The Daily Show evolved from a fledgling late-night talk show hosted by Craig Kilborn on Comedy Central to a culturally significant political satire and news commentary program under the helm of Jon Stewart.
New York magazine contributing editor Smith traces the history of the show from its inception in 1996 to its takeover by Trevor Noah when Stewart retired in 2015 after 16 years. He records a series of quotes in chronological order garnered from interviews with the hosts, correspondents, writers, crew, and guests. The author frames the narrative with comments about each of the major news stories that drove the content of the show. The 2000 election, 9/11, the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and the subsequent recession, as well as politicians and the media itself, were all deconstructed via the lens of comedy. Stewart and company brought to light many of the lies and inconsistencies in government and media, with some stories even helping to change policy.
VERDICT This "oral history" of a show that won 23 Emmys and launched the careers of such notables as Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, and John Oliver is a must-read for the show's fans and those aspiring to a career in comedy or television. [See Prepub Alert, 4/25/16.]
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