The Friday Link for 1/2/15

So now that I mailed it in for the last two weeks, paying tribute to Stephen Colbert, the question needs to be answered, "since we are saying goodbye to the best political humorist in the country, who will take his place?"

My answer is not Jon Stewart, but Stewart does own the fake news category.  He does it so well, the Saturday Night Live fake news cast is horribly unfunny now, in comparison.  Colbert understood he couldn't just be a The Daily Show 2, and that's why he excelled.  To find the next big political humorist, we must now look to another former Daily Show correspondent, John Oliver.

Oliver was exceptional when he filled in for Stewart while he made the movie Rosewater, and it was a matter of time before one of the other networks plucked him away.  He was smart enough to go with HBO and the freedom cable television brings.

John Oliver not only skewers the big stories brilliantly, he does not shy away from a treasure trove for comedy, international news.  Some of the comedy bits he does are the first time I am even aware of a political or social event overseas.  He also does something which makes him my pick to rule the political humor category, he does investigative journalism.

Investigative journalism used to be a tent pole of every major news outlet, but with the streamlining of news and budget cutting, those departments, and many great journalists, are no longer around.  Oliver and his crew must have realized this window was there.  In the first season he has been on, his show Last Week Tonight has done amazingly work exposing the real story behind predatory lending, the sugar lobby, civil forfeiture and the Ms. America pageant.  It's important work which elevates his comedy to a different level.  He is a fine choice to take over Colbert's throne.

The link tonight is his hilarious look at State Legislatures. Warning - Adult content and language!!! Enjoy!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIMgfBZrrZ8