Jon Stewart Mocks "Benjamin Button," Hits Out At The Oscars (VIDEO)

Jon Stewart hit out at the Oscars and the heavily nominated "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in two segments Tuesday night.

Welcoming guests to the show, he heaped praise on "Slumdog Millionaire," whose star Dev Patel was his guest, while twice pretending to fall asleep talking about "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

As the LA Times wrote:

As Stewart put it, "Slumdog" was "much better than some of those other 'critically acclaimed' films I could name, like 'The Curious Case of Benjamin....' " Instead of saying the last word of the title, Stewart pretended to fall asleep at this desk, loudly snoring. Then he bolted upright, as if startled awake: "Hey, what happened to the old baby? Is the old baby OK?" Grinning broadly, he said sarcastically: "I loved that movie. It's 'Forrest Gump' meets...." And he dozed off again.

Later, right after Dev sat down, he said of the Oscars (this year being hosted by Hugh Jackman, not Stewart), "This is the kind of film that I think would be recognized by the Oscars if they were holding them, which they are not because if they were I would obviously be hosting them."

WATCH CLIP ONE WITH "BUTTON":

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Intro - Slumdog Millionaire

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CLIP #2 ON THE OSCARS (a minute in after Dev sits):

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Dev Patel

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Comments

[STalvacchia]

Benjamin Button blows slumdog away!

[realt123]

VOTE for the OSCARS on the polls here:

http://acpowerpost.blogspot.com/

[LovingHope]

I was impressed with Dev Patel. He was so witty. I'm glad this movie is getting recognized. It was very entertaining. It reminded me of "City of Gold." It breaks my heart to see little kids fending for themselves. I admire movies that show how other people in other parts of the world survive. It was funny, sad and I love happy endings. I liked Benjamin Button and Brad Pitt is entertaining, but I just don't think he should have gotten nominated. I thought the movie was okay. I liked "Body of Lies". I wish they would have nominated Leonardo Dicaprio he actually had two brilliant performances. And Dave Patel was also great.

[larry278]

I think that the Academy...­couldn't afford the best. If you watch it, you'll see 1 of the rest. My heart is at ease, I've warned you. It's your time if you watch it. Keep the pop corn & potato chip bowls around after you empty them; they make good burp [vomit] basins. All of you will need them. Wear sweats & tee shirts too. The stains wash out quickly if you use Gain, OK, OK , any detergent.

[RG5626]

The bit would have been a lot funnier if Dev Patel had gotten the joke.

[whoizit]

I was kind of impressed that Dev seemed to know who Regis was seeing as he'd be used to Chris Tarrant being the host of Millionaire.

[msjimmied]

I loved Slumdog. Gritty, thought provoking, realistic, feel good ending...a real roller coaster ride of emotions.

[Orangerie]

I recently regarded the Benjamin Button movie and couldn't believe how long and boring it was. Jon stewart's right, Brad Pitt acted like the Forest Gump character. It was soooo bad. How much money was spent on that?

[Melissa]

Don't worry john, no one will be watching it.

[rabiddog6708]

I haven't watched the Oscars for years and I rarely agree with the Academy's choices. LA Confidential was better than Titanic and Shawshank Redemption was way better than Forrest Gump.

[rock2casbah]

If you can tell me how #1 a TV game show host can be that popular although that blatently bigoted and offensive at the same time and number # 2. Who thinks that a person of humble beginnings is just inherently too stupid to know anything including the name if a three musketeer or who is on the 100 dollar bill. Questions that even the average audience member could punch into their little voting mechanism and give him the answer to. They act as if they asked him to solve a question of math theory.

[nervousexpat]

DUDE... you've obviously never been to India. A kid living in the slums of Mumbai would NEVER get to see a 100$ US bill. As for the 3 musketeers, do you really think that a kid from the slums would have the literacy required to read such a book?? Have you never heard of the caste system and its inherent racism? have you never heard of 4 year olds chained to looms???

[ga09]

Becuase its in India and not America - why would ANYONE in India know who is on a 100$ bill?Do you know whose face is on 100 Rupee note?

[GonzoFactor]

Great comedian, superb social commentator, lousy Oscar host.

[Shrinath]

On a very tangential note from this news item.

1994- Forrest Gump - won 6 oscars.

The SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION - nominated 7, won 0! That is the year I lost my total faith in the Academy. So yeah. I do not care what they think.

[MNTom]

I agree with you here. Another was Chicago over The Pianist, and what put me really over the edge was Crash over Brokeback. After that I said no more.

[Shrinath]

Oh ok. I really have not bothered to watch the Oscar ceremonies or the party, after 94. I agree on The Pianist. It was an amazing and delightful movie to watch. Neither Chicago or Moulin Rouge appealed to me.

[MNTom]

I agree with you. The soundtrack and the original score for Shawshank was great.

[nicholasjh1]

I think they both had great merit - Gump was about parenting, and Shawshank about life and forgiving yourself and moving on. Gump may have been a little naive though.

[goodog]

How long until "Slumdog vs. Buttons: the battle for Earth"?

[choada777]

Summer, 2010.

[WRPrintz]

In a world where the old get young, and the young will be forced to fight for their lives...co­mes two men....

[avrang]

jon rulez

[ArtesianWelles]

I still haven't seen Slumdog Millionaire, but Dev seems like a total sav. I wish him the best.

[JZ735]

I think I will see Slumdog on DVD...I am movied out on all the nominees..­.
Not having Stewart host the Oscars may save IT from boredom...

On Benjamin Button, he is right...th­e "Forrest Gump" of 2008...
Gimmicky silliness, and Brad has become a crashing bore, along with his
wife...I am glad she was snubbed by EVERY award program so far, and no
doubt will be by The Academy...­sorry, Adoptalina, no luck!

[hbw3]

This is actually one film you should try to see on the big screen. It's very hard to watch at times, some of the scenes are, should I say... unexpected, but it's really worth it.

[texaslib82]

Loser