Thanks to Gold Derby for pointing us to this YouTube clip of Jon Stewart on The Late Show wondering why the heck they were ever asked to host the Oscars.
Stewart: “The problem with having us host it, if I may, is that at some level, deep in our hearts, we think it’s stupid.”
Letterman: “That’s exactly right.”
Brilliant. Have a look:
Comments
9 responses to “Stewart and Letterman dish the Oscar hosting gig”
“he’s courageous because he played a fireman?”
nailed it
I think that Stewart is hilarious. I thought he did a good job hosting the Oscars. However, why does he constantly have to act “above” the proceedings? I could do a little digging on this site and find all the contributors who gave out prose just as they do on the Academy Awards. Stewart is not just taking a shot at the stuffy Academy Awards, he’s taking shots at your whole reason for exisitng here. Perhaps this went over your head.
The Cramer Takedown confirmed that Stewart is Letterman’s only natural successor.
@ Kyle: I don’t think he’s jabbing at the Oscars by commenting that he feels they’re stupid, rather he is poking fun of himself (as he’s done times and again on his show) for being too sarcastic and ‘above’ the proceedings. That said, and perhaps because of it, I really enjoyed him as a host.
I disagree Dario about who Stewart is poking fun at in this piece.
His comment about “playing” the firemen struck me funny because of Kris’ praise for this peice. How many commentators here and elsewhere praised the bravery of Penn’s portrayal of Milk? Stewart’s comments are fine, but people should recognize that it not only damns the Academy awards, but it damns much of this site.
Well, it all is just a bit funny. I mean, this is an Oscar predictions site. As much as I enjoyed joining you all here in following much of the last season, I’m fully aware that this is a rather strange little habit we all have. And I don’t think Penn was brave for playing Harvey Milk. He was incredible, but brave? Milk was brave.
I think you’re overanalyzing. What Stewart said was autoironic and to some extent true, and noone should be offended, really. :)
Also, proceed to watch the first half of that interview to hear Stewart reffering to his 4-year-old daughter who plays with mother’s lipstick as looking like an aging french hooker, and Letterman following it up by declaring concern for his young makeup-wearing son. Obviously, he jokes.
Kyle: It doesn’t damn this site because there is an underlying current of understanding here (or there should be) that the Academy Awards are quite trivial and arbitrary. To take them too seriously is folly.
I agree with you both that the interview is non-serious. Its not the Academy Awards, its the prose that praises certain acting achievements, and I believe that is something this site stands firmly behind. Think of your favorite performances, and now think of the words you would use to describe it. Now think of someone calling you stupid for thinking that.