The Daily Show: Election Night '04, Prelude to a Recount

The Daily Show: Election Night '04, Prelude to a Recount
Comedy Central
November 2, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
C+

In the dozen years since Al Franken* hosted InDecision '92, Comedy Central had upped its technology-- the electoral map is definitely no longer hand drawn-- but apparently cut back on its election night coverage.  So one 40-minute hour, 10 to 11 p.m. EST, is all we get, and there's no definite winner by the end, although Bush is well ahead of Kerry.  The highlights here are the opening faked flashbacks from '00 and Colbert's prediction that America would continue to be an angry country.

This sampling of The Daily Show ranges from C- to B, but I'm doubling the value of this longer episode, and counting the four-minute sequences at one-quarter value, since a regular episode is about sixteen minutes if you subtract all the transitions.  The average therefore comes out to a B-.  Stewart is definitely the best part of the show, although the correspondents have their moments, not surprisingly Colbert in particular.  And, yes, it's time to move on to George W. Bush's second term.


*Sigh, I know.  But I didn't know when I was reviewing back then.

The Daily Show: Principle Spinner

The Daily Show: Principle Spinner
Comedy Central
October 20, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
C+

Helms goes to another debate and is surprised to find out that each side claims their guy won.

The Daily Show: The First Presidential Debate, The Squabble in Coral Gables

The Daily Show: The First Presidential Debate, The Squabble in Coral Gables
Comedy Central
September 30, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
B-

Kerry clearly wins, with Bush fumbling for words.  So obviously this had a big impact on the election.  The highlight here is Stewart easily outsmarting Giuliani.

The Daily Show: Coverage of Republican Convention Day 4

The Daily Show: Coverage of Republican Convention Day 4
Comedy Central
September 3, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
B

Even the Corddry sequence, with him acting like New York is a war zone, works this time.  And, yes, now George W. Bush is officially the Republican presidential candidate, again.

The Daily Show: Coverage of Republican Convention Day 2

The Daily Show: Coverage of Republican Convention Day 2
Comedy Central
September 1, 2004
News Comedy Show
DVD
B

The highlight here is unquestionably the fake campaign film for President Bush, His Words Speak Louder Than Actions, not only going for the easy laughs of W's incoherence but pointing out the lies that got us into war.  I also enjoyed Jon's reaction to Schwarzenegger's admiration of President Nixon.

Nightline: 2000 Vote

Nightline: 2000 Vote
ABC
December 2, 1999
News
VHS
B-

Ted Koppel, with analysis from David Gergen and George Stephanopoulos, takes a look at the New Hampshire Republican debate, when George W. Bush was in the lead, with John McCain a strong #2, and Steve Forbes trying to make it into a three-sided race.  Plus three other guys.  This almost eighteen years ago to the day episode is chockful of "they didn't know" irony and just generally entertaining for a talking heads show.

inDecision 92: In Review

Franken, Henry, and Behar

inDecision 92: In Review

Comedy Central

January 20, 1993

Politics

VHS

B

CC presents highlights of the campaign, in preparation for their inaugural coverage....

inDecision 92: Election Night: Fragment

inDecision 92: Election Night: Fragment
Comedy Central
November 3, 1992
Politics
VHS
B-

Future Senator Al Franken and company, including Joy Behar, Roy Blount, Jr. and Buck Henry, cover Bill Clinton's election from a humorous and decidedly Democratic angle.  There are some slow moments, but it's worth watching again for things like footage of Calvin Trillin at the Republican Convention interviewing "the wrong George Bush," i.e. the giddy, somewhat goofy eldest son of the President.  Note that CC used this opportunity to promote not only Gaffney's Women Aloud but three of the classic sitcoms it was then airing:  Bilko, Car 54, and That Girl.  (I don't have enough space to tag Phil Silvers, but, yes, he was also on a great episode of Gilligan's Island.)

Vote 88: Election Night [partial]

Vote 88: Election Night [partial]
ABC
November 8, 1988
News
VHS
C+

Watching this now, I'm struck by four things:

1. George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis may well be the dullest pair of presidential candidates in living memory, and coverage that doesn't mention such things as Willie Horton, specific Dan Quayle blunders, or Dukakis's missteps, including the tank photo, is of its nature not going to be terribly interesting;
2. The obligatory shouts of "Ninety-two" from determined Dukakis voters seem especially bizarre when '92 had such a different feel to it, presidentially and otherwise, so that '88 was much closer in spirit to '84 than to '92;
3. You can't watch this without thinking about the candidates' families, from poor Kitty "recently hospitalized" to grinning George, Jr.;
4. I was heartbroken at the time, doomed to another four years of Republicans, and now I can't get worked up beyond snarkily remarking, after the president-elect calls Reagan the most decent man he ever met, "You need to get out more, George."