'The Daily Show' vs. 'The Colbert Report'

[Loren]

Over the past few weeks, I have found that I very much favor 'The Colbert Report' over 'The Daily Show.' I think the biggest reason is that Colbert's show reminds me a lot more of the early years of the Daily Show, back when Brian Unger and A. Whitney Brown were the correspondents, and Colbert was 'The New Guy.' Back when the show had a faux seriousness, and didn't constantly plug itself as fake news.

I could go into detail about how 'The Daily Show' disappoints me these days, but for the moment, I'll just stick with the poll. Which do you prefer?

[Karl J. Barnes]

I'm enjoying both though Colbert is the newer and fresher of the two right now. Just give Colbert a few years and see where it is.

[Sanagi]

Currently I'm enjoying Colbert more. But I do find it a bit annoying that Colbert has to do his interviews in character so he can't have a really sincere conversation with his guests.

[Karl J. Barnes]

Currently I'm enjoying Colbert more. But I do find it a bit annoying that Colbert has to do his interviews in character so he can't have a really sincere conversation with his guests.

I loved the Dowd interview. She couldn't even keep a straight face.

[Inkthinker]

I'm more annoyed when his guest is apparently ignorant that he IS playing a character, and subsequently the whole thing becomes a farce when the person being interviewed takes him too seriously.

But I'm totally addicted to "The Word".

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Colbert maybe new and has its moments. The "Word" is the best part of the show. But Jon Stewart is the Daily Show. Losing a lot of guys is a blow but the Daily Show remains the best. Can't wait til " InDecision 2008 " to happen.

[shades of eternity]

the big question are they going to try to get some of their old cast back...mo rocca, etc?

[StoneGold]

the big question are they going to try to get some of their old cast back...mo rocca, etc?
Outside of Carrel and Colbert... why? Seriously, some of the new guys are really good. I'm blanking on his name, but the new bald guy is awesome.

[clayholio]

I like the Colbert Report better at the moment, but part of that is that the Daily Show peaks when it's election time. The whole Indecision 2004 was absolutely on fire, and they're just not at that level at the moment. It's still great, and I watch both, but the Daily Show is funnier when there's more going on politically. The Colbert Report is just damned funny. I love The Word and his constant attempts to "nail" people. Good stuff.

[Parallax48]

Outside of Carrel and Colbert... why? Seriously, some of the new guys are really good. I'm blanking on his name, but the new bald guy is awesome.

It's Dan Bakadahl, or something close to that.

I guess I don't really see them as one being better than the other. To me their totally companions shows and I always watch both of them for one joyus hour of comedy gold.

[Ian J.N.]

I think the Daily Show edges out The Colbert Report. The Repor(t) is complete parody, whereas the Daily Show is anchored (no pun intended) by Jon's Stewart's real life persona. Stewart can step out of satire mode and go "Wait a minute, this is BS". For that reason, I find the Daily Show more hard hitting.

Both shows are fantastic, however.

[shades of eternity]

The big question is if either jon or steve get sick/has baby etc, whom takes over the desk for their respective show?

[StoneGold]

Colbert would probably just have to run repeats. Or get Ed Helms, who seems to be trying to be Colbert's replacement on the Daily Show. On the DS, I'm thinking probably Cordry. Because while Ed is trying to steal Colbert's basic character, Rob's definitely taken the top correspondant's slot. But he's sort of been the Carrell replacement, so it makes sense.

[LtMarvel]

The Colbert Report: a little goes a long way. I was always feel that the entire point of the show is to make fun of that Faux News Show, with the guy who used to claim he won a Peabody.


The Daily Show: the current news makes for the best satire. Since the news keeps changing, it is still must-see TV.

[ragnarok_2012]

I agree with SUPERECWFAN1. The Daily Show has lost a lot of talent. I like them both, but I think that Stewart's ensemble format makes for a stronger show. Hopefully he'll find some more new talent that will take up the slack a bit. At the very least, Stewart is still at the top of his game.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I think both shows are struggling to find their footing at the moment. Daily Show has definitely suffered as a result of losing Colbert, who in turn is still trying to figure out how to carry a show by himself--which Stewart doesn't have to worry about.

However, they are still great television and the best news reporting out there at the moment, which is kinda sad.

[ragnarok_2012]

I got to watch the Howard Stern episode. That new guy (Jason Jones?) is pretty good.

[StoneGold]

I got to watch the Howard Stern episode. That new guy (Jason Jones?) is pretty good.
I think he's still just a contributor, basically he's in the tryout stage. I like Dan Bakkedahl a lot though. He has a really good world-weary reporter vibe going. So you've got Bakkedahl as the burnout, Corddry as the guy in over his head, Helms as Colbert-lite, and Samantha Bee as the woman who tries really hard, but sadly just isn't as funny. They've had better women before. Then you've got Nate Corddry as the guy whose brother got him a job, and Jones, who I'm not sure exactly what role he fills.

[Jared]

The Daily Show is definatly lesser for no longer having Colbert or Steve Carrell.

I've found the Colbert Report much funnier lately, but that's partly because I'm sick of Jon Stewart's self-righteous preaching mixed in with his jokes and interviews. And too many of his interviews are serious nowadays. Remember when the Daily Show used to start with the announcment, "The most important television program, ever"? At times it seems like Stewart actually believes that now.

The Colbert Report would probably be better suited as a weekly show. Four nights a week of the same character might get old fast. If the show wasn't All Colbert, all the time that might not be an issue, but having contributors do other segments would be too Daily Showish.

