Jon Stewart skewers Trump over Jimmy Kimmel suspension on administration-compliant 'The Daily Show'
WASHINGTON, DC: Jon Stewart made an unexpected Thursday night appearance on 'The Daily Show' to lampoon ABC’s controversial decision to suspend 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' indefinitely, following Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s shooting death.
“From Comedy Central. It’s the all-new government-approved 'Daily Show' with your patriotically obedient host, Jon Stewart,” an announcer declared as Stewart, wearing a dark suit and red tie resembling Trump’s signature look, took his seat before a gold-themed backdrop evoking the current White House decor.
Typically only appearing on Mondays, the 62-year-old Stewart jokingly told the audience to “stifle their laughter” while feigning nerves.
Jon Stewart blasts Trump administration's disregard for First Amendment
In his 23-minute monologue on September 18, John Stewart ridiculed what he called “state-approved” media control.
He began, “We have another fun, hilarious, administration-compliant show.” After making fun of the president’s speech in the UK and airing his remarks on Kimmel's suspension, he described a fictional “talent-o-meter” on Trump's desk that measures a performer’s “TQ- talent quotient” based on their niceness to him.
“You may call it free speech in jolly old England. But here in America, we have a little something called the First Amendment. And let me tell you how it works. There’s something called a talent-o-meter,” Stewart remarked.
“It is a completely scientific instrument that is kept on the president’s desk, and it tells the president when a performer’s talent quotient, measured mostly by niceness to the president, goes below a certain level, at which point the FCC must be notified to threaten the acquisition prospects for billion-dollar mergers of network affiliates,” he joked.
“These affiliates are then asked to give ultimatums to even large mega-corporations that control the flow of state-approved content, or the FCC can just choose to threaten those licenses directly. It’s basic science,” Stewart said, parodying government overreach.
'The Daily Show' correspondents soon joined Stewart, wearing matching Trump-style suits and singing a satirical ode to the president’s “greatness.”
ABC indefinitely suspends Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show
Jon Stewart's criticism of the so-called "state-approved" media control was in the wake of ABC deciding to suspend Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show.
Kimmel came under fire on Monday after suggesting on-air that Kirk’s suspected killer was part of the “MAGA gang,” despite police statements that the suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, espoused “leftist ideology.”
Following backlash from conservatives, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr slammed Disney for its action and hinted at a possible federal probe.
Hours later, ABC confirmed that 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' would be suspended indefinitely, after major affiliate Nexstar Media Group said it would preempt the show over Kimmel’s remarks.
