lch5080's review against another edition
4.0
Sounds like most people listened to the audio version, but I read the book (I guess luckily based on reviews). I greatly enjoyed the format, as it allowed a large number of people to share their version of the story but didn't get bogged down in long individual stories. I only started to watch the Daily Show in 2008, so I loved reading about the early years. Also, hearing about what went on behind the scenes was so interesting, all the drama.
uzoma's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to this over the course of four shifts at work and it was pretty cool. Ultimately, this book is for people who care way more about the behind the scenes stuff of the daily show than I did, or probably ever will. But still pretty cool. This marks the third Daily show related audiobook I've listened to and the third audiobook I've ever liked.
clgibbons's review against another edition
5.0
Disclaimer - I really love The Daily Show. I watched it in the Kilborn years as a teen and on and off through Jon Stewart's time and while I miss Jon deeply, I think Trevor Noah is doing a great job making the show his own. So, loving The Daily Show means I really loved this book. I loved it enough to buy both an e-copy and a hard copy. I enjoyed all of the various contributions to the history of the show. I enjoyed getting a behind the scenes perspective. But this book also acts as a time capsule for American politics and American attitudes during Stewart's run on the show. Reading first hand accounts of life at The Daily Show made me laugh and cry. Now I want a book from Colbert.
suggoiai's review against another edition
4.0
Took me awhile to get through due to being distracted by other books. Nonetheless, this is a good look behind the scenes of The Daily Show during the John Stewart years. The oral history audio book does not feature the original clips by the cast, but the voice actors they used are excellent and sound a lot like them. Lots of funny stories, as well as some conflict.
charshorrorcorner's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a lot of fun!
It seems like everyone that was ever part of the show as far as on-air personalities or behind the scenes people were interviewed here. However, many of the guests-friendly to the show or not, were also interviewed, which made the book all the more interesting.
I learned a lot about the dynamics of the show and how it worked. I learned about who was not happy there and who was. I learned that Jon Stewart paid people out of his own pocket for as long as he could when the writers went on strike. I learned that Jon really cared about the people he worked with, and he deeply cared about some causes-like obtaining health care for 9/11 rescuers.
I learned all of this and plenty more, laughing all the while. I enjoyed hearing what John McCain felt when interviewed, (at times friendly interviews, at others-not so much). Anthony Weiner, Hillary Clinton and many others were also interviewed-all very absorbing.
This book didn't present only one side, but it did mostly slant towards loving Jon Stewart, and since I already did that, now I love and respect him even more. I'm not sure if the book started out to deify Jon, or if it was just because he's actually a good man- so what everyone had to say about him was mostly positive.
What I disliked about this audio book is that actors do all the voices. First, that was hard to get used to. Second, since all of these former employees, guests, and comedians were interviewed for this book already, wasn't there a way to get their permissions to use their actual voices instead of actors?
The Daily Show: An Oral History was hilarious and I learned a lot. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the show.
*Thanks to my awesome local library for the audiobook loan.*
It seems like everyone that was ever part of the show as far as on-air personalities or behind the scenes people were interviewed here. However, many of the guests-friendly to the show or not, were also interviewed, which made the book all the more interesting.
I learned a lot about the dynamics of the show and how it worked. I learned about who was not happy there and who was. I learned that Jon Stewart paid people out of his own pocket for as long as he could when the writers went on strike. I learned that Jon really cared about the people he worked with, and he deeply cared about some causes-like obtaining health care for 9/11 rescuers.
I learned all of this and plenty more, laughing all the while. I enjoyed hearing what John McCain felt when interviewed, (at times friendly interviews, at others-not so much). Anthony Weiner, Hillary Clinton and many others were also interviewed-all very absorbing.
This book didn't present only one side, but it did mostly slant towards loving Jon Stewart, and since I already did that, now I love and respect him even more. I'm not sure if the book started out to deify Jon, or if it was just because he's actually a good man- so what everyone had to say about him was mostly positive.
What I disliked about this audio book is that actors do all the voices. First, that was hard to get used to. Second, since all of these former employees, guests, and comedians were interviewed for this book already, wasn't there a way to get their permissions to use their actual voices instead of actors?
The Daily Show: An Oral History was hilarious and I learned a lot. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the show.
*Thanks to my awesome local library for the audiobook loan.*
alexxmorga's review
5.0
As a die hard fan of The Daily Show and of Jon Stewart himself, this book was like the little peephole into heaven that I have been waiting for. I was excited to read all the first hand accounts and behind-the-scenes trivia from the people who were involved with the show. I expected to laugh at the audacity of their confessions (these are comedians after all), but I never expected to be privy to all the drama that went on off camera.
I mean, I know that not everything in showbiz runs as smoothly off screen as it does on screen, but everyone who was interviewed was so honest and candid that I could not help but respect where they were coming from. Though I do not agree with everything they say, I have come to an understanding of why they would have felt that way.
Also, the stuff that they said about Jon, about him being a bit of a "control freak" (I use this term haphazardly) was a bit of a shock to me. He was so self deprecating that I almost forgot just how passionate and dedicated he was to the process kf creating his show.
I mean, I know that not everything in showbiz runs as smoothly off screen as it does on screen, but everyone who was interviewed was so honest and candid that I could not help but respect where they were coming from. Though I do not agree with everything they say, I have come to an understanding of why they would have felt that way.
Also, the stuff that they said about Jon, about him being a bit of a "control freak" (I use this term haphazardly) was a bit of a shock to me. He was so self deprecating that I almost forgot just how passionate and dedicated he was to the process kf creating his show.
d0rkyc0rky's review
5.0
I've always respected The Daily Show as politically engaging and smart comedy, but this book really opened my eyes to the impact this show had on our country and our government. Well researched, well put together. I loved this book
erinh's review
4.0
A really cool insight into the inner workings of The Daily Show and how it evolved from 1996-2016. It started out resembling "Weekend Update" on SNL - one liner jokes about pop culture. But when Jon Stewart came to the show he transformed the entire structure and created one of the most influential tv shows of all time. The chapters about the early 2000's took me back to middle and high school when I would come home and watch the previous night's episode at 2:30/3:00. The show truly did introduce me to political conversation and encouraged younger generations to engage. My only complaint is that the audiobook is entirely read by professional voice actors, who don't always sound very much like the real person.
karenafagan's review
4.0
As a kid born in the 1980s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart was an integral part of my adult years. No, I didn't get my news solely from Jon, but he often expressed exactly my feelings on the news, if a lot funnier and with more eloquence, although the cursing was generally the same. This history of his tenure was a wonderful behind the scenes look on how the show achieved that relationship with its audience. The path wasn't without its trials, but I think we can agree the result was worth it.