalism and comedy. Likewise, events such as last year's "Rally for Sanity" cloud the issue further. The "I'm a comedian" defence is getting old. He is a part of US news culture, whether he wants to be or not. The Daily Show is infotainment with great jokes. The sooner Stewart accepts that, and stops relying on the comedian defence, the better.

UPDATE: I refine my views on Stewart and this interview in this piece here. Feel free to continue the kicking on a new thread.

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Tags: Fox News

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27 comments

Mon, 2011-06-20 17:44 — John Dickson (not verified)

This article completely misinforms the reader of what actually happened on the show. Jon Stewart completely destroyed Fox News and Chris Wallace, and Chris Wallace at no time got the best of Stewart.

Mon, 2011-06-20 17:55 — Duncan Robinson (not verified)

For the most part Stewart was calm and funny - then he got angry, which is exactly what Wallace wanted. I thought Stewart looked uncomfortable in the middle.

Mon, 2011-06-20 18:35 — J Hill (not verified)

It would take a lot more than this to rattle someone as smart as Jon Stewart - he's actually trying to engage with the Fox interviewer but the interviewer is ploughing on with his "agenda". Interesting to see it though. Much more fun than Newsnight.

Tue, 2011-06-21 22:24 — Arthur O'Connor

Love Jon Stewart - and loved his thoughtfulness in this interview - in which he was decidedly more intellectual than the Fox News bore. Fox News is for the Red Top readers - and lets be snobby - Jon Stewart followers will be more aspirational.

Fri, 2011-07-01 14:11 — clint (not verified)

r u kidding the powers that b would die to have someone, anyone ,who was as on point and effortlessly defends his work as stewart. however it has become to emotionaly taxing to even enjoy the banter of these type of comediens, because of the gross incompotence of all politicians.they should all be hung for treason.it,s all about how much they can spin the law to suite their agenda

Tue, 2011-06-21 22:58 — jbarchet

After watching the video and then reading the summary I felt I was left wondering the same question as everyone else
Q: "did Duncan watch the same video?????"

Wed, 2011-06-22 22:01 — Jim (not verified)

Did Duncan Robinson watch the same interview as me? Has the wrong video been embedded?

Sat, 2011-06-25 01:24 — Whatsgoingon

I hope Stewart wasn't drinking the same concoction that Fox give to the likes of Hannity, O'Reilly or Beck!

If it is he could be manchurianed!

Wed, 2011-06-22 04:14 — Grace C. (not verified)

He describes Fox News pretty well fron what I've seen of it.

Wed, 2011-06-22 04:16 — Grace C. (not verified)

he being Jon Stewart sorry for not making that clear.

Tue, 2011-06-21 00:04 — 1R4M

in NO WAY did he get put on the spot or put off, I agree with kristian!

Tue, 2011-06-21 00:12 — 1R4M

who the hell wrote it, stewart defended himself very well and he didnt say im ONLY a comedian he said im PRIMARILY a comedian with an ideological background

u need to watch this again

Fox news, not matter what, always sticks to its beliefs
even if Stewart had received a standing ovation, fox STILL would ahv demonised him, the presenter didnt even let him finish

Tue, 2011-06-21 11:48 — hayneman

The Daily Show is terrific and Jon Stewart is a star. It's a disgrace that More 4 still only broadcasts the Global Edition rather than four times a week as in the past. ITV was clearly afraid that the lame 10 O'Clock Show would look poor by comparison, and boy were they right...

Tue, 2011-06-21 12:21 — Peter M (not verified)

I think to describe Stewart as "angry" in this exchange is an over-exaggeration, to say the least...

Tue, 2011-06-21 13:59 — p j wall (not verified)

I watched it and still cant find where stewart lost it? maybe you dont understand what stewart does! stewart toyed with him, wallace had the agenda and it failed, you make it out to be a John Knott moment (if anyone remembers it) where he ripped his microphone off and stormed out of the studio!! looking like a total idiot, Stewart was cool and calm.

Tue, 2011-06-21 14:58 — Peter (not verified)

Oh dear, Duncan, you misread this one. Stewart did great here.

Tue, 2011-06-21 15:12 — Duncan Robinson (not verified)

Ooof, a shellacking. I simply thought Stewart wasn't as slick as he normally is, and nowhere near as cool and calm. This interview is the first I've seen with Stewart where he looked (briefly) uncomfortable.

