Jon Stewart on Crossfire
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN returns to it constantly as the definitive critique of adversarial TV punditry, still seen as relevant to polarized media and online discourse.
What it is
Jon Stewart appears as a guest on CNN's Crossfire in 2004 and criticizes hosts Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala for turning political debate into partisan theater that hurts America.
Recommended by 5 HN commenters across 5 different months, 2009 to 2025.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec elblanco · 2010-09 · on “The Jon Stewart Decade”
After reading this, I don't think you understand what the Daily Show is. This is probably the best discussion about what the show is all about (note: crossfire was canceled almost immediately after this). [this video]
Strong rec AdamDuMonde · 2012-12 · on “Eric Schmidt And Stephen Colbert Talk Politics”
This is exactly what I thought about John Stewart during his epic debate with Tucker Carlson on Crossfire. It's so very worth watching again even if you've seen it multiple times. It really reminds people that John Stewart and Stephen Colbert really are only "characters" on their show. [this video] Bill Maher is another brilliant, politically insightful comedian.
Recommends biotech · 2010-01 · on “Brian Williams: Why Jon Stewart Is Good For News”
In TFA, Brian Williams mentions Stewart's takedown of Cramer in an interview in which 'the odds were stacked against Jim Cramer'. This brought to mind a brilliant attack on the now defunct political show "Crossfire", in which Liberals battled Conservatives. In a nutshell, Stewart was brought on as a guest after attacking Crossfire on The Daily Show. Although Stewart is the guest on the show, he takes the offensive and puts the Crossfire hosts at an instant disadvantage. Here's the link: [this video]
Recommends johnnyworker · 2024-01 · on “Jon Stewart Returns to 'The Daily Show'”
I have never seen something like his appearance on Crossfire on TV. [this video] And here is him speaking to Congress over their shameful handling of benefits for 9/11 responders. Nuff said? [LINK]
Recommends spit2wind · 2024-04 · on “Frank Zappa on Crossfire about censoring rock lyrics (1986) [video]”
It's always good to follow this up with John Stewart's appearance, the one that got the show canceled: [this video]
Cites nomoresecrets · 2009-07 · on “Behind the scenes of a Daily Show interview”
I'm a bit disappointed that anyone who has seen a few of The Daily Show's interviews is at all surprised by any of this. They quite clearly do it for laughs. It's not supposed to be journalism. As Jon Stewart famously put it: [this video]
Cites toddmorey · 2012-07 · on “Viacom pulls “The Daily Show” offline as a result of contract dispute”
I'm one of those morons who enjoys The Daily Show's intelligent satire. Stewart is razor sharp and you do not want to get into a battle of words with him. [1] [1] [this video]
Cites flycaliguy · 2015-01 · on “How the 'John Oliver Effect' Is Having a Real-Life Impact”
The lineage for Colbert and Oliver is a direct line back to Stewart. They can effect change today because Jon jumped in the pit with the Spinzone (or whatever that show was called) and beat the pundits at their own game. The big take away from The Daily Show should be Stewart declaring he was just an entertainer because the talking heads on the "real" news shows couldn't. Characters, tropes, archetypes, cliches, people with a job to deliver an audience for advertisers using a dynamic personality. The same job description for talent hired at Comedy Central as Cable News Network. EDIT: Took me a bit of googling to remember but the show was called Crossfire. Specific clip: ( [this video] )