Jimmy Dore & Kurt Metzger Critique Jon Stewart on Colbert Cancellation

Jon Stewart's Defense of Colbert

• 🎙️ Jon Stewart reacted to CBS canceling "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," suggesting the decision was not purely financial, despite CBS claiming the show lost tens of millions.
• 💡 Stewart argued that CBS should have tried to save its "number one rated network late night franchise" rather than canceling it, comparing the situation to the music industry not abandoning CDs when sales declined.
• 📺 Stewart also posited that the cancellation might be related to an upcoming $8 billion merger with Skydance and potential appeasement of a Trump White House, fearing FCC approval.

Critique of Stewart's Arguments

• 🤡 Jimmy Dore and Kurt Metzger find Stewart's defense contradictory and weak, pointing out that Stewart himself acknowledged the show was losing money and that the late-night format is outdated, akin to "Blockbuster Video inside of a Tower Records."
• 📊 Ratings data is presented showing Greg Gutfeld significantly outperforming Colbert, Kimmel, and Fallon, contradicting Stewart's claim of Colbert being "number one rated."
• 🧐 The hosts argue Stewart is making excuses, shifting from financial reasons to political ones, and that the premise of CBS fearing Trump is flawed, as media has historically appeased various administrations.

The Decline of Late-Night Comedy

• 📉 The discussion highlights that the traditional late-night talk show format is considered a "struggling financial model" and is "tired" and "old."
• 📺 Alternative platforms like YouTube are suggested as viable options for hosts like Colbert and Stewart, citing the success of Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson.
• 🎭 The hosts criticize Stewart's current approach, including his use of expletives and what they deem "partisan juvenile slop," arguing it's built on a "false premise" and lacks genuine substance.

Media and Political Narratives

• 🗣️ Stewart is accused of not taking a stand on crucial issues like the Ukraine War, COVID-19, and Russia Gate, instead promoting "dominant narratives."
• 🤥 The hosts contend that media outlets, including those Stewart has been associated with, have a history of pushing lies and appeasing the establishment, rather than speaking truth to power.
• 📺 The cancellation of shows like the Smothers Brothers is cited as historical precedent for institutions knuckling under to government pressure.

Corporate Fear and Compliance

• 🏦 Stewart's call for corporations to "sack up" and stand up to Trump is met with skepticism, as the hosts argue institutions have consistently "bent the knee" to various administrations and advertisers.
• 🚫 The hosts point out that media and advertisers have already engaged in censorship and deplatforming, particularly against counter-narratives concerning COVID-19 and Ukraine, suggesting this behavior is not new under Trump.
• 🎭 The critique concludes that Stewart's arguments are based on a false premise of media independence and truth-telling, when in reality, they are often partisan and serve the establishment.