The Jon Stewart retirement, the Brian Williams suspension... [View all]
The surreal irony of this news happening at exactly the same time, is almost too perfect.
Think of it though... a man who has always resisted any and all descriptions of himself as a journalist and insists he is a fake newsman on a fake news show, steps down from his show voluntarily and with the undying respect of his legions of viewers across North America. At the same time, another man who has always tried to present an image of a serious and trusted journalist, turns out to be a fake newsman on what purports to be a serious, legitimate news show, is forced from his job with his professional reputation in tatters and the scorn of his legions of viewers across North America.
Stewart deserves all of his accolades, and Williams - despite his penchant for reimagining the news with himself as a central character - probably deserves more pity than scorn when all is said and done, but is nonetheless a grown man and did author his own demise all by himself.
These two events kind of feel like a watershed moment for TV and political satire and the relevance of the nightly network newscasts. Where do we go from here?
Further through the looking glass, I'm afraid. Here's hoping however that whomever picks up Jon Stewart's mantle on TDS shares his brilliant sense of humour and his unflagging integrity. Here's hoping that whomever replaces Brian Williams... ah who am I kidding, it doesn't really matter does it?
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