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
Originally published July 15, 1994, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1078
Two things this time around.
First, I received a good deal of positive response to my letter about the Self article. In case you’ve forgotten, this was the half-witted piece chock full of misinformation, designed to terrorize unknowing readers into thinking their local comic store was a haven for pørņø comics. Plus, Self included a forum where readers could write and state whether they felt a congressional investigation into comics, a la the 1950s, was warranted.
I also got the following from Self itSelf:
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
Originally published July 8, 1994, in Comics Buyer’s Guide #1077
When I was a kid, every Friday night was The Flintstones. The animated family was a part of my life for, literally, as long as I could remember. I looked forward to Fred giving that opening bellow of “Yabba dabba doo” and sliding down that bronto tail at the beginning of the show.
(Curiously, unlike contemporary catch phrases that work their way into vernacular such as “D-oh!” or “Isn’t that special” or even “I didn’t inhale,” we kids didn’t actually go around shouting “Yabba dabba doo.” I mean, we knew the phrase, and we knew it was Fred’s, but we didn’t try to imitate it. Maybe we just didn’t want to talk like cartoon characters. Nowadays that doesn’t seem to be quite as true. I hear “huh huh huh” from kids and even, God help us, adults, in imitation of cartoon characters whose animation is so pathetic that it makes the limited animation Flintstones look like Fantasia. But I digress…)
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