Thoughts About the People on TV

[TheOutlawXanadu]

As someone who is only just starting to get aware of all the major news networks and their anchors, or television personalities, or whatever they are called, I was wondering what you guys think about them?

I don't know enough of their names to make a comprehensive list, or anything like that, but I guess I am talking about guys like Bill O' Reilly, Keith Olbermann, Glenn Beck, Chris Matthews, etc. And also guys like Bill Maher and Jon Stewart, who are not working for serious news networks but who seem to have some influence on people's politics.

Do you think they should be taken seriously? Are they morons? Are they insightful?

[Chino]

I think it is the fact the people like Stewart and Colbert throw comedy into their reports. Not just little bits here and there, their entire show is based around comedy. Most people can't take them seriously. Glenn Beck has a case of diarrhea of the mouth, and I don't know anyone that actually likes him. If a news station picked him up, people would tune off immediately. It is all a business, and that would be a terrible business decision. People like Bill Maher (who I actually am a huge fan of) are interpreted as people who has have their beliefs, and just bashe on others whose are not the same. Nancy Grace does the same thing, but because she doesn't get involved with religion she is allowed on a normal network, no matter how wrong she is.

I think some should be taken more seriously than others. Just because you can make people laugh during a serious topic, doesn't mean your points are any less valid.

[ack44]

I don't really follow TV politics but most of it seems partisan and I don't think that's a coincidence lol.

[EPICVIEW]

I like O'Reilly.. to me he is fair, or as fair as it gets. Beck is sorta on his own tangent, I like how he is like Gingrich as far as wanting to go over American history.

The others listed are nonsense.. Olbermann to me need to be put on medication, he is a loon , a flat out liar

It really takes effort and getting ones views from a mulittude of sources to have any real objectivity, you gotta use ones own BS filter and really think what makes sense and really who is FUNDING the message

[Vivace]

Cannot stand O'Reilly, Glenn Beck or Bill Maher. I find each of them impossible and religiously bias in fashion or another. Bill Maher is not so much of a dick compared to O Reilly and Beck but Maher is most certainly has a burr up his ass when it comes to religion. I am a rather large fan of Olbermann and Stewart.

[Perpetual Change]

Eh, I　don't mind any of those guys personally, but the fact that they ALL are PRIME　TIME "news" programming (aside from the funnies) is pretty much to the detriment of having a truly informed populous. Guys like O'Reilly and Olbermann, who just gas off of whatever lands closest to the "party line" at the moment don't bother me, and I've been entertained by both in the past, but the really belong on day-time TV. Or else AM radio.

These people are not journalists. Sure, you might be able to drum up some instances where some of them have done *real* journalism, but most of them just spin whatever's on the front page of the New York Times... so no respect there from me.

I　do not like Glenn Beck, John Stewart, or Bill Maher. Beck is a nutcase. Stewart isn't funny. Neither is Maher, but Maher is obnoxious. Stewart, to me, is like Maher lite.

Love Colbert, though.

[zerogravityfat]

I get the majority of my news from online feeds and the daily show.

[j]

I get most of my news online.

Beck and Olbermann are definitely the worst of the bunch you mentioned, IMO.  O'Reilly isn't much better, if at all.  All predictably partisan enough to make you sick.  I agree with PC that these guys are far from "real" journalists, and journalism isn't a profession that I have a whole lot of respect for to begin with.

I've never really watched Maher, but he's seemed like kind of a pompous ass when I've seen him on other programs.  His politics are pretty far left.

I like Jon Stewart, even though I disagree with him on quite a few issues.  I enjoy his show and I think he's pretty funny, and he seems like a fairly reasonable dude, all things considered.

I have no idea where any of Colbert's politics lie, but his character on his show is an obvious parody of a staunch conservative.  It's hilarious, and in general lacks the serious political aspect of Stewart's show.

I definitely don't use The Daily Show, etc. as a primary source of news, but I do enjoy watching them far more than any news program I can think of.  I don't know if it's because the humor dampens my general cynicism toward politics in this country or what, but I'm sure that's a part of it.

-J

[EPICVIEW]

Good post J!^

[El Barto]

I enjoy watching Bill Maher from time to time,  however, I'm under no illusion that his show constitutes news or journalism.  That's the trick.  The problem I have with a jackass like O'Reilly is that it seems like so many people think of his show as news.  Like Bill Maher, it's news-themed entertainment.  Maher is just intentionally funny. 

[EPICVIEW]

O'Reilly to me is a democrat, although he claims to be an Independent..

at least on his show he gives equal time for all views..I do enjoy him, he is the best, and the numbers bear that out

[Chino]

I enjoy watching Bill Maher from time to time,  however, I'm under no illusion that his show constitutes news or journalism.  That's the trick.  The problem I have with a jackass like O'Reilly is that it seems like so many people think of his show as news.  Like Bill Maher, it's news-themed entertainment.  Maher is just intentionally funny. 

What did you think of Religulous?

[El Barto]

I enjoy watching Bill Maher from time to time,  however, I'm under no illusion that his show constitutes news or journalism.  That's the trick.  The problem I have with a jackass like O'Reilly is that it seems like so many people think of his show as news.  Like Bill Maher, it's news-themed entertainment.  Maher is just intentionally funny. 

What did you think of Religulous?

I just had to google it to figure out WTF it is.

[Chino]

I enjoy watching Bill Maher from time to time,  however, I'm under no illusion that his show constitutes news or journalism.  That's the trick.  The problem I have with a jackass like O'Reilly is that it seems like so many people think of his show as news.  Like Bill Maher, it's news-themed entertainment.  Maher is just intentionally funny. 

