Man of the week
October 20th, 2004 by Sarin
Last week may have been John Stewart’s most famous week ever.
With a new book out, a front page story on Rolling Stone, a humorous piece in GQ, having Bill O’Reilly on his show, and this honest rip on CNN’s Crossfire at his appearance last Friday, things could not be any hotter.
CARLSON: And I’ll tell you.When politicians come on…
STEWART: Yes.
CARLSON: It’s nice to get them to try and answer the question. And in order to do that, we try and ask them pointed questions. I want to contrast our questions with some questions you asked John Kerry recently.
(CROSSTALK)
CARLSON: … up on the screen.
STEWART: If you want to compare your show to a comedy show, you’re more than welcome to.
(LAUGHTER)
CARLSON: No, no, no, here’s the point.
(CROSSTALK)
STEWART: If that’s your goal.
CARLSON: It’s not.
STEWART: I wouldn’t aim for us. I’d aim for “Seinfeld.” That’s a very good show.
CARLSON: Kerry won’t come on this show. He will come on your show.
STEWART: Right.
CARLSON: Let me suggest why he wants to come on your show.
STEWART: Well, we have civilized discourse.
(LAUGHTER)
CARLSON: Well, here’s an example of the civilized discourse.
Here are three of the questions you asked John Kerry.
STEWART: Yes.
CARLSON: You have a chance to interview the Democratic nominee. You asked him questions such as — quote — “How are you holding up? Is it hard not to take the attacks personally?”
STEWART: Yes.
CARLSON: “Have you ever flip-flopped?” et cetera, et cetera.
STEWART: Yes.
CARLSON: Didn’t you feel like — you got the chance to interview the guy. Why not ask him a real question, instead of just suck up to him?
STEWART: Yes. “How are you holding up?” is a real suck-up. And I actually giving him a hot stone massage as we were doing it.
(LAUGHTER)
CARLSON: It sounded that way. It did.
STEWART: You know, it’s interesting to hear you talk about my responsibility.
CARLSON: I felt the sparks between you.
STEWART: I didn’t realize that — and maybe this explains quite a bit.
CARLSON: No, the opportunity to…
(CROSSTALK)
STEWART: … is that the news organizations look to Comedy Central for their cues on integrity.
(LAUGHTER)
The internet is all buzzing about this appearance on Crossfire last Friday. At one point, Stewart even calls one of the show’s hosts a dick.
You know what’s interesting, though? You’re as big a dick on your show as you are on any show.
However my favorite lines has to go to
STEWART: It’s not honest. What you do is not honest. What you do is partisan hackery. And I will tell you why I know it.CARLSON: You had John Kerry on your show and you sniff his throne and you’re accusing us of partisan hackery?
STEWART: Absolutely.
CARLSON: You’ve got to be kidding me. He comes on and you…
(CROSSTALK)
STEWART: You’re on CNN. The show that leads into me is puppets making crank phone calls.
(LAUGHTER)
STEWART: What is wrong with you?
A transcript is available, or you may want to check out the clip itself.
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