The Daily Show with Craig Kilborn ?

[liberalpragmatist]

How was the show before Jon Stewart became the host? I never saw it, but I know it had a big cult following and a couple people have told me they prefered Kilborn.

So how was the show? I have read it was less political, with more of an emphasis on celebrities and just plain-out wacky news. And that Kilborn hosted the show more like a real news anchor than Jon, who doesn't stay in character. I have also heard that a couple of the correspondents that left with Kilborn were very funny as well. Kilborn was said to be a worse interviewer, but 5 questions was entertaining.

And did anybody see the show back in '96 before it was filmed with an audience? How did that go?

[KitchenWitch]

1. Jon Stewart took that show off the trash heap

Craig Kilborn has the personality of a doorknob.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. kilborn is a fucking moron; John Stewart basically took shit

and spun it into gold.

[WCGreen]

3. Kilborn was a smart ass...

That's all....

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. My Craig Kilborn story

He used to be the sports idiot at a local station, and he was like, "I played college basketball, so I know sports."

Around 1990, I was with a group (Jaycees) that was coordinating the volunteers for the Jerry Lewis Telethon at Kilborn's station. They'd just moved into a big new building, and one of the guys was giving us the nickel tour. We went into this big room that was empty except for a few boxes in the corner, and the guy says, "This is where we keep Craig Kilborn's ego."

[LynzM]

5. I remember being sad when Kilborn was leaving....

And then waking up and realizing what the show could be once Jon took over it, and never looking back :)

[jane_pippin]

6. It was ok-ish before Jon, but he helped shape it into what it is now

and gave it its voice. I don't know about the show with no audience, but some correspondents from pre-Jon days like Vance Degeneres, Brian Unger (now on NPR, I believe), and A.Whitney Brown were pretty funny. A. Whitney Brown especially.

[graywarrior]

7. Fair to middle.

I don't remember why I watched it. Maybe because of the stupid test questions he asked guests.

[no name no slogan]

8. Yes, and it really really sucked

Kilborn is a talentless ass. Every show he touches turns to shit.

Just look at the evidence: he leaves the Daily Show, it goes huge. He leaves the Late, Late Show (on CBS) and gets replaced by Ferguson, and the ratings soar.

And it pains me to say that, because he's a fellow Minnesotan, too.

[Fredda Weinberg]

9. You speak truth e/m