What did you think of Religulous?

I just had to google it to figure out WTF it is.

You should find a way to view it. I think you'll dig it.

[MetalMike06]

I don't really watch or care for any of them.

[Tick]

I enjoy watching Bill Maher from time to time,  however, I'm under no illusion that his show constitutes news or journalism.  That's the trick.  The problem I have with a jackass like O'Reilly is that it seems like so many people think of his show as news.  Like Bill Maher, it's news-themed entertainment.  Maher is just intentionally funny. 

What did you think of Religulous?

Bill Maher is not half as smart as he thinks he is.
That is all.

[EPICVIEW]

I enjoy watching Bill Maher from time to time,  however, I'm under no illusion that his show constitutes news or journalism.  That's the trick.  The problem I have with a jackass like O'Reilly is that it seems like so many people think of his show as news.  Like Bill Maher, it's news-themed entertainment.  Maher is just intentionally funny. 

What did you think of Religulous?

Bill Maher is not half as smart as he thinks he is.
That is all.

well said^

[j]

Good post J!^

Thanks!

O'Reilly to me is a democrat, although he claims to be an Independent..

Gotta disagree with you here though.  O'Reilly claims to be an independent, but he is conservative on every major issue.  Definitely not a registered Democrat.

What did you think of Religulous?

I thought it was pretty funny.  Definitely nothing particularly novel or thought-provoking on the non-humor side though.

-J

[Seventh Son]

I enjoy watching Bill Maher from time to time,  however, I'm under no illusion that his show constitutes news or journalism.  That's the trick.  The problem I have with a jackass like O'Reilly is that it seems like so many people think of his show as news.  Like Bill Maher, it's news-themed entertainment.  Maher is just intentionally funny. 

What did you think of Religulous?

Bill Maher is not half as smart as he thinks he is.
That is all.

He's still hilarious. That is if you know not to take him seriously.

[pogoowner]

I really can't stand Bill Maher most of the time, but he did actually let Ron Paul come on his show and allow him to legitimately speak his mind. Which is more than almost anyone else did prior to the election.

[Nigerius Rex]

I absolutely hate bill maher and if I ever met him in real life I would ask him why he is such a manipulative dickbag.

Aside from him I don't much care about tv politics as it is very rarely an even talking field for opposing views.

[Tick]

I enjoy watching Bill Maher from time to time,  however, I'm under no illusion that his show constitutes news or journalism.  That's the trick.  The problem I have with a jackass like O'Reilly is that it seems like so many people think of his show as news.  Like Bill Maher, it's news-themed entertainment.  Maher is just intentionally funny. 

What did you think of Religulous?

Bill Maher is not half as smart as he thinks he is.
That is all.

He's still hilarious. That is if you know not to take him seriously.

I don't take him serious, and really, he's not all that funny.

[hefdaddy42]

O'Reilly to me is a democrat, although he claims to be an Independent..

at least on his show he gives equal time for all views..I do enjoy him, he is the best, and the numbers bear that out

He doesn't come across as one iota Democrat, and he only gives time to other views so that he can mock them.

However, he is still entertaining at times. 

I think that Stewart and Colbert are fantastic.

I also like Olberman, but I wish he weren't quite so liberal.  He is extraordinarily intelligent, and the people he usually targets are people that also drive me nuts.  But he extremely liberal, so I can only take him in small doses.

Glenn Beck is a fascist fucktard of the first magnitude.  And he's stupid as well.

But the truth of it is that none of these people are journalists, and no one should get all of their news from any of these people.

[EPICVIEW]

I dont find Maher funny at all. Ive never understood why anyone would care what he had to say,and I dont dont find him clever either. Colbert I dont find funny either.. Stewart is at least quick and clever. None of them I would ever expect real news from.

[ack44]

 Stewart is good for embarrassing Fox by exposing their fails with lulz.

[hefdaddy42]

Colbert I dont find funny either

I know why.

[EPICVIEW]

Colbert I dont find funny either

I know why.

why?

[juice]

O'Riley is alright most of the time although he does tend to bash opposing views.  Sometimes it's appropriate other times he could do without it.

Beck is fine with me from what I've seen of him most of the time even if he does get a little animated.

Maher tends to come off as a bit of a pompous ass.

I can't say that I've watched Stewart or Colbert cause it just doesn't seem too appealing to me.

[Perpetual Change]

I gained some respect for O'Reilly when he interviewed Obama. He was one of the people who had the guts to give him a REAL interview. He was a little snippy of times, but the interview I thought was a rare instance of journalistic integrity from someone who usually just bullshits around.

I　agree with hef completely about Beck. Beck's an asswipe who would lead us all to facism based on 'his feelings.' And then when he realized what he'd done, it'd be too late, and his feelings wouldn't matter anymore.

[Tick]

I'll take Colbert over Bill Maher any day.

[EPICVIEW]

Im not seeing this "Beck is a Fascist" stuff at all?  if Beck is a fascist then Obama is a communist.. since both statements are outragous.. Obama is just a Socialist...

[Seventh Son]

oh fuck not this shit again 

[Perpetual Change]

Im not seeing this "Beck is a Fascist" stuff at all?  if Beck is a fascist then Obama is a communist.. since both statements are outragous.. Obama is just a Socialist...

How about this one? Obama's a liberal democrat, and Beck's just a dumbass who doesn't know what any of these political categories really mean anyway.

[EPICVIEW]

I know this: Beck knows heck of a lot more about our constitution and American History then Obama.

[Perpetual Change]

No, he doesn't. He's just been spoon-fed an interpretation of both that you agree with more.