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Today will go down as an important day in pop culture/politics/entertainment (btw, can we coin a word for that? The politics/pop culture amalgam? Popitics? Pol Culture? Yes, i like that. Pol Culture. Spread it.) history.
Why?
Today The Daily Show moved into a new realm.
Maybe you didn't notice. (Maybe you haven't seen every episode in the last year. Never fear - that's what you have us for.) Let me explain why I think we will look back and know that this was either the moment the shark was jumped or that Jon Stewart fulfilled his mandate.
Usually TDS gives some real information in with its jokes. Their book (v. funny - buy it!) has glimpses of genuine civics lessons between the jokes too. But tonight they did something different. In their segment on Social Security, Jon actually tried to teach us something. He stood there (so little!) and explained, in a very funny way, what was up with Social Security, what the issue is about, what Bush wants to do, and why it SUCKS as an idea. There were jokes, sure (in fact it was hilarious) but it was unmistakably educational.
Is this a first step or a fluke? Will we soon all just suck all of our nourishment from the teat of Comedy Central? 'Cuz you can sign me right up.