In praise of bothsidesism (and Jon Stewart)

Sorry to bum you out, social media. But the path to great comedy: Make fun of their side, make fun of your side, make fun of yourself, make fun of everything.

“This is no time to argue both sides have problems.”
-People in a self-congratulatory echo chamber who never reach anyone that might disagree with them

This Rolling Stone piece argues Jon Stewart’s “both sides are equally bad” approach may not translate to 2024.

First off: "What you're doing may not translate to 2024" is pretty rich coming from Rolling f–ing Stone. How’s that publication doing these days? Can’t wait for them to put out their “Top 250 Media Layoffs of All Time” listicle.

Anyway…

In his first comeback show, Stewart went after Biden and Trump for being ancient:

“It is not crazy to think that the oldest people in the history of the country to ever run for President might have some of these challenges . . . What’s crazy is thinking that we’re the ones, as voters, who must silence concerns and criticisms.”

This didn’t please the “all jokes must represent the one true view” naysayers who climbed out of their social media bubble to condemn this approach.

“I just don’t think a lot of people are interested in what he’s selling anymore, nor do I think it’s the voice we need the most right now,” wrote TV critic Dave Chensky.

And this commenter, like many others, piled on too:

Fascinating to see a bunch of unfunny folks telling off a comedy legend because, supposedly, people aren't "interested in what he's selling anymore." The issue is Stewart’s trying to reach people across the spectrum instead of just kowtowing to the far left monovoice that rules late night (not to mention my social media timeline).

The problem with the approach these critics want: If you can predict exactly what a comedian is going to think/say, there goes the funny. Seeing all sides – and then delivering points that are surprising – is a more elevated form of comedy. Make fun of their side, make fun of your side, make fun of yourself, make fun of everything. Just make fun.

(In the mock yourself camp, correspondent Jordan Klepper asked Stewart, “Did you save democracy yet with your nineties brand of snark and both-sider-isms?”)

It’s no surprise Stewart’s desire to attack hypocrisy wherever he sees it irks online tribalists. See, the worst thing you can do on social media is see both sides. That makes you some kinda traitor.

Instead, you’re supposed to preach to an extremist choir and confirm their simplistic narrative of “We’re the good guys and they’re the bad guys!” And you’re definitely supposed to ignore the fact that, regardless of which side you’re on, half the country disagrees with you and we all have to live together in this nation somehow – ‘cuz otherwise, it’s, y’know, civil war. FYI I’m looking at who owns the guns and realizing FanDuel’s odds are probably gonna favor the side that carries AR-15s over the side that carries NPR tote bags.

"I'm trying to be a decent, empathetic human who tries to consider what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes."
"This is no time for that kinda bothsidesism."

(Trust me, Stewart will go after Trump plenty in the next few months. Give it a minute.)

Comedians who perform live, in all kinds of place, inhabit a different world than the algorithmiks. In the “comics who do the road” world, people with differing views gather together. Performers who need to make the whole room (ok, most of the room) laugh (unless you can cultivate your own fanbase that knows you in advance – and even that has pros/cons). Generally, it’s wise to give it to both sides at least a little bit. You can’t just play to half the house and get over.

Plus, the truth is there’s plenty to mock all over the political map. Everyone’s got some sh*t that stinks and deserves to be mocked.

Seems to me the folks criticizing him have misinterpreted Stewart’s job. He’s not there to comfort us and tell us we’re right. He’s not there to feed our pre-ordained algorithmic-confirmed views. He’s there to surprise us and make us think/laugh. His guiding light is George Carlin, not Pod Save America.

That may mean some viewers don’t get the ego stroke they crave, but it’s also why people still wanna hear what he has to say. As Inkoo Kang wrote in The New Yorker: “Stewart argued in favor of intellectual honesty over knee-jerk partisanship.”

And that’s why he might still be able to reach some of those on-the-fence folks who will be the difference makers in the upcoming election. He’s doing the lunch pail job of intellectually honest comedy even though the massage your clique for clicks approach would be easier. Because the best comedy doesn’t answer to tribalists, it answers to a higher authority.

More on Stewart’s return and the future of the form…