Tucker Carlson Is A Dick
And John Stewart told him so, in an appearance on Carlson's "Crossfire." Here's a summary from Salon:
Jon Stewart: Crossfire "hurting America""I think you're a lot more fun on your show," said Tucker Carlson to "Crossfire" guest Jon Stewart this afternoon. "And I think you're as much of a dick on your show as on any other," Stewart shot back. It wasn't the faux avuncularity we've come to expect from Stewart on "The Daily Show" but there, of course, he's playing a role. Here he was himself -- and he wasn't buying any of it.
From the moment Stewart sat down he made no secret of how repugnant he found the show. In fact, he said to Carlson and co-host Paul Begala that he had been so hard on the show he felt it was his duty to come on and say to their faces what he has said to friends and in interviews. What he said was that their show was "hurting America," and he was being only slightly hyperbolic. Stewart told them that when America needed journalists to be journalists they had instead chosen to present theater.
Carlson, trying to affect an air of dry amusement that a comedian would presume to lecture him, important pundit that he is, but looking as if his bow-tie were about to start spinning, could barely contain his outrage. In an absolutely mind-boggling moment, Carlson tried to counter Stewart's criticism by pointing out that during John Kerry's recent appearance on "The Daily Show," Stewart asked the candidate softball questions. "If you want to measure yourself against a comedy show," Stewart said, "be my guest."
Paul Begala tried to put a more conciliatory face on things by pointing out that theirs was a "debate" show. Stewart was having none of it. "I would love to see a real debate show," he said. And went on to tell them that instead of holding politicians' feet to the fire by asking tough question, "you're part of their strategy. You're partisan -- what's the word? -- uh, hacks."
It's almost a cliche by now to talk about "The Daily Show" being more trusted than real newscasts, but Stewart showed why. He pointed out to Carlson that he had asked Kerry if he really were in Cambodia but "I don't care," and when Carlson asked him what he thought about the "Bill O'Reilly vibrator flap," Stewart said, "I don't." It was as concise a demonstration of the triviality of the media as you could hope for.
"I thought you were going to be funny," Carlson said toward the end of the interview. Stewart responded, "No, I'm not going to be your monkey." And that was what was so bracing.
Stewart's "Crossfire" appearance is going to generate talk about how prickly he was, how he wasn't "nice" like he is on "The Daily Show." But prickliness is just what was needed. If you've built your reputation as a satirist pointing out how the media falls down on the job, you're not going to make yourself a part of their charade.
I've heard people talk about "The Daily Show" as an oasis of sanity, a public service. I couldn't agree more. Stewart's appearance on "Crossfire" was another public service. He went on and acted as if the show's purpose really was to confront tough issues, instead of being the political equivalent of pro wrestling. Given a chance to say absolutely what he thought, Stewart took it. He accomplished what almost never happens on television anymore: He made the dots come alive.
I don't watch tv, except for what I can find on the internet. This was the first time I had ever seen Crossfire or its hosts (I have seen the Daily Show numerous time on the 'net) and I have to say, Stewart did a masterful job of making these guys look like absolute idiots, which I take is their normal appearance. What smarmy, self-satisfied bastards. Begala is a horrible excuse for a liberal pundit and Carlson is a complete sellout. Neither had the integrity of a used car salesman.
rhc at October 16, 2004 9:22 AM
What the hell's going on? First Mickey Kaus and now Jon Stewart. I'm liking this. Dems always getting free passes and softballs from the Microsoft Media, that is what MSM stands for, right? And Repubs getting the same from the other side media, OSM. Well, FKM all. What happened to all that voter rebellion a few years back? All that disenchantment with the political system? Looks like it got lost in the hate surge. Hate Kerry, hate Bush. Hate liberals, hate conservatives. Hate is in vogue when the little old ladies are taking off their clothes in protest for whatever it is they're hating. Quick, who's the last president that wasn't hated? My vote is Ford. Who can hate a guy who could take great pratfalls and nail spectators with errant tee shots? Plus, then everyone seemed too busy or too complacent to bother with hating anything. Life was just there, nothing to obsess over. I hated it. So bored...FKT.
allan at October 16, 2004 9:59 AM
Ken Layne has a link to the actual video footage. It's quite something to watch.
LYT at October 16, 2004 2:10 PM
Yeah but still..
(off looking up his exact words)
"...it's hurting America."
Is this a little grandiose? Just a twitch precious? The truth is, people who really care about shit don't watch CNN. It's kind of like vaguely feminist women who complain that fashion magazines are giving girls bad body images or self esteem issues or whatever... If you're old enough to read, you're old enough to choose what you read. In forty five years, I've never made it a point to sit down and watch Crossfire, nor do I know anyone who will admit to doing so. I haven't laid eyes on it since I worked on a satillite control room twelve years ago. Sure, it's a pathetic little huckster's enterprise, but it's not a meaningful threat to the Republic.
Also says Stewart: "Right now, you're helping the politicians and the corporations."
With that last word, an important line of seriousness was crossed. Go ahead, spit it out with a Santa Monica accent: "Corporations!" How many of us own stock in corporations? How many of us count on them for our quality of life? It's not sane to be so pissy about them.
Cridland at October 16, 2004 4:33 PM
There is nonetheless no cause to doubt Amy's headline: Tucker Carlson, whoever he is, is almost certainly a dick.
Cridland at October 16, 2004 4:36 PM
Good question -- how many of us do own stock in corporations? I certainly don't. Can't afford to.
LYT at October 16, 2004 5:15 PM
> I certainly don't. Can't afford to.
