People are trying to determine whether he’s this guy or that guy or what his role is in journalism vs. political activism vs. social activism.
I think I’ve got the final answer (and no, it’s not 42.) It’s actually rather simple.
A quote attributed to Eldridge Cleaver is, “Either you’re a part of the solution or part of the problem.”
Jon Stewart is part of the solution.
PAD
On the drive home from visiting Kathleen’s folks in Atlanta, we listened to the Classic Radio Program station on Sirius XM. I gotta tell you: modern day product placement has nothing on the days of classic radio. George Burns taking time to discuss the wonders of Swan soap while Gracie Allen raves about Maxwell House coffee. On a crime drama, a detective lights up a cigarette and discusses with his partner the healthful benefits of smoking Lucky Strikes. In a Sherlock Holmes drama, Doctor Watson–in character–chats with the announcer about a particular brand of tea.
The only programs on the air nowadays that are radio-era blatant in their product placement are “Chuck” with Subway (which admittedly helped save the series) and “30 Rock” where they’re gleefully self-conscious about pushing various items that you just know was thrust upon them from the powers that be.
So for those who despise the idea of blatant product placement, bad news: it’s a practice that goes back decades which means it’s probably not ending anytime soon.
PAD
The NY Times has caused quite a bit of discussion in comparing Stewart to the likes of Edward R. Murrow and, for that matter, Walter Cronkite, for displaying the ability to have an immediate and far-ranging impact on the issues of the day.
Some say that’s crazy talk. Others think there’s something there.
I’m not sure if Murrow or Cronkite would be flattered by the comparison. I don’t think Murrow constantly used profanities on the air, and what would Cronkite think about Stewart being the most trusted man in America?
I dunno. I think Jon Stewart simply put before Americans the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent…
Oh my God. Jon Stewart is Thomas Jefferson.
PAD
Down in Atlanta, we took Caroline to see a puppet re-creation at the Center for Puppetry Arts of the Rankin-Bass “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The puppet builders have done an astounding job creating puppets that are absolute dead ringers for the ones from the original TV special. But in seeing it in a new venue for the first time, things occurred to me that either hadn’t before or had, but I just hadn’t thought of them for a while.
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My little gift to the readers: A chance to exercise your imagination in the Christmas spirit.
Dear Editor: I am eight years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus? — Virginia O’Hanlon
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The response she receives.
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Dear Reader: Thank you for your letter. We regret that we cannot respond to all our readers, but we appreciate your support, and also invite you to visit us at our website at www.nysun.com.
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Puzzled but determined, Virginia posts the exact same letter on the website.
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What response, I wonder, would she receive?
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“First!”
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“This poster isn’t eight. What eight year old would say, “My little friends?” Obviously some middle-aged sicko.”
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“Epic Reality Fail!”
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“Troooooolll.”
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“Cut the kid some slack. Maybe she needs some sort of inspirational message about the spirit of Christmas and the nature of Santa Claus.”
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“Don’t be an idiot. This kid, if it is a kid–which I seriously doubt–needs a reality check.”
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“Obvious plant by the Sun. The whole “if I see it there, it must be true.” Yeah, right.”
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Any other thoughts?
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PAD
At a point in history where journalists do not hesitate to toss aside any shred of impartiality and advocate for politicians and partisan political issues, some people are starting to mutter that Jon Stewart, of all people, was somehow out of line with his obvious influence in helping the 9/11 First Responders bill pass–something even the White House acknowledges.
For those who missed it, in last Thursday’s “Daily Show” Stewart excoriated the press for their silence on the inability of Congress to pass the bill that would provide financial relief for First Responders to 9/11. Then, doing the job that they were unable/unwilling to do, he interviewed four suffering First Responders which is, y’know, what REAL reporters are supposed to do. But they weren’t, so he did.
This national bìŧçh slapping of the media woke them up and suddenly had shamed senators scrambling for political cover. Lo and behold, the bill was revived from the dead and has now passed.
Some are claiming that, because of this, Stewart has crossed a line from comedian to political advocate.
They’re wrong on two counts.
First: He was covering a news story. Sometimes lack of coverage is a story in and of itself.
Second: Jon Stewart is not a political advocate. He’s a New York advocate. He was letting New Yorker’s Finest and New York’s Bravest know that he had their backs.
Ðámņëd straight.
PAD
And after that it turned into a police car…and then a Boeing 747…and then…
Seriously, the novelization actually turned out pretty well, I thought. I’m always kind of amazed when a novelization reads smoothly, because while I’m in the middle of it, it always feels like it’s patchwork as I integrate my own scenes and dialogue with what’s in the script. But when I sat down and proofread it, it was pretty seamless. So I’m rather pleased with it. This is my first really sustained involvement with the Transformers and I didn’t realize what a fun bunch of characters they can be.
Plus what helped tremendously was that I had direct access to Hasbro. As opposed to some other occasions where everything has to be routed through the editor and, consequently, getting things questions answered can take a while, this was a snap because if there was anything I needed clarified, I went right to Hasbro and my contact there filled me in. So it was as smooth a process as it could possibly have been.
I don’t know the pub date, but I’d imagine it’ll be between four and six weeks before the film.
One hopes it will be available in places other than Costco and Sam’s Club.
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PAD
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