MovieChat Forums > The Daily Show (1996) Discussion > What I think the problem is.

What I think the problem is.

posted 8 years ago by strhe
4 replies | jump to latest

I think Trevor does a phenomenal job at all aspects of the show EXCEPT the interviews. Some of them go very well, especially if it's with a fellow comedian (such as with Jason Sudeikis). However, most I find to be at least mildly awkward or occasionally downright nonsensical.

I guess it's not surprising he is so great when it's just him talking to the camera after all his experience is in stand up.

He just needs some work on the interviewing. It's been long enough, I'm surprised he hasn't improved much.

[–] JWJanneck 8 years ago

The interviews are abysmal, but seriously, the rest stinks, too. It's not a good sign when the guy in front of the camera is the one who laughs hardest at his own jokes.

But the real problem is deeper than that, and it also explains why he is such a lousy interviewer. Noah's interests are shallow comedy and race. That's it. Those seem to be the two things that animate him, and it's not enough to carry a show like this. In order to produce a good interview, you need to get into the space of sincere interest in the person you are talking to, at least for the duration of the interview. And Noah has neither the empathy nor the intellectual wherewithal to do that for most of his guests.

Stewart was fascinated by the absurdity of the public discourse. That's what made him watchable even for many Republicans, in spite of the fact that he clearly came from a left-leaning perspective. Noah gets transfixed by Trump's hair. That's the difference.

[–] segsig 8 years ago

The problem is Noah is doing Stewart's show, he hasn't made anything his own. And I agree the weakest point is often the interviews, because when it's a serious subject he often doesn't find the funny. Perhaps a panel discussion would work better for him, so others could bring some laughs.

Though I will say in the past couple of weeks he seems to have genuinely found the absurdity in Trump, but it seems to make him angry.

[–] JWJanneck 8 years ago

The thing is: Trump shouldn't make anybody angry, Trump is just a clown with a ridiculous hairdo and some serious mental issues. What should make people angry is that he is getting the kind of attention and support that he is, rather than selling pencils from a cup like he should.

The anger shouldn't be directed at Trump, or even his supporters, but at a system, politics and media, that allows someone like this to appear like a serious contender for the presidency. Noah will never, ever understand that point.

[–] ReelReviews14 8 years ago

Trump is just a clown with a ridiculous hairdo and some serious mental issues. What should make people angry is that he is getting the kind of attention and support that he is, rather than selling pencils from a cup like he should.
The anger shouldn't be directed at Trump, or even his supporters, but at a system, politics and media, that allows someone like this to appear like a serious contender for the presidency.

Wow, can't believe it. You TOTALLY nailed the point of The Daily Show there. Guess a blind squirrel can find an acorn now and then.

Noah will never, ever understand that point.

Your boy Stewart never, ever understood that point either. The purpose of the Daily Show is to MOCK the mainstream media and political establishment -- not to BE the mainstream media and spend your time acting like your purpose to "educate" the public and demonize so-and-so right-wing candidate for how "backwards" his views are compared to your "progressive" values.

People like Stephen Colbert and Roy Wood Jr. understand that point perfectly. They portray hilarious CARICATURES of "news media" personalities on Comedy Central for big laughs. Guys like Stewart just portray themselves.

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