The New York Times is the Paper of Record, Funny.

March 1st, 2009

Gosh, the New York Times investigative reporter critic Alessandra Stanley has her finger on comedy's pulse.

1) Ms. Stanley isn't afraid to point out the elephant in the room. The New York Times TV reporter reveals that most of the late-night comedy talk show hosts in the evening are (drum roll...) of the Caucasian male species! There are eleven to be exact, although Ms. Stanley skipped out on delivering any numbers, probably too close to facts. 11.5 if you count Andy Richter as Conan's sidekick.

David Letterman
Jay Leno
Jon Stewart
Stephen Colbert
Conan O'Brien
Jimmy Kimmel
Craig Ferguson
Jimmy Fallon
Carson Daly
Bill Maher
Spike Fersten

2) Alessandra Stanley is a hard-hitting journalist and deconstructs what it is a comedy variety talk-show host does, "Each night a network talk show repeats a ritual of civility that is both intimately familiar and a total fantasy."

Does Ms. Stanley mean that Conan O'Brien's recurring sketch characters like "The Masturbating Bear" and "Triumph the Insult Dog" are rituals in civility? These sketches, in my opinion, can be incredibly funny, but am curious how Ms. Stanley determined that most Americans fantasies include humans dressed as sexually promiscuous woodland creatures in vegan-friendly costumes.

3) Ms. Stanley then explains that Americans don't value diversity and writes, "Audiences don't reward it or need it." How many Americans actually sat down with Les Moonvess or Ben Silverman to decide who stars in what shows? They, as in we, watch based on what is presented.

And to say Americans feel more comfortable without any change in the status quo goes against what's happening when people do have a say. (Since you've been so consumed with the nail-biting issues of whether Jimmy Fallon knows the difference between the interweb and the TV, let me fill you in.) A recent national election occurred and people, an overwhelming number of whom were Caucasians, chose a candidate who himself embodied diversity, and, more over, an administration and philosophy that would make issues pertaining to diversity a priority.

4) Ms. Stanley might be consistent in the future, because her point gets lost due to her funny logic!

4a) Like if you name certain cable TV hosts, such as Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, you can name others whose shows have lasted for multiple seasons, even if they are not white males. There is comedian Chelsea Handler, who according to most Americans is a female, and Byron Allen, who according to a few Americans is African-American.

4b) Perhaps define what you mean by a late-night talk show. Like Ms. Stanley mentioned how Arsenio Hall once hosted a late-night comedy variety show, which is true, but Ms. Stanley also stated that Dave Chapelle did as well, which is not true. Mr. Chapelle's show was a scripted sketch show. It was funny and he is black. But is your point that comedy on TV predominantly features white males (true) or that simply the talk-show hosts?

It does feel, at least to one American, that you are unwittingly amusing and employ funny facts and make silly statements. As faux therapy-lite talk show host, I can relate. What I can't relate to is categorizing it as reporting.

Comments

[skullsplitter]

Niceage!

[philosopherkingtomas]

Chelsea Lately !

[Clavis]

Barack Obama now sits at a desk more important than either Dave's *or* Jay's. Maybe Johnny's desk could have given President Obama's desk a run for his money, but that desk is retired, I'm afraid...

[mediamarv]

Yeow! I would hate to be on the receiving end of this brilliantly written take down!!

I would tell Ms Stanley that the ball is now in her court, but I don't think you two are even in the same sport.

Well done.