Political Talk-Shows.

[KentaRawr!]

Well, I was looking up videos of Bill O'Reilly today, and I realized it was silly of me to look up videos of something I know I'm going to dislike. So, I decided that rather than look up Political Talk-Shows and think to myself "Ugh so dumb arrrghh", I'd start a discussion about Political Talk-Shows with EoFF. :p

What do you think of Political Talk-Shows?

[Madame Adequate]

I think a good one, like Question Time, is a very good thing for debate and hearing various points of view. But the talk show should not be hosted by one of the talkers, if it's to be any good. It needs an impartial moderator. When it's someone like O'Reilly, who will just shout over anyone who disagrees with him and won't let them actually discuss things, it's not only extraordinarily rude and weak, it's pointless.

A relevant article. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/8271710.stm)

[Shoeberto]

I think a good one, like Question Time, is a very good thing for debate and hearing various points of view. But the talk show should not be hosted by one of the talkers, if it's to be any good. It needs an impartial moderator. When it's someone like O'Reilly, who will just shout over anyone who disagrees with him and won't let them actually discuss things, it's not only extraordinarily rude and weak, it's pointless.
I feel this way as well. It's hardly an even debate whenever a host is horribly skewed to one side and can cut off the opposition as soon as they want, and then make points to bash them without the opponent even being able to rebut. It's weak and stupid to have a caller in on a radio show, hear what they have to say, then disconnect them and make fun of their mindset whenever they don't even have the option to argue.

[The Man]

I'll watch something like Real Time or The Daily Show where the host actually lets his guests speak, but :bou::bou::bou::bou: like The O'Reilly Factor is just smurfing ridiculous.

[AntRid]

We have Parliament question time, less of a talk show and more a live broadcast of politicians fighting it out. Its mostly dull boring talks but when things get heated then some of the best insults I’ve herd get thrown about.

[Raistlin]

I hate them all, left and right, Keith Olbermann or Bill O'Reilly. They are all pompous blowhards who spout off hyperbole for ratings.

They are so bad that the parodies are that much more enjoyable, like The Daily Show and Colbert Report. I could watch those forever.

[qwertysaur]

The daily show is fun :p

[Moon Rabbits]

I hate them all, left and right, Keith Olbermann or Bill O'Reilly. They are all pompous blowhards who spout off hyperbole for ratings.

They are so bad that the parodies are that much more enjoyable, like The Daily Show and Colbert Report. I could watch those forever.

Ba-dum.

I like CBC Radio, though.

[blim]

I think a good one, like Question Time, is a very good thing for debate and hearing various points of view. But the talk show should not be hosted by one of the talkers, if it's to be any good. It needs an impartial moderator. When it's someone like O'Reilly, who will just shout over anyone who disagrees with him and won't let them actually discuss things, it's not only extraordinarily rude and weak, it's pointless.

A relevant article. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/8271710.stm)


Sadly i've noticed Dimbleby getting worse recently for talking over the guests and in some cases going for the cheap shot. Question Time is getting almost not worth watching for me these days :(

[Meat Puppet]

YouTube - LiberalViewer's Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/liberalviewer)

If it do please ya

[The Man]

I hate them all, left and right, Keith Olbermann or Bill O'Reilly. They are all pompous blowhards who spout off hyperbole for ratings.

They are so bad that the parodies are that much more enjoyable, like The Daily Show and Colbert Report. I could watch those forever.

Yeah I agree that the ones who take themselves seriously are generally awful, even the ones I agree with. I like Maher, Colbert and Stewart because they don't take themselves seriously.

[Rase]

I hate them all, left and right, Keith Olbermann or Bill O'Reilly. They are all pompous blowhards who spout off hyperbole for ratings.

They are so bad that the parodies are that much more enjoyable, like The Daily Show and Colbert Report. I could watch those forever.
This. Oh lord this.

[Del Murder]

I get all my political news from The Daily Show these days. Stewart should win a Pulitzer. His 5 minute interviews are oftentimes more in depth and hard hitting than those from 'serious' talk shows. I think he's brilliant.

Colbert is great too. It is amazing how so many people take his character at face value and thinks he actually believes most of what he says.

[Raistlin]

I like Maher, Colbert and Stewart because they don't take themselves seriously.

Maher is good as long as he doesn't start talking about vaccines, because then I want to punch him in his stupid face.

[ljkkjlcm9]

I get all my political news from The Daily Show these days. Stewart should win a Pulitzer. His 5 minute interviews are oftentimes more in depth and hard hitting than those from 'serious' talk shows. I think he's brilliant.

Colbert is great too. It is amazing how so many people take his character at face value and thinks he actually believes most of what he says.

It's more amazing that people DON'T take Stewart that way as he actually does agree with a lot of the views he poses. Granted, on the show he does so in ludicrous fashion, but many of the views presented on his show actually are his. Colbert however, doesn't even agree with what he says most of the time, and often does the extreme to try and prove the other point. Sadly, both shows are extremely slanted liberal shows, just in very different ways. The fact that they're satire is why people let them get away with it, but the same bias is still present. They are entertainers however, and I enjoy a good Colbert Report on some days.

