‘The Problem With Jon Stewart’ Review: Stewart Gets Serious, Deepens Advocacy Journalism For Apple TV +

by



[ad_1]

Stewart – who has already embraced that role with his crusade on behalf of 9/11 first responders – has capitalized on the freedom his reputation gives him to take that step, doing something akin to serving steamed vegetables to those fans who might have expected salty snacks. He acknowledges this a bit shyly in the segments in which he strategizes with his producers, some of whom come from news backgrounds that testify to the hybrid nature of the program.

Yet Stewart has always practiced a form of journalism, using comedy as a delivery system. On “The Daily Show” that meant reaching viewers who otherwise might not be news heavy consumers, by dressing current events in a more engaging package.

By switching to the less commercialized streaming arena, Stewart has given up on pretending to pour sugar to help the messages get through. The not unreasonable conclusion from this is that I spent time studying the state of the United States and the world, the comedian – who can’t help but sometimes joke aside and chat with guests and reporters – has determined that the stakes are too horrible to spend much time clowning.

Scheduled every two weeks with a related podcast, Stewart opens up on a topic close to his heart, focusing on veterans whose health claims associated with “burns” have fallen on their ears. deaf to the US government.

“We support our troops, unless they really need support,” said Stewart, interviewing ailing servicemen and their families, followed by a very focused interview with the current US Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough.

A second episode actually strikes a better balance of what “The Problem” hopes to become, examining the more deceitful cries of “Freedom!” in response to the vaccine and mask warrants, before drifting into authoritarianism in the United States. Stewart interviews those who have witnessed the process firsthand in Venezuela, the Philippines and the Middle East, including journalist Maria Ressa and Bassem Youssef, who was once known as “Egyptian Jon Stewart”.
Stewart has always shown top-notch interview chops, and with episodes lasting around 45 minutes, he’s got plenty of time to flaunt them. The show follows a never-before-done plan for a series at HBO, which former chief Richard Plepler helped bring the project to Apple, which clearly gave the comedian all the creative leeway he could have wanted. (CNN and HBO are both part of WarnerMedia.)

The most obvious problem with “The Problem” is that it emphasizes righting and exposing wrongs at the expense of entertainment, at least in the way people expect. The overall effect is reminiscent of historical resistance when a comedic actor launches into dramatic roles, and some parts of the audience recoil alike.

Stewart has anticipated this potential criticism and appears to be content to plead guilty. After spending years making people laugh, in “The Problem”, Stewart has different priorities, embarking, no matter how noble, in the search for solutions.

“The Problem With Jon Stewart” premieres September 30 on Apple TV +.

[ad_2]

Source link