Friday, February 16, 2007
Fair, Balanced... and Funny?
After struggling with "Fair and Balanced" for 10 1/2 years now, Fox News has decided to get into the "funny" game too. Apparently Dennis Miller's occasional guest rants weren't enough for the network... so now it's had Joel Surnow, executive producer of Fox's "24", create a "right-leaning" Daily Show knock off called "The 1/2 Hour News Hour." To promote this Sunday's premiere, Fox has been floating a couple of clips online that feature a bevy of Barack Obama jokes, a couple of predictable swipes at Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi, guest appearances by both "President" Limbaugh and "Vice-President" Coulter, and a hearty-sounding laugh track (which, from the looks of these teasers, they'll probably want to keep handy). Call me presumptuous... but I don't think the Daily Show has much to worry about.
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13 comments:
I've finally wiped the tears from my eyes from laughing so hard.
Hannity didn't seem to sold on the idea. Maybe he's just pissed that he wasn't the President.
Lame.
Where can I sign up for BO Magazine? I love politics so much and want to be more informed.
Wow...I'd almost want to be called a Bleeding Heart Liberal after that second clip...well just almost.
Slate has an article on the new show up... it says the clips look "like a determined bid to lower expectations."
Ali - You might want to try Fox News website for some BO equivalent, but you should stay right here for your political fix ;)
Maui - Wow... If the show ends up being as bad as the clips, Fox News better watch out or they'll have you willing to vote for Hillary in two years.
Marc, that was one of the worst shows i have ever seen. I dont think Hannity looked very excited about it either...honestly, I don't know how that show ever made it into production. It was like a very bad BYU-TV skit or something. I'm seriously shocked that they could get anyone to attend.
I'm guessing you have a huge clue over this show though.
As far as the laugh track goes, it sounded pretty forced, like a couple of inebriates grabbed ahold of the microphone after looking at a Garfield cartoon.
-Marc, I know you love Garfield, and I'm sorry you love Garfield.
Yeah I agree it was pretty lame and I think I would be absolutely horrified to have Ann Coulter or Rush in the oval office. But that said - why not have a show like this? With SNL, CNN, Daily Show, Colbert Report, etc. out there it is about time somebody started making fun of the other side.
Only they should make it funnier and not so lame.
TFB - You're preaching to the choir
Hobby - I do love Garfield...
Tara - I have no beef with having a show like this... it's just not funny. Moreover, SNL, the Daily Show and the Colbert Report make fun of liberals and Democrats plenty. I'm not sure where this "making fun of the other side" argument that this show's creators are touting is coming from exactly. In the end, I think Slate said it best:
"Talking points? Fair and balanced? That's not the language of the writers' room. In any case, you couldn't skewer a cube of tofu with material this dull. It will play to the base, maybe, especially if the base hands the remote control to its 12-year-old son. As a humorless liberal, I can handle it. It's the conservatives—the ones with actual gifts for comedy—who ought to be sharpening their knives."
I don't know why you all say this show isn't funny. Joel Surnow has such a knack for comedy. I'm just rotflmfao every time CTU has to cover up another of Jacks hijinks. Oh, Keifer, you little stinker you!
So, after watching the premier episode tonight, it seems these teaser snippets didn't lower the bar enough... the show is truly as terrible as it looks.
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