Variety Blasts the Daily Show
Correction: This article original listed Philly.com of the source of the article. Although it was published on Philly.com, the article was originally posted on Variety.com and republished by Philly.
Variety is the latest media outlet complaining about the current incarnation of The Daily Show calling the Trevor Noah led program “harmless” and suggesting he lacks a critical element- an agenda.
Writer Maureen Ryan argues that the show is pleasant enough but feels like it’s on Xanax and says that one of the problems is Noah treats his time on the show like a stand up set, and apparently not a very strong one at that. “Noah’s routine is merely a string of middling, even groan-worthy jokes tied together with nothing more substantial than the host’s dimpled grin,” she said, adding, “He delivers his jokes as if he’s already charmed by them, even though they often lack bite and have tired hooks.
Ryan blames the show’s lack of urgency for their 30% drop in viewership. In contrast, she says former correspondents John Oliver and Samantha Bee have sharper writers, more laughs, more energy and what she calls “sting.”
Variety isn’t the first publication to be critical of Noah’s leadership. The Los Angeles Times warned that Noah needs to up his game, and Salon.com recently called Noah a lightweight who is funny, smart and likeable but lacks growth.
Kevin Hart on the other hand, spoke out this week to say he’s proud of Noah. Hart was Trevor’s first comedy guest on the show earlier this year. Hart was speaking at a press conference in South Africa. According to ecr.co.za, Hart said Noah is “a comedian that came over to the States, that didn’t try to become what he felt the States wanted to be.”
Kevin was speaking at a press conference at MultiChoice in Randburg, ahead of the Johannesburg leg of his What Now Tour.
Read the full article at philly.com.