Tue, 2011-06-21 15:42 — JAM (not verified)

totally disagree with this article. watch the unedited version of the interview online, where stewart comes out looking even stronger AND wallace admits fox is "a counterweight" to other media and the network "tells the other side of the story"...which is very different from their claimed "fair and balanced" approach. stewart clearly points out that he (and the NY Times, etc.) are driven to expose hypocrisy and corruption, while fox new is driven to stoke sensationalism and push its ideological agenda.

Tue, 2011-06-21 15:48 — Duncan Robinson (not verified)

I did watch the unedited version, but unfortunately I couldn't embed it so went with the edited YouTube clip above.

Tue, 2011-06-21 16:07 — Siobhan (not verified)

Have to agree with everyone here except the author of the piece - i watched the whole thing and Stewart was spot on (loved his line about "the soup you swim in" - classic) and didnt once loose it with the host, yes he got exasperate but it was FOX NEWS!

however, i do agree with
the author in one respect: Stewart is more than a comic.

I am most annoyed with More 4 for cutting his show to once a week - tsk!

Mon, 2011-06-20 14:46 — Kristian (not verified)

You're misrepresenting Stewart by suggesting his defence is simply "I'm a comedian!" He explains himself perfectly in the video, and has done repeatedly on his own show when this accusation is pulled up.

The most pertinent moment in the interview comes when Stewart refers to the Pelosi interview which ALL networks cut off from the moment she refused to talk about penis and chose instead to discuss jobs. This is the absurd political landscape Stewart positions himself to mock. Just because his perplexity resonates with others who recognise this absurdity doesn't mean he's a political player attempting to push an agenda.

Tue, 2011-06-21 16:42 — Bill Kristol-Balls (not verified)

I thought the part were JS got "angry" about Fox News viewers being the most consistently misinformed was the most powerful part of the whole interview.

Sure there's bias on all networks to a greater or lesser extent but as the old saying goes -

"Everyone's entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts"

Tue, 2011-06-21 17:22 — presskern923

Did I watch a different interview?

Over, and over again Fox sets their own standards lower than a comedy show, and play the victim when Jon points out the obvious.

When they tried to make the case that the comedy show was misinforming viewers, Jon simply pointed to the good amount of research showing that it is fox viewers who are misinformed.

Jon's exasperation is well founded. People should NOT be looking to his show for news - that they are shows the pitiful state of our media.

Seriously, I know you want to be edgy by railing against the bigger man in the interview, but I think you're way off base.

Tue, 2011-06-21 17:27 — JJ (not verified)

I love how Wallace pulled out the roast of Pamela Anderson ... seriously, that's what Fox News wants to be compared to? It's pretty apt.

Stewart had a few misteps, but overall destroyed Wallace, who came off as a peevish child trying to push an agenda rather than conduct an interview. I can't believe he's related to Mike Wallace.

Wed, 2011-06-29 11:38 — Kaljander (not verified)

“See the game? I make fun of conservatives or republicans because I'm a liberal partisan ideolog. I make fun of liberals or democrats because I want, as part of my brilliant yet cynical strategy, to maintain enough credibility to continue making fun of conservatives and republicans. And that narrative of conservative victimization is the true genious of what Fox News has accomplished. Any editorial judgement in news or schools or movies that doesn't favour the conservative view is elitism and is evidence of liberal biase. Where as any editorial judgement that favours the conservative view is evidence of merely fairness and done to protect them from liberal biase. And if you criticize Fox for this game, guess what that's evidence of? How right they are about how persecuted...It is airtighter than an utters anus! (Don't ask me how I know that) They can't lose!”

- Jon Stewart, on his own show after being on Fox News with Wallace.

Tue, 2011-06-21 19:49 — kakadu (not verified)

Sorry Comrades. Stewart is a bore whether he is trying to be a comedian or a political commentator.

Anyone with an IQ larger than their shoe size should surely recognise what a ohoney he really is.....but then again you do have Barry playing at being President ?

Wed, 2011-06-22 19:23 — Jim (not verified)

Headline and article bears no relation to the interview, a job at Fox awaits the writer.