Comedy Central was massively important to me growing up. Weekday afternoons, you could find me glued to the screen watching SNL reruns for hours. Friday afternoons and evenings were spent watching hours of stand-up comedy. Thanks to Comedy Central and my penchant for staying up way too late (which persists), I was able to watch the South Park movie, uncensored, at a time when I absolutely should not have been allowed to. The network began airing Late Night with Conan O’Brien reruns at one point, which was so enticing that it pulled me away from my regularly scheduled Simpsons reruns on Fox.
None of that was meant to last forever. Still, it’s been a damn shame to see the network become a platform for reruns of The Office, South Park, and, like, nothing else save for the occasional movie or infomercial. What once was a hub for new and interesting voices is now a platform for whatever Paramount needs, which includes airing the MTV Awards, something that would more likely be mocked on the network in the days of old. The main things it produces now are new episodes of South Park (though that is currently up in the air), Digman!, and The Daily Show, the latter of which is getting record ratings for the network.
It’s no surprise that the show is climbing the charts. As annoying as it is when people say comedians will have more work with a shitty President, our current Supreme Leader’s second rise to power brought Jon Stewart back to the program, and people like to see a steady presence, even if they were none too happy with him at first (and some are still salty). Stewart has pulled no punches in his return, and that includes taking shots at Paramount, which recently bribed their favorite king to the tune of $16 million to get a meritless lawsuit thrown out and ensure their merger with Skydance is approved.
Stewart’s criticisms of the network’s actions have led to rumors that he may be fired once the merger is completed, something he isn’t worried about. “Unfortunately, we haven’t heard anything from them,” he explained on The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart. “They haven’t called me and said like ‘Don’t get too comfortable in that office, Stewart.’ But let me tell you something, I’ve been kicked out of shittier establishments than that. We’ll land on our feet.”
The Daily Show is the most successful thing Comedy Central has going for it. But, as Stewart notes, the folks in charge may not see it that way (or care). “I’d like to believe that without The Daily Show … I don’t know. Comedy Central is kind of like Muzak at this point. I think we’re the only sort of life that exists on a current basis other than South Park. But it’s the only thing on there,” he mused. “I’d like to think we bring enough value to the property. If they’re looking at it as purely a real estate transaction, I think we bring a lot of value. But that may not be their consideration. They may sell the whole f***ing place for parts, I just don’t know. We’ll deal with it when we do.”
There’s a non-zero chance that The Daily Show will survive the merger, despite regularly taking shots at the current President. Still, if it gets the axe, it won’t be a huge loss. All of those talented folks will find work elsewhere, maybe even together. The show was never meant to last, and neither is the placeholder it currently airs on. We can still remember how good it all used to be. At least they won’t come after Colbert— Never mind.
