Friedman on Colbert…
Marketwatch’s Jon Friedman writes about Stephen Colbert’s interviews by “star-struck journalists”…
The clever host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” is holding the usually clear-eyed media in the palm of his hand and bringing out the worst in some star-struck journalists who should know better.
New York Times curmudgeon Maureen Dowd beseeched Colbert to write a not-too-funny column for her. (Stick to your night job, Steve.) Noted powerbroker Tim Russert invited Colbert to go on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and suck up the rarified air of Washington’s elite.
It’s depressing to watch respected journalists lower themselves just to tickle Colbert’s funny bone. Dowd is the wittiest columnist anywhere, and Russert is the best interviewer in television news. They shouldn’t be kissing up to a comedian, even one as talented as Colbert.
Dowd is the wittiest columnist anywhere, and Russert is the best interviewer in television news.
Stopped reading right there. It’s clear Friedman ate paint chips as a child.
Comment by Steve — October 31, 2007 @ 11:10 pm
Steve, I thoroughly agree with you. The wittiest columnist writing nowadays is Kathleen Parker of the Washington Post. Dowd’s modus operandi is her too-clever play of words, but without the wit.
As for the best TV interviewer, I don’t think we can single out one as the “best.” A number of them come to mind: Chris Wallace, Greta van Susteren, David Asman, Bill O’Reilly, Jon Scott, Neil Cavuto, and Greg Jarrett from FNC alone. ABC, NBC, and CBS have equally talented interviewers. With all due respect, I would not christen Russert as the best of them all.
Comment by RGL — November 1, 2007 @ 1:48 pm