"The Daily Show" Should Replace "Nightline"

[Yavin4]

If I were ABC, I'd pay a big bucket of cash to Comedy Central to buy "The Daily Show" from them, and then I'd replace "Nightline" with it. "The Daily Show" is the perfect replacement for "Nightline". ABC would be probably hang on to some or most of the "Nightline" audience as well as bring in a younger audience.

There is a precedence for this. "Politically Incorrect" started off as a show on Comedy Central before it was bought by ABC.

[still_one]

1. actually the Daily show should replace all MSM news shows

[jmm]

2. Yeah but Politically Incorrect was better on Comedy Central

It would probably still be on the air if it didn't go to ABC.

[meegbear]

4. It lost it's bite on ABC

Replace "Nightline" my aunt Fannie.

[mac56]

3. Noooo!!!!

ABC thoroughly de-horned Maher and PI.

[Yavin4]

7. Here's the Difference Between PI and TDS

TDS has much more cache. They're Emmy winners, and they have a strong national following. ABC would be stupid to try to mess with them. Also, I don't see Jon Stewart making compromises for ABC.

[mac56]

8. "ABC would be stupid to try to mess with them."

That statement practically guarantees that they WILL!

If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.

[aden_nak]

5. While an awesome idea, I think Jon knows his power is as the underdog.

He can say and do things that "normal" shows cannot, and then make a joke about how they're a bunch of nobodies on basic cable. It was the very argument that he used to make Tucker Carlson look even sillier than he already does when he was on Crossfire. Carlson bitched the bias routine that Stewart lobbed softballs at President Clinton (as opposed to the softballs he lobbed at Senators Dole and McCain), and Jon was able to scoff and basically say, "We're a fake news show, and if you're comparing yourself to US, that means you must be fake, too."

"Legitimacy" comes with a price for that show.

[Akoto]

6. I've always found this curious.

The mainstream media is always claiming to be the best source of news. Why is it, then, that a news show which admits to being 'fake' feels more trustworthy to me?

I want the Daily Show to stay where it is, though. I don't think ABC would have the nards to let them do/say the stuff that Comedy Central does.

[Yavin4]

9. To Those Who Oppose, Consider This

What about the people in America who cannot afford cable? Shouldn't they have an opportunity to see TDS and inform themselves. You can't get mad at someone who never sees the truth.

[Akoto]

10. Well ...

That's my concern: nobody would see the truth. The majority of the Daily Show's content is openly anti-Bush and I can't see ABC supporting that. I can see them crippling the honesty of the show to the point where it'll lose its strong Democratic youth base.

[Yavin4]

12. Then How Can You Expect To Expand The Base

when most of America is mis-informed. Again, I trust Jon Stewart. If ABC messes with his show, then he'll quit, and ABC would be completely exposed as RNC lackeys.

[mac56]

13. Then when Stewart quits, no one will see TDS.

I respect your faith in Jon's backbone, and ABC's fairness and good judgement. I share your faith in the former, but not at all in the latter. JMHO.

[WeRQ4U]

11. I wholeheartedly disagree.

The show would lose it's edge and eventually suck.

[GreenPartyVoter]

14. TDS would suffer from its having to comply with censors on network channel

However, if ABC wanted to clean up and syndicate the CC version, that would be cool.

[caty]

15. The reason "The Daily Show" is so

good is because Comedy Central allows so much freedom of content. That would be lost on ABC. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!

[Yavin4]

16. Then How Will The Truth Get Out?

And what about the millions of Americans who could be swayed by seeing the truth? I'd take my chances on TDS. Sure, ABC would get a lot of heat from the wingnuts, but they have to know that going in. Also, I give Stewart a lot more credit than you guys are giving him. He's not Bill Maher. He's smarter and more able than that.