NYT, Stanley, on Stewart/"Crossfire": "satisfying surprise attack"

[DeepModem Mom]

TV WATCH
No Jokes or Spin. It's Time (Gasp) to Talk.
By ALESSANDRA STANLEY

Published: October 20, 2004


There is nothing more painful than watching a comedian turn self-righteous. Unless of course, the comedian is lashing out at smug and self-serving television-news personalities. Jon Stewart could not resist a last dig at CNN's "Crossfire" during his monologue on Comedy Central on Monday night . "They said I wasn't being funny," the star of "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" said, rolling his eyes expressively. "And I said to them: 'I know that. But tomorrow I will go back to being funny," Mr. Stewart said, adding that their show would still be bad, although he used a more vulgar expression.

And that is why his surprise attack on the hosts of CNN's "Crossfire" was so satisfying last Friday. Exchanging his usual goofy teasing for withering contempt, he told Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson that they were partisan hacks and that their pro-wrestling approach to political discourse was "hurting America." (He also used an epithet for the male reproductive organ to describe Mr. Carlson.)...

***

The transcript of Friday's "Crossfire," and the blog commentary about it, popped up all over the Internet this weekend. Mr. Stewart's Howard Beal (of "Network") outburst stood out because he said what a lot of viewers feel helpless to correct: that news programs, particularly on cable, have become echo chambers for political attacks, amplifying the noise instead of parsing the misinformation. Whether the issue is Swift boat ads or Bill O'Reilly's sexual harassment suit, shows like "Crossfire" or "Hardball" provide gladiator-style infotainment as journalists clownishly seek to amuse or rile viewers, not inform them.

When Mr. Carlson took the offense, charging that Mr. Stewart had no right to complain since he had asked Senator John Kerry softball questions on "The Daily Show," Mr. Stewart looked genuinely appalled. "I didn't realize - and maybe this explains quite a bit - that the news organizations look to Comedy Central for their cues on integrity." When Mr. Carlson continued to argue, Mr. Stewart shut him down hard. "You are on CNN," he said. "The show that leads into me is puppets making crank phone calls."...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/20/arts/television/20watc.html

[npincus]

1. Here's the link to Jon Stewart's Crossfire appearance:

http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2652831

I thoroughly enjoyed it during last nite's bout with election-time insomnia.

[mom cat]

8. Great clip...Thanks for posting it. Jon really stood up for news that

doesn't sound like Jerry Springer.

[npincus]

10. you're welcome- and are you in Japan?

I lived there for 2 years (Kyoto) way back when and met my hubbie there- he's Japanese. I miss the place.

[mom cat]

24. No, not Japan. I live in Jamaica Plain MA, JP for short. I can see the

mix up.

[DemocracyInaction]

2. The only thing I disagee with Jon on....

I did not see this but have been reading bits and pieces. I really don't think the Dem talking heads/politicians come on these shows and do entertainment rants. They are trying to get out the true information and have to scream over these whoring psychos who are dumping propaganda like an elephant with the trots all over the American viewer. I really haven't seen many try to come on and do the liberal equivalent of what these repubs and the whores spew. And, it's taken like 3 years for them to even start getting a word in edgewise.

[Minimus]

9. Jon's comments are aimed at the hosts and the media in general

not so much the guests. Because the hosts do not aske the proper questions the guests really do not get the opportunity to address the issues.

[Tansy_Gold]

18. The hosts don't ask the proper questions and then don't

allow the guests to answer.

It's roughly the equivalent of 22 minutes of hate, with people just shouting over each other, interrupting each other, never allowing anyone to actually speak. Think of the second Kerry/boosh debate, where Charlies Gibson asked the question about the back-door draft and boosh shouted him down with the "What about Tony Blair?" rant. That was taken right off Crossfire or any of those other stupid shows. And because that kind of verbal assault is what passes for "discussion" ot "conversation" these days, no one really thought to take him to task for it. The subject was changed and never revisited.

[liberalmuse]

3. I'm so glad this is getting the coverage it is.

I only saw a few minutes of the show online, but it was classic! Jon Stewart is my hero. I'm glad he was able to expose what I despise about 'news' these days. I'm going to have to drop him an e-mail.

[npincus]

4. Best Stewart line: "I won't be your monkey"

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Great piece! Thanks for sharing it. :^)

[kcwayne]

6. This is much ado about nothing - Stewart's rant is irrelevant

Absolutely nothing changed in the Crossfire program on Monday or Tuesday, this event is going into the memory hole. In fact Begala pointed out on Tuesday's program, after only spending 1/2 hour with the Crossfire team, Stewart resorted to a Crossfire style slur, so what distinguishes Stewart from them?

This was a clever stunt by Stewart that gets him a lot of attention, but what he had to say was not that useful. "You are hurting America" and "You are conducting theater" are pretty weak indictments. Stewart readily admits he is conducting theater on the Daily Show, but he excuses it since the Daily Show is officially labeled as comedy, and Crossfire is not.

Many people don't like the premise of putting ideological adversaries in the same room to confront one another, and want to see Crossfire taken off the air, which is presumably Stewart's point. Stewart sort of suggested that he would appreciate it if Crossfire were to be transformed to a true debate format. Crossfire wouldn't have any viewership if it was conducted in such a format because people watch for the sparks, not the intellectual quality of ideas.

For progressives, trashing Crossfire and suggesting it be eliminated is self destructive. Name one other show where Democrats or Progressives are given a platform to say ANYTHING on broadcast or cable television. As poor as you might think the format is, it is one of the few that allows something other than Republican propaganda to be voiced.

Consider the fact that Crossfire is shown at a time when a vast majority of people are not watching TV, which suits the Republican owners of CNN just fine since the point of their operation is to preserve Republicanism at all costs. We need more forums where Republican propaganda is challenged, not less.

