While most TV shows (even American Idol) aren't drawing the viewers they usually do during this strike-disrupted season, there's news this week of one big exception: Ratings for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report have soared since the two shows returned Jan. 7 without their writers. Both shows are drawing their biggest audiences of this season, and they're also up significantly over last year. They're also the only late-night shows — writers or no — to be performing well.
Some are speculating that Colbert and Stewart are so darn funny on their own that writers are just a bonus, not a necessity. But couldn't their boost be attributed just as easily to election season and all the wonderful fodder for satire that we're getting from the campaign trail every day?
I'm curious what you Daily Show and Colbert fans make of this news. How do you think they've been doing without their writers? Have you found yourself tuning in more? And why do you think their ratings are up?
Photos courtesy of Comedy Central
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I would watch Jon Stewart reading the ingredients off of a box of cereal.
1Hehehe, I agree
I think they've been doing an amazing job. I can't really tell much
of a difference between their pre-writer and post-writer shows.
2The few times I've caught Jon, I thought he was funnier then he has been in a while.
I
you Jon!
3LOL @ halfbaked!
"ever read the ingredients on weed, man?!"
4I'm with you tlsgirl, I can't tell much of a difference!
Still love em both... although I love Colbert more (he is hot!)
5I love them and watch whenever I can. Both men are so funny on their own that the shows still work well, but I think the writers add some cool things to the show too. Either way I love these shows.
6I watch it as much as I used to - which is, all the time, lol.
Their ratings are up because they're good shows. That's what I think.
7i think they're both hilarious, but i also think more people are tuning in due to the elections.
8huge fan of both...although i will say colbert has been doing a better job. (although jon did bring that hilarious vid of himself & conan)
9wallaceo - I don't think I have ever laughed that hard than when they showed that clip so the math "Stewart made Huckabee" could be proven.
10Ive started watching the show more often because of Colbert's book, I am america. Its hilarious!
11I'm canadian and watch the Colbert Report when I can, I love him he's so funny. Rick Mercer is pretty funny too!
12I liked Colbert's book too, but only in snippets... I couldn't read it straight through.
13I think everyone missed them for so long, we are making up for lost time. Love them both!!!
14I love me some Jon, and Colbert is funny, but the Rick Mercer Report is better then both of them.
15Mercer is a slightly different format, and it works!
I don't know why the ratings are up, but I agree, the election season could be responsible too. Conan's been good too, but since I'm loyal I'll watch him no matter what.
Colbert and Stewart have their different styles, but I have to say I've been leaning towards the Colbert a bit more. I love them both, but there's something about Colbert being able to bust out dance moves to Prince's "When Doves Cry" that just wins me over hardcore.
16duh! that's because they're awesome! Stephen Colbert should rule the world and Jon Stewart is ok...
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