How much longer does John Stewart have?

[Sephiroth]

I am a big fan of Mr. Stewart-he is damn funny and one of the smartest men on television. But I have noticed that over the last couple years he seems to be taking more and more frequent breaks from The Daily Show; they always took the usual breaks for holidays and after major events. But the last couple years it seems to be happening more and more, which makes me wonder if maybe he is getting a bit tapped out creatively. The workload he has taken on as he has taken over more and more aspects of the show has to be wearing him down too, and I have noticed recently just how much he has aged since he first started hosting The Daily Show-then again, he has been at it over ten years. And he just plain seems to be a bit more pointed lately, as if he is just getting tired of doing the same thing and his patience is wearing out. I am sure there are plenty of other opportunities available, so I am beggining to wonder if his time with The Daily Show may be coming nigh sooner rather than later.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

Once a Lantern, always a Lantern.

[AFN: Judge Shred]

I do think Colbert being so popular lets himrelax a bit more as he isn't carrying that load. Maybe he just can take more time off now?

[Welfare Willis]

Well it's kind of hard to talk about Jon without talking also about politics, but I'll try.

When you've been on the job as long as Jon, ingesting the 24 news cycle for as long as Jon has and seeing the same crap occur over and over again I think it's very easy to get cynical. We're living in a time of increased gridlock and playing to the base instead of building agreement.

I agree with you Jon's responses have been much more pointed lately, but that could be because of political trends or just Jon's changing attitude.

[Glitch]

He's been going on too long with the same thing. He needs to turn heel.

[Deleted]

Jan 7, 2013 23:28:49 GMT -5 Clash, Never a Meter Maid said:

Once a Lantern, always a Lantern.

[Deleted]

Jan 7, 2013 23:55:15 GMT -5 Glitch said:

He's been going on too long with the same thing. He needs to turn heel.

[Cyno]

You keep hearing that he's on the shortlist of people to replace Letterman, Leno, etc. But I don't think that's going to happen. He's got way too much control over his show on Comedy Central and you don't really want to give up something like that to be CBS' or NBC's bitch.

Tonight's subject matter probably hit home tonight since Jon grew up in Central/Southern New Jersey. I'm guessing that's why he seemed a lot more bitter. He's also done a LOT as far as organizing charity drives and such go for Sandy.

[Welfare Willis]

Jan 8, 2013 0:20:32 GMT -5 Cyno said:

You keep hearing that he's on the shortlist of people to replace Letterman, Leno, etc. But I don't think that's going to happen. He's got way too much control over his show on Comedy Central and you don't really want to give up something like that to be CBS' or NBC's bitch.

I feel the same way. Always thought when Letterman retired it should go to Craig Ferguson or Conan O'Brien.

[BorneAgain]

Jan 8, 2013 0:20:32 GMT -5 Cyno said:

You keep hearing that he's on the shortlist of people to replace Letterman, Leno, etc. But I don't think that's going to happen. He's got way too much control over his show on Comedy Central and you don't really want to give up something like that to be CBS' or NBC's bitch.

Plus I think Stewart likes being able to address certain serious stuff when he feels like it. Jon likes the celebrity stuff well enough, but faking BS conversation with Hollywood flavors of the month would be a little grating after a while.

[Beav]

When I saw the title, I immediately thought of the singer-songwriter John Stewart (the most criminally underrated songwriter of the 20th century), who died in 2008.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Jan 7, 2013 23:55:15 GMT -5 Glitch said:

He's been going on too long with the same thing. He needs to turn heel.

Wrong John.

[Cyno]

Jan 8, 2013 0:42:35 GMT -5 BorneAgain said:

Jan 8, 2013 0:20:32 GMT -5 Cyno said:

You keep hearing that he's on the shortlist of people to replace Letterman, Leno, etc. But I don't think that's going to happen. He's got way too much control over his show on Comedy Central and you don't really want to give up something like that to be CBS' or NBC's bitch.

Plus I think Stewart likes being able to address certain serious stuff when he feels like it. Jon likes the celebrity stuff well enough, but faking BS conversation with Hollywood flavors of the month would be a little grating after a while.

That's also what the Daily Show was like when Craig Kilborn was host. He had to fight a lot of people to change it into what it currently is.

[celticjobber]

I know I'm in the minority but I preferred the Daily Show when Craig Kilborn was the host. I also enjoyed Kilby's run as host of the Late, Late Show.

[ritt works hard fo da chickens]

You do got to give the man a lot of credit. He takes a position without going over the top. Today's political comedians are generally so offensive to those of a different view that they lose a lot of their humor just to be mean spirited.

John's been at it for a long time and is nowhere near what Dennis Miller or Bill Maher turned into.

[mjolnir]

I liked Killborn's run, but looking back, it hasn't aged as well and it really feels like something that had a shorter life span to it. Much like his Late, Late Show sort of proved in the end when it took on basically the same formula.

Under Stewart, the Daily Show has become an institution. He's literally helped shape the face of Hollywood in terms of comedy. So many are quick to forget, and some even don't realize, how many comedians first got their break on the Daily Show and used it as a platform. Not just Colbert and Carell, albeit I freely admit that outside of Stewart they are probably the biggest and shiniest examples of it.

I think, like others have said, Stewart's just trying to battle a growing cynicism to the system. It's not the first time he's come across as cynical or bitter over the years. It comes and goes in waves, sometimes worse, sometimes better.

Not trying to take away from it, just saying.

And, if he is being drained, I'd argue part of the problem might be something I've noticed with the show. Less and less it's been an ensemble piece like it was in it's peeks and become more & more mainly Stewart centric. Nothing wrong with it, he's the biggest ratings draw they have outside of Black's occasional visit these days. And, most, myself included, like Stewart. But I bet it's draining to do the majority of the half an hour show than, say, being the buffer and the ten (or so) minute interviewer at the end of the show. Like he used to be.

I honestly hope, unless something drastic changes in his quality as a performer, he keeps going for years to come. I do hope, eventually, he passes it off like Killborn did to him, but for now I'm satisfied with John Stewart. A conversation for another time clearly, but now I do wonder if people would even accept someone taking over for Stewart now. Most don't even realize he isn't the first host of the show and the show's become such a symbiotic life form with him that it is hard to picture somebody else in that chair.

[Deleted]

I still think he has a while in him. Some of his monologues in 2012 (especially in the election run-up) were some of his best stuff, and Chaos on Bullshit Mountain might be his best ever.

[Sephiroth]

I hope he keeps up, I love his work on The Daily Show. But as I said, I am just noticing that they seem to go on hiatus more and more frequently, and it makes me wonder if he is reaching the end of his creative rope. And I agree that I get the impression the state of politics in this country is rubbing off on him as well-he seems to be getting more embittered and impatient. I actually think going back to the original formual for a while would probably be a big refresher for him-he is probably straining under the pressure of being expected to always comment on the day's politican events at length. Maybe what he needs is a new Stephen Colbert-another stand out personality who can help take some of the nightly burden off his shoulders.

[Mattification]

Jan 8, 2013 0:20:32 GMT -5 Cyno said:

Tonight's subject matter probably hit home tonight since Jon grew up in Central/Southern New Jersey. I'm guessing that's why he seemed a lot more bitter. He's also done a LOT as far as organizing charity drives and such go for Sandy.

What was the subject?

[Cyno]

Some members of Congress playing politics with Hurricane Sandy relief.