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Obama Owns Wednesday Night.(Barack Obama)(Brief article)

Article from: Broadcasting & Cable Article date: November 03, 2008 Author: Weprin, Alex

By Alex Weprin

An appearance by Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on Oct. 29's edition of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart delivered the highest rating in the program's history, according to Comedy Central, with more than 3.6 million viewers. The previous record of 2.9 million viewers was set Oct. 8 when Michelle Obama was the guest. Earlier in the evening, his 8 p.m. ET infomercial attracted 33.55 million viewers to seven broadcast and cable networks, better than the network shows it displaced.

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Campaign Heightens Humor's Liberal Bent

Posted Oct 20, 08 12:27 PM CDT in Arts & Living,  Politics 

Campaign Heightens Humor's Liberal Bent
Source: AP Photo

(Newser) – Comedy is taking a prominent place in the US election, and may be leaning even more leftward than usual, the Boston Globe reports. Tina Fey and David Letterman have brought the highest ratings in years with mockery of Sarah Palin and John McCain. And Jon Stewart, a savage critic of conservatives, always thrives in election years. Is there something liberal about comedy?

Some think so. “A joke has to feel like it's overcoming some kind of norm, some kind of inhibition. I think Republicans are always better at norms and inhibitions than Democrats,” says one professor who’s written on the subject. Though efforts at conservative comedy have tanked, it may be that jokes are best when aimed at whoever’s in power.

Source: Boston Globe

More about:  Barack Obama • Election 2008 • John McCain • comedy • Saturday Night Live • David Letterman • Tina Fey • Jon Stewart

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Race for the White House proving a comedy goldmine

New York Times New York Times Oct 9, 08 1:55 AM CDT
(Newser) - No matter which candidate ultimately surges ahead, political comedy is emerging as the clear winner in the presidential race, reports the New York Times . Tina Fey's dead-on parody of Sarah Palin has triggered a huge boost in viewership for Saturday Night Live . The Colbert Report and the Daily Show have canceled vacations to keep the jokes coming and the ratings soaring. More »

More about:  Election 2008 • comedy • Saturday Night Live • David Letterman • Jay Leno • Tina Fey • Jon Stewart • Late Night • Lorne Michaels

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'SNL' Regains Its Political Mojo

Clinton joins the resurgence

TV Guide Mar 3, 08 7:45 AM CST
(Newser) - Hillary Clinton's appearance on "Saturday Night Live" confirms not just that the show is back from the writers' strike, writes Matt Roush in TV Guide, but back "smack dab in the center of today’s political dialogue." The sight of Clinton and identically dressed alter ego Amy Poehler onstage was "an image no one will soon forget." More »

More about:  Barack Obama • John McCain • Hillary Clinton • Mike Huckabee • comedy • Hollywood writers' strike • Saturday Night Live • Tina Fey • Amy Poehler • Rudolph Giuliani • Fred Armisen • Weekend Update

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 10 Best Viral Election Videos 

Web offers chance to poke fun, change a few minds

Politico Politico Nov 3, 08 5:18 PM CST
(Newser) - Viral election videos offer campy calls for change, seamless special effects, and more than a few celebrity cameos. Laughs aside, “over the past decade they’ve also impacted politics—sometimes changing the course of elections and frequently providing a few laughs in an otherwise wonky world,” Jeffrey Ressner writes in picking Politico's top 10 of '08. Yes We Can : Will.i.am’s minimalist all-star Obama tribute "may be the most creative video of any type to emerge this year.” Dear Mr. Obama : An injured Iraq veteran explains why war is a good thing. More »

More about:  Barack Obama • Election 2008 • John McCain • Sarah Palin • comedy • Best of 2008 • viral video • Obama Girl • Will.i.am


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