Fans of the Daily Show are going through a strange and conflicting experience this summer of 2013. We've lost our beloved host Jon Stewart for a few months, while we've gained greater exposure to one of our favorite supporting characters, John Oliver.
Both are funny men and their medium is satirical wordplay, but both bring us to laughter with different styles. Stewart is the devilish boy-in-a-man's-body wiseacre, while Oliver plays the disdainfully-witty intellectual with a bit of a chip on his shoulder (or maybe it's just the British accent).
While there hasn't been a noticeable lag in the funny business with Oliver at the helm, the change does emphasize what Stewart brings to the party. His easy-going, casual, delivery works better in setting up the punch lines and getting the interview guests to relax and open up. That Oliver's style is more acutely acerbic and therefore not quite as effective as a host doesn't count so much against him as it highlights why Stewart has been so successful at his job.
However, while Oliver may not be the equal of Stewart as a host, if you are a fan of the British style of comic delivery, a la Norman Wisdom by way of Monty Python, you can't help but be pleased by John Oliver's performance. A little more support from the recurring cast and a few more shots-in-the-arm from Lewis Black won't hurt, but Oliver is capably steering the ship while Stewart is out finding himself.
Both are funny men and their medium is satirical wordplay, but both bring us to laughter with different styles. Stewart is the devilish boy-in-a-man's-body wiseacre, while Oliver plays the disdainfully-witty intellectual with a bit of a chip on his shoulder (or maybe it's just the British accent).
While there hasn't been a noticeable lag in the funny business with Oliver at the helm, the change does emphasize what Stewart brings to the party. His easy-going, casual, delivery works better in setting up the punch lines and getting the interview guests to relax and open up. That Oliver's style is more acutely acerbic and therefore not quite as effective as a host doesn't count so much against him as it highlights why Stewart has been so successful at his job.
However, while Oliver may not be the equal of Stewart as a host, if you are a fan of the British style of comic delivery, a la Norman Wisdom by way of Monty Python, you can't help but be pleased by John Oliver's performance. A little more support from the recurring cast and a few more shots-in-the-arm from Lewis Black won't hurt, but Oliver is capably steering the ship while Stewart is out finding himself.
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