I remember this one time I was in an Applebee’s on a Thursday night in Riverdale, New York. I swear I was only there for the football cause the Cowboys were playing. It was 2007 and the Packers were visiting them in Dallas. This was the season the Cowboys won the division and went to Cabo, so at the time this game was a big deal. This was also the game Brett Favre got injured and left the game in the first half. So at first this seemed like a great turn around of fortune for the Cowboys. The Packers can’t win with their backup. Well that back up was Aaron Rodgers, and even though he came in with a 14 point deficit, he legit made me worry the Cowboys might actually lose this game. I bring up this sports moment cause it draws a lot of parallels for me with the Daily Show right now. I being the Cowboys fan can empathize with that of the competing channels for viewers in the nightly 11pm time slot. They think, “hmmm…Jon Stewart is taking a break, must be our lucky day. Maybe we can steal some viewers from them in their down time.” Well they were wrong.
John Oliver not only came in and kept the ship afloat (which is all they were probably asking of him). Jon Oliver came in and added a fresh feel to an already great show. Look I love the Daily Show. I also think Jon Stewart is awesome. So John Oliver’s success as host is not a slight at Jon Stewart in the slightest. Really their two completely different conversations. But John Oliver’s success does have to ease some stress in the Comedy Central studios. Till this moment, Comedy Central, The Daily Show, and heck even the Colbert Report were severely leaning on Jon Stewart as the fearless leader. Prior to this stint, had you told me he was leaving the show, I’m not quite sure I’d have faith in Comedy Central to find a suitable replacement. But in comes Oliver, with his dry British wit, and his “awwshuckness” ability to say anything and not have it seen as remotely offensive (again probably the British accent), and he completely kills it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a much different Daily Show with Oliver as host; possibly a bit goofier, but it’s by no means a bad version of it. If there is one thing John Oliver does better than Jon Stewart, it’s probably his ability mock everything in sight without coming off even the least bit preachy or pretentious. I keep thinking back to that Packers game with every episode I watched. I don’t think it’s necessarily time for Jon Stewart to hang it up, but maybe it is time for he and Comedy Central to plan when the right time might be. If you don’t know how the Packers’ situation played out, I’ll give you the quick and dirty summary. The Packers’ kept their loyalty to Brett Favre, even as he showed his age, probably for a season too long. It became a bit of locker room mess as it became clear he should move one, and more importantly that Aaron Rodgers was ready. I’m not saying this is anything near a Leno and Conan situation, but maybe Comedy Central should learn from these historical blunders and think ahead. I read a comment on the Comedy Central website simply stating that if Jon Stewart didn’t return, they wouldn’t be too upset. The commenter went on to say they’ll be happy to have Jon back, but that if he did move on he’d still enjoy the show. Isn’t this what every TV show, movie franchise and sports franchise beg for. Wouldn’t Marvel love to have Robert Downey Jr. sit out just for a few scenes in the next Iron Man movie, and have nobody really be too upset. Don’t you think the Colts thank their lucky stars that as Peyton Manning walks off into the sun they have Andrew Luck to keep the ship sailing along smoothly. These are extremely rare occurrences. And yes Jon Stewart is all these guys; he’s Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Robert Downey Jr. to Comedy Central. But it seems they may have found their Andrew Luck too. And with Jon Stewart obviously showing an interest elsewhere I hope Comedy Central doesn’t blow this opportunity to make a smooth transition to a post Stewart existence.
For John Oliver’s sake and the fan’s sake I hope he finds his way back to the hosting chair, as there’s really no room remaining for yet another late night show. But if not, much like a summer camp triste you may never see again, we’ll be happy for the moments we had.
Clip of the shows correspondents saying goodbye to John Oliver:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-august-15-2013/one-crazy-summary—correspondents–send-off
About Matt Cargile
Matt Cargile is the Editor in Chief of rookerville.com. He also works in finance, but refuses to read any news printed on pink paper. He is a child at heart with adult means. His childhood dream was to either become a magician or the leader of the next great empire and somehow both these things make complete sense. He's contradictory in nature, but is always consistent.
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