News SatireNews Satire

Mary Voigt, Patricia McGurk, Mary Voigt, Patricia McGurk, and Alma Mendezand Alma Mendez

Genre: Political News SatireGenre: Political News Satire Stephanie Miller Radio Broadcast Stephanie Miller Radio Broadcast

Twin Cities: M-F (8 a.m. – 11 a.m.) on Twin Cities: M-F (8 a.m. – 11 a.m.) on

950 A.M Air America Radio Station 950 A.M Air America Radio Station Setting: produced in Los Angeles; Setting: produced in Los Angeles;

show goes on the road from time to show goes on the road from time to timetime

DDistributed by the istributed by the Jones Radio NetworkJones Radio Network. As of . As of November 28November 28, , 20052005 the show is the show is produced exclusively by produced exclusively by WYD Media ManagementWYD Media Management

Theme: Take Back AmericaTheme: Take Back America Links:Links: http://http://

www.stephaniemiller.comwww.stephaniemiller.com; ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stephhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Steph

anie_Miller_Show#Hosts_Personalitiesanie_Miller_Show#Hosts_Personalities;;

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-young/note-to-air-america-young/note-to-air-america-watc_b_28111.htmlwatc_b_28111.html

Value AssumptionsValue Assumptions Democrats are protecting democracy. They have Democrats are protecting democracy. They have

the moral high road on equitable taxes; universal the moral high road on equitable taxes; universal health care; social security; pro-labor; pro civil, health care; social security; pro-labor; pro civil, women’s & gay rights; anti-war message. women’s & gay rights; anti-war message.

Republicans are no longer conservative in the Republicans are no longer conservative in the original sense of the word; instead they are original sense of the word; instead they are corrupt and scandal-ridden (control of media, corrupt and scandal-ridden (control of media, voting machines, co-opting of religious voting machines, co-opting of religious fundamentalist message, torture of prisoners, fundamentalist message, torture of prisoners, Foleygate, false justification for Iraq war)Foleygate, false justification for Iraq war)

Blatant mix of low-brow and high-brow; serious Blatant mix of low-brow and high-brow; serious news content treated satirically, Republicans news content treated satirically, Republicans ridiculed, apolitical entertainment, pop culture ridiculed, apolitical entertainment, pop culture segmentssegments

Roles and Line-upRoles and Line-up Stephanie Miller-Stephanie Miller-comedienne. Refers to herself as “mama,” with comedienne. Refers to herself as “mama,” with

leitmotif of box-wine addict, elderly shut-in, infatuation with leitmotif of box-wine addict, elderly shut-in, infatuation with “future husbands” including Sen. Russ Feingold (WI), Keith “future husbands” including Sen. Russ Feingold (WI), Keith Oberman (eloquent MSNBC news commentator).Oberman (eloquent MSNBC news commentator).

Jim WardJim Ward (voice deity) – straight man to Stephanie’s comedic (voice deity) – straight man to Stephanie’s comedic takes; voice imitations of Saturday Night Live quality; conspiracy takes; voice imitations of Saturday Night Live quality; conspiracy corner theoristcorner theorist

Chris LavoieChris Lavoie– commentator – sound board genius – each 3 hour – commentator – sound board genius – each 3 hour segment includes twenty plus songs; vaudevillian pace segment includes twenty plus songs; vaudevillian pace punctuated by brilliant sound effects.punctuated by brilliant sound effects.

Live drummer and telephone call screenerLive drummer and telephone call screener Right Wing World – Republicans Eating Their OwnRight Wing World – Republicans Eating Their Own Stand-Up News We Don’t Want To LoseStand-Up News We Don’t Want To Lose Tinsel Talk: Hollywood gossip of apolitical natureTinsel Talk: Hollywood gossip of apolitical nature Celebrity Interviews: politicians, authors or Hollywood celebrity Celebrity Interviews: politicians, authors or Hollywood celebrity

activistsactivists

The Daily Show with Jon The Daily Show with Jon StewartStewart

• News Program News Program SpoofSpoof

• Set is designed to Set is designed to imitate nightly imitate nightly newscast.newscast.

