A Review of An Evening with Jon Stewart - Live Stand-Up -- Rhinotainment

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Date Posted: 20:06:12 05/08/05 Sun
Author: The Rhino
Subject: A Review of An Evening with Jon Stewart - Live Stand-Up

Six months ago, tickets went on sale for an evening of stand-up comedy with Jon Stewart at the historic Murat Theatre in Indianapolis (why it's historic I have no idea; it's historic to me because it is the venue that I saw the greatest concert I have ever seen 13 years ago, the Black Crowes "High as the Moon" tour, but I digress). I saw Stewart in Tempe, Arizona, back when I was in school and he was exceptionally funny. I admired his smart, irreverant humor and he instantly became one of my comedic idols. Today he is a household name and deservedly so.

My buddy Chuck, his wife Hanna and I stood in line for an hour at the Murat hoping to get the best possible seats for the show. Those best possible seats turned out to be front row center! Last night I was so close to the host of The Daily Show that I could see up his nose . . . literally. And it was very clean.

Dressed in a long-sleeved t-shirt with a short-sleeved tee over the top and a pair of weathered khakis, Stewart displayed his wit and wisdom for a solid 90 minutes, receiving bookended standing ovations. Two days ago he was interviewing former Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge. This night he was slamming his "colorful" ideas of protecting the country.

Yes, the expected political humor was there. But while Stewart set up his Republicans and knocked them down one by one ("Bill Frist claims that you can get AIDS from teardrops . . . maybe if the tears come from your c*ck!), he also destroyed the Left for their lackadaisical attempt at reclaiming office and off-handedly defended the President's mental capacity ("He's not an idiot. He just simply doesn't give a f*ck about what you think!"). He questioned the public's lack of organization when it comes to expressing their views and projecting their voice ("The Million Man March would have been much more effective if they didn't announce it ahead of time"). He also had a thing or two to say about the separation of church and state . . . or the lack thereof. The new Pope's Nazi past felt the business end of a roasting, to be sure.

While it's assumed that Stewart would come out and do nothing but bash the conservative opposition, instead he challenged the audience to make their own decisions and to raise their voices. It was the most subtle of motivational speeches. Arguably, the only free speech being heard is coming from the Right these days. Stewart was nothing but harsh towards the Left for not using their voice and for not winning an election that was ripe for the picking. He pleaded with the Left to quit being such spineless cowards and compete. The audience, possibly there to do nothing but boo the Right, left enlightened and even motivated.

By far, this was the best evening of stand-up that I have witnessed. I laughed so hard that my jaws are still aching today and my brain is running at full speed regarding several issues that Stewart touched upon. While I have focused more on political issues than I ever have before in the last five years, my focus seems to be even more keen after this set. Now I feel the need to watch both sides even closer. My mind feels like an open door.

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Replies:

Cleveland? -- Hugh Jazz, 08:45:43 05/15/05 Sun
- I can't say that I have a ton to choose from, but . . . -- The Rhino, 21:08:08 05/16/05 Mon
  - Attell/Black/Hedberg -- Dog of War, 21:16:20 05/16/05 Mon
    - Patton Oswalt -- The Rhino, 21:25:00 05/16/05 Mon
  - Jon Stewart TWICE? -- Hugh Jazz, 07:30:46 05/17/05 Tue
    - Aww man! -- The Rhino, 17:33:38 05/17/05 Tue
Jon Stewart is great! -- Rocket, 08:26:20 05/17/05 Tue
- I wish they'd release The Jon Stewart Show on DVD -- Dog of War, 17:32:36 05/17/05 Tue