[Bridget Burke]

7. So--what you're saying is that Crossfire is irrelevant, anyway?

Yes, many of us are working when it's shown. There are no re-runs.

And most of us make a definite point of catching the Daily Show. Should we weep for Crossfire?

[kcwayne]

11. Crossfire won't be a catalyst for change, that is certain

if it were truly threatening to Republicanism, it would be altered to make it less so. In fact, it use used to air at 6:30pm CST, and has been moved to 3:30 CST. Maybe this was a pure business decision on the part of CNN, but I suspect Republicans didn't like seeing larger numbers of people seeing their ideas challenged on a daily basis.

So in the sense that it can make a real difference, yes, it is irrelevant. Should you weep for it? Yes. You should weep for the fact that there are so few outlets for opposition voices in the media, and as the few voices out there get marginalized, Democracy loses.

[HootieMcBoob]

12. i disagree strongly

and what jon stewart said was not irrelevant. someone had to say it and i am very thankful that he did. now it's out there. people are hearing about it. maybe some people will say "hey, wait a minute. he's right". you have a very cynical take on the whole thing.

[kcwayne]

14. What is Stewart right about?

What he actually said was not an articulation of a reasoned position. He simply said "You suck", "You are hurting America", "You are a hack", and "You are a dick" and people are delighting over the fact that he spat upon a couple of puffed up talking heads. So what? It may be fun, or funny, but does anyone thing this will be taken seriously by anyone in the media?

My view on this is not cynical at all, I am not lamenting that Jon Stewart's points are not going to be taken to heart by the media. I don't agree with Stewart that Crossfire should stop. I would prefer it if it were more reasoned, civil, and more agressive on the bullshit suppression, but I don't want to see the only forum on TV where Republicans are directly challenged eliminated.

[spooky3]

22. I think your post missed the whole point and instead harps on

trivial aspects that the media are obsessing over.

It is a very well reasoned position to object to the Crossfire format, which does not allow each side to present interesting ideas and back them up with facts and evidence. Jon is absolutely right that encouraging people to shout at each other, and interrupt each other, does not provide the opportunity to share information and allow people to listen. It is also very reasonable to object that this format (or worse) dominates what passes for "news" these days, that it misleads and fails to inform viewers, that a legitimate, intellectually challenging debate show does not exist, and that the "news" networks and NOT Comedy Central, have an obligation to provide such a forum.

If you don't like how he articulated this concern, go back and look at the clip, or look at it for the first time, rather than relying on the media "highlights". He could not complete a sentence because Carlson was doing exactly what Jon was objecting to--interrupting him constantly, accusing him of being "boring", trying to get him to be "funny" rather than to make an important, serious point, etc. It proved Jon's point completely.

[kcwayne]

23. I saw the original broadcast, and re-read the transcript

All of the eloquent points you are making about the inadequacy of the Crossfire format were not made by Jon. His contribution to the show was the shock affect of telling Carlson and Begala that they suck, with a little inarticulate hand waving alluding to the larger points you are making.

I understand Jon's point very well, and agree with it. My point is that what Jon is saying is irrelevant as to whether Crossfire or the media will change because they won't. Crossfire not only did not change their format based on Jon's appearance, they spinned his comments on the show yesterday to welcome him into the fold.

[dansolo]

16. But the Daily Show *IS* comedy

What about that don't you understand? And you are seriously deluding yourself if you honestly believe that Crossfire serves as a platform for Progressives. Paul Begala is hardly someone I would say is an advocate for Progressives. He and Carville are DLC shills, who spout the Democratic Leadership talking points. They don't address the real issues, only the selected talking points of the day.

[kcwayne]

20. So would you rather see Crossfire replaced with the Paula Zahn Show?

Crossfire may not be progressive in the purest sense, but it at least offers some contrast to right wing propaganda.

[Zero Gravitas]

17. Crossfire sucks

Of course nothing changed. But when was the last time anyone went on one of these so-called news channels and denounced what they're doing? So what if Jon Stewart's show is "theater"? He doesn't pretend to be a journalist, well he does pretend, but with expectation that everyone knows that its a JOKE.

The people on Corssfire and other shows like it, are SUPPOSED to be journalists, they are SUPPOSED to inform the public, not entertain with "sparks". The progressive agenda is not advanced one iota but the likes of Begala or Carville shouting Democratic talking points at Novack or Dick Carlson who respond by shouting their own talking points. If they did spend any time seriously challenging republican propaganda then they might accomplish something, but they don't. they play into the hands of the Republican agenda merely by appearing on these crappy shows as it reinforces the idea that political contests can be won by who shouts the most simplistic slogans the loudest.

[kcwayne]

21. You Crossfire haters are all right. It should be taken off the air

and replaced with the myriad other programs on the liberal media that make no qualms whatsover about sucking up to the right wing. Maybe CNN should see if they can get O'Reilly or Hannity on, or have Paula Zahn or Aaron Brown come up with new progamming.

[southpaw]

13. What I liked most...

Was that, while Jon was including both sides in his criticism, he was clearly aiming his most cutting remarks squarely at Carlson. Begala was never singled out for criticism, but Tucker got nailed several times.

I loved it when Tucker was commenting on how awful it would be to have dinner with Stewart, saying something to the effect of: "I'd hate to have dinner with you." Stewart looked at him with obvious distaste and said something like: "Don't worry. You won't be."

[wicket]

15. wow, great article

Thanks for posting it! :)

[Tesibria]

19. Link to Crossfire's "fireback" yesterday

Yesterday, Begala and Carlson responded to Jon Stewart's appearance - and Monday's statements.

It's a gem.

http://barrow.it/files/crossfirefireback.wmv