Sad part is, people don't pay attention to the fact that Bill O'Reilly is entertainment too. You can't take what he says seriously either. When you sit there and watch it as a news show, it's your own fault. After watching him maybe twice I realized that is was purely to watch and laugh at how crazy O'Reilly is. Hardly to be taken seriously. Of course, these are the same people who try and take Chris Matthews seriously... just as absurd in the opposite direction.

The ONLY time a news show can get away with being a more balanced one, is when there is a team of reporters that run the show. In this instances, not everyone is going to agree on everything and they will point out each others faults. So not to say bias isn't present, but you're more likely to see more than one bias and find a middle "truthful" ground.

But when it comes down to it, realize ALL these shows are trying to draw in viewers and make money. It's not as much about the news as it is about the business. Hence why getting your news from non-news dedicated channels is actually better. Or ya know, just use the internet and sources like Drudge-report.

THE JACKEL

[Raistlin]

The difference is that more people take Bill O'Reilly seriously, and O'Reilly (along with Hannity and Limbaugh and the even worse Coulter) want to be taken seriously. Colbert is intentional satire. And yes, The Daily Show and especially Colbert Report have their own biases, and I disagree with them on certain things, but they're at least funny about it. John Stewart is not the O'Reilly of the left -- that's Keith Olbermann, who I already said I also can't stand.

[The Man]

I like Maher, Colbert and Stewart because they don't take themselves seriously.

Maher is good as long as he doesn't start talking about vaccines, because then I want to punch him in his stupid face.

Yeah, definitely. Along similar lines Jenny McCarthy needs to shut the fuck up already.

[ljkkjlcm9]

The difference is that more people take Bill O'Reilly seriously, and O'Reilly (along with Hannity and Limbaugh and the even worse Coulter) want to be taken seriously. Colbert is intentional satire. And yes, The Daily Show and especially Colbert Report have their own biases, and I disagree with them on certain things, but they're at least funny about it. John Stewart is not the O'Reilly of the left -- that's Keith Olbermann, who I already said I also can't stand.

Limbaugh says he's an entertainer. He even calls his network the EIB network as a joke (excellence in broadcasting network). Hannity is an idiot. Coulter is hilarious, because she is actually really smart and makes other people just look stupid. Whether you agree with her or not, which I know most of EoFF doesn't because this appears to be a hugely liberally sided group, she is a very smart woman. Rush just points out things no one else does. He does nothing spectacular, he's not the smartest guy in the world, but he just gathers information and distributes it. People that refuse to listen to him because of what they have heard about him, are absurd. I have at least watched Michael Moore movies before deciding he is a scumbag.

THE JACKAL

[Rad Bromance]

I hate them all, left and right, Keith Olbermann or Bill O'Reilly. They are all pompous blowhards who spout off hyperbole for ratings.

They are so bad that the parodies are that much more enjoyable, like The Daily Show and Colbert Report. I could watch those forever.
Agreed 100%.

I can't think of very many things I'd dislike watching more than an overpaid self riteious guy in a suit telling me what they think of everything, why everyone else is wrong, why I have to eat it, all while assuming I agree with them.

Not to mention politics has a way of bringing out the worst in people to begin with.

[Raistlin]

Coulter is hilarious, because she is actually really smart and makes other people just look stupid.

If by other people, you mean herself. Her book claims that evolution is nothing but a liberal conspiracy, at that's just one example of her mind-numbing ignorance. She is the very definition of "spouting hyperbole for ratings," and in fact does it so obnoxiously that she is almost self-parodying.


Whether you agree with her or not, which I know most of EoFF doesn't because this appears to be a hugely liberally sided group, she is a very smart woman. Rush just points out things no one else does. He does nothing spectacular, he's not the smartest guy in the world, but he just gathers information and distributes it. People that refuse to listen to him because of what they have heard about him, are absurd. I have at least watched Michael Moore movies before deciding he is a scumbag.

I am not at all a liberal, and have watched and read all of the mainstream "serious" political commentators at one point or another. Here's a tip: they are all scumbags. They don't give a crap about truth, only about money and pushing their agenda. Michael Moore is just the Ann Coulter of the left -- a particularly detestable example.

[The Captain]

I have to sort of not comment on this since I work for one of the shows constantly being mentioned. All I can add is that Mr. Stewart is a very good boss.

We view ourselves as comedy first, news and entertainment second. A good laugh will trump a political bias every single day of the week, and you can take that to the bank. The day the Daily Show is seen as the sole source of "real" news is the day we've lost a very important part of what this country so prides itself: a free press. I will grant you that it can be bleak out there, but there is still good reporting if you can dig through all the bull and grand-standing.

Take care all.

[Del Murder]

What do you do for the Daily Show? Do you interact with Stewart much?

[The Captain]

Currently I work in the Research and overnight news departments. I catch the AP feeds that come in overnight and search for transcripts for the writers in addition to researching jokes of my own. I see Jon usually once a day, though he's usually too busy to chat much. When he does have time I've found him to be just about what he is on air: funny, a Jersey boy through and through and Jewish.

Take care all.

[Rad Bromance]

Currently I work in the Research and overnight news departments. I catch the AP feeds that come in overnight and search for transcripts for the writers in addition to researching jokes of my own. I see Jon usually once a day, though he's usually too busy to chat much. When he does have time I've found him to be just about what he is on air: funny, a Jersey boy through and through and Jewish.

Take care all.
I'm...so jealous!

[The Man]

jesus, The Captain probably has a better job than anyone else at this forum.