• Point of the Show Point of the Show • ““a nightly half-hour a nightly half-hour

series unburdened series unburdened by objectivity, by objectivity, journalistic integrity journalistic integrity or even accuracy. “or even accuracy. “

Set up of the Daily ShowSet up of the Daily Show Show begins with Jon reporting on the news of the day, with Show begins with Jon reporting on the news of the day, with

his own biases and point of view clearly reflected in the his own biases and point of view clearly reflected in the reporting. Uses actual news clips in his monologue.reporting. Uses actual news clips in his monologue.

In most programs, Jon adds in a correspondent who is on In most programs, Jon adds in a correspondent who is on the field reporting on either the main story he is focusing on the field reporting on either the main story he is focusing on or a recorded story, with the correspondent’s own or a recorded story, with the correspondent’s own prejudices and spins clearly reflected in the reporting. The prejudices and spins clearly reflected in the reporting. The questions that are often used by the reporter is to confuse questions that are often used by the reporter is to confuse or possibly anger those who are responding to the or possibly anger those who are responding to the questions, to make a thinly veiled point or to elicit a laugh questions, to make a thinly veiled point or to elicit a laugh from the audience.from the audience.

Has a featured guest, usually an author, political figure or Has a featured guest, usually an author, political figure or other figures in the news media. other figures in the news media.

The “Seat of Heat”-Jon asks a question which is supposed to The “Seat of Heat”-Jon asks a question which is supposed to make the guest somewhat uncomfortable. Depending on make the guest somewhat uncomfortable. Depending on the guest, this also maybe a moment where they shine if the guest, this also maybe a moment where they shine if they can handle the joke. they can handle the joke.

Observations of the Daily ShowObservations of the Daily Show Liberal perspective- does a lot of ”Bush-Liberal perspective- does a lot of ”Bush-

bashing”bashing” Audience-tend to be liberal, young men and Audience-tend to be liberal, young men and

women.women. Claims to be a ”reality-based look at news, Claims to be a ”reality-based look at news,

trends, pop culture, current events, politics, trends, pop culture, current events, politics, sports and entertainment with an sports and entertainment with an alternative point of view.” alternative point of view.”

Purpose-to entertain, maybe even make us Purpose-to entertain, maybe even make us be more critical of news media and to be be more critical of news media and to be aware of who is reporting the story and aware of who is reporting the story and what perspective do they want us to what perspective do they want us to believe.believe.

Question: Whose blue suit with red power tie makes the news truthier?

Answer: Neither. It’s really all about tiny TV’s in the background.

On Presentation: “Anyone can read the news to you, I promise to On Presentation: “Anyone can read the news to you, I promise to feelfeel the the news news atat you.“ you.“

Being senselessly controversial "Even the weather page is in a state of moral Being senselessly controversial "Even the weather page is in a state of moral decay. What’s wrong with red, white and blue, USA Today? This rainbow decay. What’s wrong with red, white and blue, USA Today? This rainbow weather map is just another example of the homometerological agenda”weather map is just another example of the homometerological agenda”

On his audience: "…This show is not about me. No, this program is dedicated On his audience: "…This show is not about me. No, this program is dedicated to you, the heroes. And who are the heroes? The people who watch this to you, the heroes. And who are the heroes? The people who watch this show, average hard-working Americans. You’re not the elites. You’re not the show, average hard-working Americans. You’re not the elites. You’re not the country club crowd. I know for a fact my country club would never let you in. country club crowd. I know for a fact my country club would never let you in. You’re the folks who say something has to be done. And you’re doing You’re the folks who say something has to be done. And you’re doing something. You’re watching TV." something. You’re watching TV."

On facts: "Truthiness. Now I’m sure some of the word police — the On facts: "Truthiness. Now I’m sure some of the word police — the wordinistas — over at Webster’s are going to say, 'Hey, that’s not a word.' wordinistas — over at Webster’s are going to say, 'Hey, that’s not a word.' Well, anybody who knows me knows that I’m no fan of dictionaries. Or Well, anybody who knows me knows that I’m no fan of dictionaries. Or reference books. They’re elitist," reference books. They’re elitist,"

Parodies of Prime Time News Parodies of Prime Time News ProgramsPrograms

Like any other type of Like any other type of program can be parodied. program can be parodied.

