Pharyngula::Evolution Schmevolution

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Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Evolution Schmevolution

PZ Myers • 24 Comments

Science vs. Religion. Evolution vs. Creation. It is an age-old battle whose time has come. "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" will gather together all the experts (or at least those who will talk to them), travel to the places that matter in the debate (basic cable budget permitting) and ultimately settle the controversy once and for all. "Evolution Schmevolution: A Daily Show Special Report" will premiere on Monday, September 12 and air nightly at 11:00 p.m. through September 15.
For one full week, "The Daily Show" goes in-depth, around, through and quite possibly under, one of the hottest hot-button issues facing our nation: evolution. It's the accepted theory on the origin of life by an overwhelming majority of the world's biologists, but maybe they're all wrong. What's so great about the scientific method anyway?

All I've got to say (besides mentioning that Stewart is one of the few journalists I'd trust to cover this story right) is that I am going to be in New York on September 15, and they could have me for free. As the top news program in the universe, though, they probably don't want anyone so cheap...oh, well.

Trackback url: http://pharyngula.org/index/trackback/2887/FhrPlP7Z/

Comments:

#39215: — 09/07 at 03:10 PM
Fingers crossed for D*mbski and Behe.

#39216: Matthew — 09/07 at 03:12 PM
I'm so happy I could almost cry. This will be truly awesome. I'm going to tape and save the whole run.

#39217: — 09/07 at 03:21 PM
I hope this is as good as you guys are hyping it up to be. And with Stewart, I don't think I'll be disappointed.

#39219: — 09/07 at 03:24 PM
Love the last line of the press release:

"P.S. -- You're next, gravity."

#39220: — 09/07 at 03:29 PM
At last, a news program with the balls to ask, "Should your child's curriculum really be decided by experts in their respective fields?"

Boy, I wish I had cable.

#39225: Orac — 09/07 at 04:25 PM
Oooh. I'll have to check this one out. I usually don't watch the Daily Show, at least not every day, but this looks worth checking out.

--
Orac “A statement of fact cannot be insolent.”
http://oracknows.blogspot.com

#39227: pough — 09/07 at 04:27 PM
It's the only TV I watch. And here I am in Japan, where they don't quite get that show... Bummer. I'll be back in time to watch the last episode. Finally this debate is getting the coverage it deserves!

#39229: — 09/07 at 04:47 PM
Jon Stewart is not a journalist. Indeed, he's not even a very good fake journalist (is he a cynical monologist, or a straight man for his correspondents?). I'm even souring on him as a comedian (with his cliched schtick like shouting punchlines and explaining why jokes didn't work).

I watch the show every day. I wouldn't dream of missing it.

#39232: Bob Davis — 09/07 at 05:09 PM
Jon Stewart is funny.
Funny is good.
Jon Stewart is good.

Now, according to that press release, all they need is a resource for more theories of evolution... Where might there be one of those...

#39234: — 09/07 at 05:24 PM
Are you really that cheap though, PZ? They might have to take into account the risk cost of you ranting on their programme. Or you might just be plugging your fondness for zebra-fish, your squid/octopus fetish, your university or your site - or someone else's site while rambling on about noodly appendages in a fake pirate accent.

#39235: UrsulaV — 09/07 at 05:33 PM
O frabjous day!

#39241: — 09/07 at 06:21 PM

* Should your child's curriculum really be decided by experts in their respective fields?

I think we know how this one is going to fall... :D

-----
"As with all of ID, the important thing is first to have the concept. Production can then follow as a matter of course.” -Dembski

#39242: — 09/07 at 06:46 PM
"What's so great about the scientific method anyway?"

Oh boy, this outta be good...

(Personally, I think Stewart ought to invite Jenny Clack on to talk about transitional fossils. She has *such* a sexy brain, after all.)

#39244: Aero — 09/07 at 07:20 PM
Jon Stewart - journalist? Comedian okay and a damn good one. But I agree it could be a great show.

#39247: — 09/07 at 07:31 PM
Considering the frequency with which Daily Show "reporters" reveal their familiarity with various bloggers, my hunch is that they're probably using this very blog for their own background info. SHould be an awesome set of shows.

#39248: Dave Carlson — 09/07 at 07:37 PM
Jim E said:

"Considering the frequency with which Daily Show "reporters" reveal their familiarity with various bloggers, my hunch is that they're probably using this very blog for their own background info. SHould be an awesome set of shows."

In that case, let me take this opportunity to say, "I LOVE YOU JOHN STEWART!!!!!"

;)

#39251: Ricardo Azevedo — 09/07 at 09:14 PM
I watch the Daily Show everyday (in fact I'm writing during the first break of tonight's edition...), and I hope they do that right. I must say I was disappointed in the way he handled the RF Kennedy Jr interview...

Trackback: The Daily Show nails it Tracked on: Rhosgobel: Radagast's Home (72.9.234.70) at 2005 09 08 01:46:43
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart has started covering the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Full video segments can currently be found on their most recent videos page; three excellent ones are "Inarguable Failure", "Beleaguered Bush", and "Bush's Timel...

#39274: Alon Levy — 09/08 at 04:00 AM
Since we don't get The Daily Show here, I have to ask: is there going to be a transcript online after the show?

#39275: — 09/08 at 04:35 AM
Oh man, this should prove to be very entertaining. I'll be sure to DVR each episode. That show is GREAT!

Sum Ergo Cogito

“Belief in the supernatural reflects a failure of the imagination.” ~Edward Abbey

#39294: — 09/08 at 07:26 AM
according to his blog, "crash landing", D*mbski is a confirmed guest.

#39295: — 09/08 at 07:37 AM
Of course, Jon Stewart is not a journalist. He frequently brings up serious issues on his show, has been known to ignore missing white women, and more than once has failed to take the stated opinions of high administration officials as gospel truth. Even the NYTimes does a better job than that.

#39316: — 09/08 at 09:36 AM
Aaaar! Wouldn't it be great if Stewart had a pro-evolution supporter on the show dressed in pirate garb? It would fit great when they had the segment on FSM and the pirates-global warming graphs.

#39322: — 09/08 at 10:29 AM
Heh, even gay newspapers are getting in on ID:

http://www.pridesource.com/article.shtml?article=15707

#39332: DouglasG — 09/08 at 12:29 PM
For those unfortunate souls without cable... Since you obviously have internet, I would assume that these segments would be available here

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/videos/most_recent/index.jhtml

Practically the whole show is available at this site.

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Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Evolution Schmevolution

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