"Better a fallen rocket than never a burst of light."
~ Tom Stoppard, The Invention of Love

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

News Satire Roundup: December 2nd-Decembeer 6th


Sunday, December 2 – Big story on free speech, specifically as it relates to content moderation online.  The story handily proves, once again, how unprepared most preexisting laws are to being applied to the Internet.  I loved Hasan’s analogy comparing content and websites to magazines (“Remember magazines?  Like Instagram you could hold,”) and newsstands, with sites like Facebook and Twitter enjoying the privileges of a publisher (magazine) as well as the relative non-accountability of a platform (newsstand.)  The show also returned to Saudi Arabia, covering some fallout in its relationships with other countries after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and a prospective ceasefire with Yemen.  I especially loved the bit about Denmark no longer selling arms to Saudi Arabia, prompting the question, since when were they?  The comparison of your grandparents telling you, “We’re no longer touring with the Black Eyed Peas,” was perfect.


Monday, December 3 – Neat show, filmed in South Africa while Trevor was there to host a concert in honor of Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday.  No news, but lots of awesome stuff all the same.  Taking pride of place was an interview between Trevor and his grandmother, who talked about life under apartheid and cheerfully reminisced about whupping Li’l Trevor when he was naughty.  She also may have conned Trevor into paying for a lot of things to enable her to watch The Daily Show, from buying her a new generator to fixing her cable.  We got a taste of life in Soweto, including driveways with no cars, outdoor toilets, and popular local foods, and saw clips of Trevor’s hosting gig in Johannesburg.  The night’s second interview (which can’t compare with Trevor’s grandmother, because what can?) was with Usher, one of the artists at the concert.  He discussed the significance of coming to Africa, as well as some of his charity work.

Tuesday, December 4So, Trevor lost his voice after that concert in South Africa.  In the past, the show has aired reruns or had a correspondent host instead, but tonight, they kept him at the desk making gestures and facial expressions while the correspondents took turns as his “voice.”  Michael was first up, covering a pint-sized YouTube star, the end of “adult content” on Tumblr, and a Nigerian president scandal that sounds like a Nigerian prince scam.  He tapped out when the subject turned to race in America, and Roy filled in for a bit on racist Christmas tree decorations before moving onto post-midterm issues:  outgoing GOP power grabs in Wisconsin and Michigan and election-tampering in North Carolina.  Desi took over for the interview with rapper Anderson .Paak, and while it was a little awkward, with Trevor pointing to questions on cards for Desi to ask, it got the job done, and the show closed with a musical performance.

Wednesday, December 5 – Night two of voiceless Trevor, which added in some jokes delivered by Trevor via Siri.  Dulce kicked things off with Michael Flynn’s 19 interviews with the FBI and moved on to the awkward meeting of Trump with the former presidents/their families (including Hillary Clinton) at George Bush’s funeral.  New sports piece from Michael and Roy featuring some societal missteps – Brett Favre accidentally promoting for anti-Semites, a sexist dig at a soccer award ceremony – and an awesome clip of a soccer goal being blocked by a dog running onto the field.  Ronny did a field report on Bill Gates’s mission to bring reliable toilets to the developing world.  His delivery on, “Oh my god, is Bill Gates literally flushing his money down the toilet?” was great.  Jabouki led the interview with fashion designer Jeremy Scott, discussing politics in fashion and asking (for Trevor) what he would recommend for an “ample booty.”

Thursday, December 6 – Desi was our first “voice,” covering next-step escalations in the trade war with China, an undocumented employee at one of Trump’s golf courses (loved Trevor’s joke about the border wall having a “service entrance,”) and some silly shots at Trevor based on Justin Timberlake also having voice issues.  Jaboukie looked at the move toward a cashless economy from a millennial perspective, hitting the same “woke vs. lazy” conundrum Hasan has discussed on his show.  I loved the bit about him “bringing back” cash by making his own artisanal hipster dollars.  Michael reported on the dramatic difference in gun violence in the U.S. and Switzerland, despite both countries having high gun ownership.  I felt for the poor Swiss guy who had to teach Michael gun safety.  Trevor did the interview himself (well, with Siri,) talking to journalist Jay Rosen about an ad-free, user-funded online paper he wants to bring to the U.S.

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