No stocks, no mutuals, no portfolios in your own life, or your parent's investment schemes? Not a problem. Do you count on corporations for anything? Food, medicine, health care, amusements & distractions, anything at all?
The thought of a John Stewart, career peaking on national television in his mid-forties, describing "corporations" as an adversary whose interests must be countermanded is just silly. It's pathetic and infantile. Who does he think owns all the stock in the world, the moustache guy from the get-out-of-jail free cards? Who does he think works for those corporations, someone other than himself?
What alternate scheme would he imagine for the distribution of responsibilty and wealth in the 21st century? If we asked him, which apparently no one on that TV show had the sense to do, do you suppose he could have answered with anything but a wisecrack?
Thanks for your visit to seriousness, John. It was swell. You can get back to the comedy now. But if you ever want to try again, cable TV might not be the best venue.
Cridlamd at October 16, 2004 6:00 PM
I'm a capitalist, and I have no problem with corporations. I do, however, have a problem with government handouts to corporations. In California, at the moment, the most obscene bit of corporations on the dole is the mega dairy farmers who were given anti-pollution funds -- and opened HUGE farms with them, causing air pollution (due to cow farts) to go off the charts in the area.
Amy Alkon at October 16, 2004 6:03 PM
The weird thing for me was that I watch The Daily Show, well, daily, but I'd forgotten Crossfire was even still on. This was kind of like, I dunno, Conan O'Brien going up to Byron Allen and telling him he's ruining America.
Jim Treacher at October 16, 2004 7:44 PM
Go see Team America. Stewart is like the Tim Robbins puppet.
It's the corporations, man... They're all corporate... Making money and stuff...
Sing along to the theme song!
o/~ Only a woman...
Is allowed to touch me there o/~ o/~
Cridland at October 17, 2004 3:17 AM
The issue isn't corporations being evil. What I got from Stewart's bit is that, when they do go wrong, the media types don't seriously call them on it, rather than dealing in superficial theater.
Corporations, like most people, will generally try to get away with as much as they can without being called on it. If someone calls them on it, it hurts their profitability, and they stop. Most times.
LYT at October 17, 2004 1:09 PM
> ...try to get away with as much as they can
without being called on it...
Exactly. There's nothing exotic about it, and a man of Stewart's sophistication ought not be talking about corporations (PITOOOOEY!) in simplistic terms the way we did back in fifth grade. We had excuses:
1. It was a leftoid university town.
2. It was the druggy '60s.
3. We were CHILDREN.
Stewart has no such pretext. Last night at work I actually looked at the clip (T1 line), and it wasn't really the explosive confrontation the blogs describe it as. Mainly because the hosts were two of the most nebbish little fellows in all creation. Listen to the way they talk, look at the way they move! They're like 11-year-olds who wound up at senior prom by mistake, and they're trying to pull it off. It's not possible that Americans are counting on such venues for the delivery of truth. It's more likely that viewers have had their sensibilities slammed by psychedelic commercials for candy and soda pop, and then choose to sit through this show as the puddles of drool pool on their sweatshirts.
Maybe cable news has become the new corrosive industrial process by which weenie-men are refined to their sub-masculine quintessence. In such a realm, Bill Orreily is indeed a sexual dynamo. Again, has everyone noted that the woman who's suing him used to be a White House intern?
Anonymous at October 17, 2004 1:47 PM
meagin
Cridland at October 17, 2004 2:33 PM
It is fascinating how so many of the "you-know-who" players are already coming out and trying to tear The Daily Show down. The headline on The Drudge Report tonight is "John Stewart and Daily Show in Suprise Audience.........Drop!' What bullshit.
Oh, and oil surged past $55, America lost it's 1100th soldier in Iraq, election controvery is beginning to sweep across Florida, Bush will protect US from the draft, and a whole host of other bullshit.
If anything, The Daily Show will get a ratings boost from any controversy generated. And everyone will stay tuned, because he is genuinely hillarious. (Who could forget Steven Colbert going deep throat on a banana while reporting on the bisexual scandal surrounding Prince Charles?)
My guess is he will end up like Howard Stern, and gain market share most from those he offends.
PS- By "corporations" I suspect he meant the individuals who take advantage of the opportunities being a corporate big shot offer: limited liability from producing knowingly harmful products, legalized opportunity to plunder economic wealth and political power, and increasingly the revolving door between government and privatization.
eric (the password is.... Bullshit) at October 17, 2004 11:31 PM
> My guess is he will end up like Howard Stern,
> and gain market share most from those he
> offends.
Maybe. Jeff Jarvis has a post today saying that he can't pretend he's just doing comedy anymore, becuase "he's part of the dialog" or a "piece of the firmament" or something. It's kind of a shame because we need pure jokers, too. When I was a kid, Doonesbury was outrageously funny. (It was the Nixon administration, not yet turned tragic, so there was a lot to work with). As the years wore on Trudeau grew reflexively lefty and his gift for humor wilted.
Howard will always have lesbian strippers: Comedy gold, at least for his younger listeners.
Cridland at October 18, 2004 2:13 PM
Jon Stewart is smug and arrogant, too old for MTV and too self-involved for real life. He made Tucker Carlson look good.
Richard at October 22, 2004 1:32 PM
let's face it, tucker carlson is a dick. it's totally refreshing that someone said it so succinctly and on carlson's show to boot, in his smug, bowtie-framed face. beautiful. would that i had half the cojones stewart showed; progressives and liberals the world over should all offer hosannahs for his efforts. go, jon, go
danaman at January 6, 2005 1:52 AM