Nerve Endings Firing Away

I watched the show specifically for Jon Stewart. I would say he did a ‘okay’ job. He did not have the audience rolling on the floor, but there were some nice jokes (I loved it when he said Bjork was supposed to come to the show but was shot by Dick Cheney – referring to Bjork’s infamous ‘swan’ dress many Oscars ago). Frankly speaking, if you think about it, all the host needs to do is deliver an opening monolgue, which has become predictable (poke fun at Hollwyood, some celebrities, maybe a sly political dig) and then introduce some of the presenters with a funny line – they might as well get a robot for that.

The thing is that Jon Stewart makes a living by mocking institutions such as the Academy, that takes itself waaay too seriously. In any other year, all the hyperobolic, self-reverential pomp and paegentry at the Oscars would have been material for his Monday evening show ( I am guessing he will still make fun of himself). There is only so much scatching satire you can direct at the people who are paying for your gig.

Bongo, I read some of the jokes that he cracked but often the best part of his comedy routine is the way he delivers them. But you are right, Oscars are a pretty staid stage for any humor and in spite of that Billy Crystal had always impressed

Kuttan, for a rabid Stewart fan, it is easily believable that most of the audience didn’t get it. His humor is much more…dare I say, ‘intellectual’ (in spite of his wierd face expressions) and the sarcastic sense of humor doesn’t go down well with everyone.  But then again, his humor might not be suited for the Oscar stage where you need one-liners that can be mouthed by a robot equally well.

Ed, I watched his monologue yesterday and I have to agree with you about the awkward pauses. And his pauses are always his humor hallmarks but somehow they don’t work for the Oscar stage. Was he nervous?