Daily Show or Colbert Report?

[Darius871]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

Bring back that insufferable ass Kilborne.

Colbert is similar to Kilborne in that they both could play spot-on caricatures of the figures in the media they were trying to parody. Stewart can't play anyone other than himself, for better or for worse.

Exactly the problem with the Daily Show, but also a reason to consider the two apples and oranges due to different comedic styles. The Daily Show (at least currently) is satire, while the Colbert Report is genuine parody.

[Darius871]

damn otbot

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Darius871


Exactly the problem with the Daily Show, but also a reason to consider the two apples and oranges due to different comedic styles. The Daily Show (at least currently) is satire, while the Colbert Report is genuine parody.

You can be both satire and parody. Colbert manages both all the time. Stewart manages both on rare occasions.

[KrazyHorse]

Jon Stewart will always have a place in my heart for his Bush imitation, but it's getting old.

[Darius871]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
You can be both satire and parody. Colbert manages both all the time. Stewart manages both on rare occasions.

Of course, as parody is a subcategory of satire IIUC. I find parody funnier myself so Colbert gets the vote, but it's more apples and oranges IMO.

[KrazyHorse]

No. Parody is simply an imitation of style in an inappropriate manner. The humour is drawn from this incongruity.

Satire is any work which ridicules the weaknesses of its subject(s).

A parody may not be satirical. For instance, "Amish Paradise" is an obvious parody of "Gangster's Paradise", but it is not very satirical. It makes no real criticisms of the original song, its themes or its authors, nor does it criticise the Amish. It does not hold up the flaws in its subjects to ridicule. It is merely light-hearted entertainment based on the humour in the juxtaposition of gangsta rap with the Amish.

Satire is, of course, not necessarily parody. "This Hour has 22 Minutes" in Canada, for instance, is not centrally parody. Jon Stewart doesn't usually engage in parody in his opening segment. Instead, he often satirizes his targets by attempting to draw ridiculous conclusions based on their reasoning. He doesn't copy mannerisms, details, etc. which are things you expect from a parody.

The Colbert Report is 100% parody, but is also mainly satire. Stephen Colbert acts like a caricature of modern, especially right-wing cable television political/news commentators. His parody is also satire, since it ridicules the techniques of this group of people. He plays on their cheap patriotism, disdain for complexity and egotism. Some of the parody ventures into the ridiculous (Colbert's inexplicable loathing of bears), and is not properly satire (unless you believe his subjects hold similar psychological fixations).

[KrazyHorse]

Wow. I feel like I'm in a high-school English class again. I haven't thought about details like this since then...

[The Emperor Fabulous]

The problem with the Daily Show is that the replacements for great "correspondants" like the Stevens Colbert and Carrell are sub-part at best. I don't like the new guy with the glasses, Cordry the younger is nowhere as good as his brother, and the one with the Roman chin just pisses me off. The only funny new one they have is Dimitri Martin, the Hip correspondant or something like that.

But Jon kicks ass, as do the headlines.

Oh, and giving credit where credit is due: that was a great explanation of the differences between Satire and Parody, KH. (edit: x-post)

[KrazyHorse]

Good writing, parody and satire combined are often an unstoppable combination. Voltaire's works absolutely eviscerated his subjects. Colbert manages to do the same quite regularly.

[Darius871]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
No. Parody is simply an imitation of style in an inappropriate manner. The humour is drawn from this incongruity.

Satire is any work which ridicules the weaknesses of its subject(s).

A parody may not be satirical. For instance, "Amish Paradise" is an obvious parody of "Gangster's Paradise", but it is not very satirical. It makes no real criticisms of the original song, its themes or its authors, nor does it criticise the Amish. It does not hold up the flaws in its subjects to ridicule. It is merely light-hearted entertainment based on the humour in the juxtaposition of gangsta rap with the Amish.

Satire is, of course, not necessarily parody. "This Hour has 22 Minutes" in Canada, for instance, is not centrally parody. Jon Stewart doesn't usually engage in parody in his opening segment. Instead, he often satirizes his targets by attempting to draw ridiculous conclusions based on their reasoning. He doesn't copy mannerisms, details, etc. which are things you expect from a parody.

The Colbert Report is 100% parody, but is also mainly satire. Stephen Colbert acts like a caricature of modern, especially right-wing cable television political/news commentators. His parody is also satire, since it ridicules the techniques of this group of people. He plays on their cheap patriotism, disdain for complexity and egotism. Some of the parody ventures into the ridiculous (Colbert's inexplicable loathing of bears), and is not properly satire (unless you believe his subjects hold similar psychological fixations).

Damn, that's what I get for relying on Wikipedia.

In contemporary usage, parody is a form of satire that imitates another work of art in order to ridicule it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parody

[KrazyHorse]

Might be true in contemporary usage.

These are pretty fine distinctions we're talking about. Plus humour is notoriously difficult to deconstruct.

[Sava]

Both are great.

Hard to pick one. Gotta go with The Daily Show though.

At times, Colbert tries too hard, and forces it. And as funny as TCR is, it's not reached the level of "can't miss TV" for me. I think Jon Stewart is naturally funny, whereas Colbert just... I don't know... seems like he's trying too hard sometimes.

Maybe that has to do with experience? I think Colbert will refine his act as things progress.

But regardless of which one I think is better, I think that both shows are awesome. It's great to have The Daily Show on, then right after, see the Colbert Report.

Comedy Central finally has a great show to follow TDS. That much is certain.

[Dis]

no time to watch tv. banana option for me.

[Hueij]

Is this one of those US club threads? I have no idea what you are talking about.

Maybe it's time to start another 'Allo 'Allo thread

[Provost Harrison]

Pretty much my sentiments Hueij...