[ragnarok_2012]

All I have to say.....is Hodgmania.....

[Captain Sarcasm]

I think he's still just a contributor, basically he's in the tryout stage. I like Dan Bakkedahl a lot though. He has a really good world-weary reporter vibe going. So you've got Bakkedahl as the burnout, Corddry as the guy in over his head, Helms as Colbert-lite, and Samantha Bee as the woman who tries really hard, but sadly just isn't as funny. They've had better women before. Then you've got Nate Corddry as the guy whose brother got him a job, and Jones, who I'm not sure exactly what role he fills.

Actually, Jones is Samantha Bee's husband, and he's helping out while Sam's out on maternity leave.

Personally, I think that the two shows are each good enough that the only thing that they can reasonably be compared with is each other. Personally, I like the Daily Show better, if only because Colbert Report's direct line into the inner workings of Bill O'Riley's brain is more scary than funny at times.

[Alex]

Daily show, to me, is becoming incredibly stale, and Jon Stewart feels like he's becoming letterman, doing the same jokes over and over again.
Colbert, on the other hand, is still new to me (As ahost at least) so i'm finding his show funnier and more fresh.
In the daily show, the host is the weak point, and the guest reporters are the best, Colbert is the best thing on his show.

[Calybos]

To me, the Colbert show is still finding its tone. And relying on a single personality 100% of the time (except for the occasional member of Congress or media interviewee) makes it tough to do certain kinds of jokes and interplay, which the Daily Show can pull off with ease.

I like the Daily Show's new guys, Dan Bakkedahl and Jason Jones. But Colbert direct O'Reilly parody segment, "The Word," is the funniest thing I've seen in a loooong time from either show.

All that said, there's no doubt that between the two of them, Stewart and Colbert are the funniest guys on television, as well as one of the few rays of hope for our benighted society.

[ragnarok_2012]

I just caught the Brokaw episode of the Daily Show. The young guy (Dmitri) rocks. Glad to see them bringing in some new people.

[Sanagi]

I just caught the Brokaw episode of the Daily Show. The young guy (Dmitri) rocks. Glad to see them bringing in some new people.
He's awesome. Comedy Central showed a stand-up performance of his that was great, too.

[minmaxticus]

I find both fun watch, mainly because I think of them as two different veins of 'faux news', as it were.

Daily Show doesn't take it self seriously, and Stewart's a great anchorman who has the benefit of a great group dynamic. I will admit that it seems like 'The Daily Show' has 'sold out', becoming much more mainstream not to mention "America: The Book" and such.

Of course, it may just be because I was too dumb to watch Comey Central back before high school... Senior year really did a number for me, thanks to our poli sci teacher having the balls to let us watch it in class as part of our syllabus.

The Colber(t) is hilarious because Stephen takes it 100 percent seriously, granted he does lose out on the interview thing, but I always felt that news which touted 'no bs' interviews was probably bs to begin with.

Ah well, the best part's still when Stewart 'checks in' with Colber(t). That and the word.

[borateen]

I never stayed up to watch The Daily Show (and I watch other stuff during the early-evening reruns), but after seeing some commercials for the Colbert Report, I decided to start taping the entire hour, so while I've seen episodes of TDS, it's ALL stilly new to me, and my wife and I are loving it.

[spoon_jenkins]

I prefer the Colbert Report. I love the Word and other bits of O'Reilly mockery. On the other hand, I feel Jon Stewart is overrated. I feel that when Stewart goes off-script he seems a bit less funny and significantly less insightful then when he reads the words someone else wrote for him.

[Sanagi]

I never stayed up to watch The Daily Show (and I watch other stuff during the early-evening reruns), but after seeing some commercials for the Colbert Report, I decided to start taping the entire hour, so while I've seen episodes of TDS, it's ALL stilly new to me, and my wife and I are loving it.
Yeah, I think the problem for those of us who've been watching it for a while is that it's become the same routine every night. It needs a little spicing up. But it's still a great show.

[Nate C.]

well, I've gone to watching Futurama, then Colbert if that tells you anything.

I always thought Stewart was the weakest link on TDS and Colbert was the strongest, so....

His 415 part series on Congressional Districts is a hoot (and it'll take him over two years to complete!) and The Word is pitch perfect.

I do think staying in character has the possibility of going stale fast, though. I kinda had hoped he had taken a little more of his "Midas Man" touch with him, not so much his O'Reilly spoof.

[Calamas]

SUPERECWFAN1’s Quote
Can't wait til " InDecision 2008 " to happen.SUPERECWFAN1’s Signature
Future Presidential Nominee: On my way to runnin as your President in 2008. Vote the SuperE Ticket in 2008 !!
Coincidence? I think not.

[Calybos]

His 415 part series on Congressional Districts is a hoot (and it'll take him over two years to complete!) and The Word is pitch perfect.


It'll be a lot more than two years... he's only doing one district per week.

[StoneGold]

It'll be a lot more than two years... he's only doing one district per week.
Yeah, but he already scratched off one. Although I can't remember which.

And really, it's all going to come down to who will agree to meet with him.

[ragnarok_2012]

And really, it's all going to come down to who will agree to meet with him.

They'd better be careful or they'll get a wag of the finger

[Jared]

This week was the first time I saw a Formidable Opponent segment. I think Colbert's abilities as a comic performer clearly outshine Stewart. Though Colbert does trip over his words more often when reading from the prompter.