Uses similar “bits” as “real” Uses similar “bits” as “real” news programsnews programs

Has a set that’s very similar Has a set that’s very similar to real news programs-sits to real news programs-sits behind a desk, has graphics behind a desk, has graphics displayed over talking, displayed over talking, interviews live guests, and interviews live guests, and goes on location to do goes on location to do “spots.” Just like SNL’s “spots.” Just like SNL’s weekend updateweekend update

Has a live audience and does Has a live audience and does interact with them more like a interact with them more like a talk show wouldtalk show would

Aired on Comedy Central after Aired on Comedy Central after prime time, but during “real” prime time, but during “real” local news programslocal news programs

Roles…Roles… Playing talk show host, but Playing talk show host, but

arrogant right wing sortarrogant right wing sort Described as “a fake Described as “a fake

newsman’s fake newsman”newsman’s fake newsman” Plays fast and loose with Plays fast and loose with

“truth” in a way that is like “truth” in a way that is like reality, but obvious enough reality, but obvious enough to be funny to most peopleto be funny to most people

Uses proper news setting Uses proper news setting but doesn’t have but doesn’t have responsibility to viewers, responsibility to viewers, so can be funnyso can be funny

Imagery and SymbolsImagery and Symbols Uses all signs and symbols of news media, Uses all signs and symbols of news media,

microphones, satellite feeds, etc. microphones, satellite feeds, etc. Creates air of authority with dress, set, Creates air of authority with dress, set,

etc. Loves audience, but has contempt for etc. Loves audience, but has contempt for themthem

Asks newsy questions but framed in a Asks newsy questions but framed in a particular way “Would you say George particular way “Would you say George Bush is a great president or the greatest Bush is a great president or the greatest president?”president?”

Newsweek sees it as a response to the Newsweek sees it as a response to the Bush presidency that won’t last Bush presidency that won’t last http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9767517/sithttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9767517/site/newsweek/, 10/24/06e/newsweek/, 10/24/06

Demographics of Comedy CentralDemographics of Comedy Central Different Demographic Target. Comedy Central targets A25-34, which Different Demographic Target. Comedy Central targets A25-34, which

drives Comedy's highly-ranked concentration of Adults 18-49, 18-34 and drives Comedy's highly-ranked concentration of Adults 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54. 25-54. Source: Nielsen Media Research, 2Q'03 VPVH, Total Day. Source: Nielsen Media Research, 2Q'03 VPVH, Total Day.

Light Viewers: Comedy's "smart" programming attracts one of cable's Light Viewers: Comedy's "smart" programming attracts one of cable's highest concentrations of "light" viewers. These viewers are selective and highest concentrations of "light" viewers. These viewers are selective and discriminating and are likely to pay more attention for these reasons. discriminating and are likely to pay more attention for these reasons. Source: Nielsen Media Research, N*Power. Custom Quintile Analysis, Source: Nielsen Media Research, N*Power. Custom Quintile Analysis, October '02,Mon-Sun 8-11p October '02,Mon-Sun 8-11p

More Attentive Viewers: Comedy Central ranks #1 among measured cable More Attentive Viewers: Comedy Central ranks #1 among measured cable networks for "paying full attention" to the programs on our network. networks for "paying full attention" to the programs on our network. Source: MRI 2003 Custom Cable Study, A18-34 Source: MRI 2003 Custom Cable Study, A18-34

http://www.twcmaineadsales.com/pages/nets/?http://www.twcmaineadsales.com/pages/nets/?cp=nets&sp=info&net=comdy, 10/26/06cp=nets&sp=info&net=comdy, 10/26/06

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdqMftzlBVMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdqMftzlBVM

Value Assumptions Value Assumptions

Care about the newsCare about the news Feel innate distrust of media sourcesFeel innate distrust of media sources Want a b.s. free version of the newsWant a b.s. free version of the news Media savvyMedia savvy