ZB's YouTube Cavern #11: Watching Jon Again

 

Jon Stewart came back into public eye recently with a new current affairs show called The Problem with Jon Stewart. I haven't watched a full episode yet (I don't have Apple +), but have been peeping the YouTube clips and I must say it's a breath of fresh air to have the king back.

Nobody comes close to his monologue deliverability. He's hilarious and sharp without the overly condescending highbrow liberal elitist tone that basically every other anchor within the genre has these days. And I think that's mostly due to the fact that he's the OG of the format, and he's essentially untouchable (especially at this point in his career) so he can go for more deep-cut/off limits topics (like working class issues covered on this segment where an actual poor person is on the panel). Plus he has a pretty remarkable track record to back it up - he's championed the 9/11 first responders benefits extension year in and year out, and is a major advocate for war veteran's health benefits as well. He's even gone in front of Congress and made an incredibly power speech in support of the first responders. I'll never forget watching that for the first time back in 2019 - I was left speechless and in awe of the man. A fucking comedian in front of all the hacks that run this country telling them to their face "they [9/11 first responders] did their job, now do yours".

Stewart and his new show, like any form of politically charged entertainment these days, will get immediately pigeonholed on a "side" of the exhausting and misguided culture wars that America is entrenched in. If you're on the right you need to hate him, and if you're on the left you should love him (although that line is getting blurry as the Dems kowtow more and more to the technocratic and meritocratic elites). But despite where you fall within that battle, Jon's talent should at the very least be acknowledged for what it is: a powerful and seminal voice within the political comedy genre.

I admit that I'm biased here -I lean "left" on a lot of cultural and economic issue (if I must be labeled...I fucking hate the right-left spectrum racket) and I grew up watching The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from when I was a preteen up until his retirement from the program in 2015. Even still I think there's a specific magic that Jon brings that can really make someone think critically about issues in a way that's unlike any other form of political news coverage. Comedy for me - and Jon's comedic delivery in particular - acts as a cathartic way of internalizing what are usually depressing, infuriating, saddening, and all-together upsetting issues. He's light and witty and purposefully hacky at times, cutting and harsh at others, and insightful and serious when appropriate. And it all feels genuine (something that is lacking with most of his late night current affairs disciples).

I guess ultimately I've found Jon to be a guiding light politically, comedically, and even philosophically over the years because he shows how to balance things. His monologues sort of act as a way to go about life: Think critically, be articulate, and no matter how intense things get there is a space and time for laughter that can nourish the soul.

Anyways, I'm really glad Jon is back and look forward to keeping up with what he's covering. He is truly the GOAT.

Edit: I highly recommend checking out the companion podcast to Jon's new show as well (also called The Problem with Jon Stewart). The episode where he has a debate with Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, is particularly engaging.

- ZB James