Parents' Guide to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart TV show poster: A middle-aged Steward looks at the camera

Common Sense Media Review

S. Jhoanna Robledo By S. Jhoanna Robledo , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

News made funny, absurd in sharp, often insightful show.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 10+

Based on 6 parent reviews

age 11+

Based on 17 kid reviews

Kids say this show is a hilarious blend of political satire and news commentary, engaging viewers with its sharp humor, though it often includes mature content that may not be suitable for younger audiences. Many appreciate Jon Stewart's ability to make complex issues relatable and funny, although some point out that the comedic edge can include strong language and sexual innuendos, making it mostly appealing to older teens and adults.

  • political humor
  • mature content
  • strong language
  • engaging satire
  • relatable issues
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART reports on the day's events, with host Jon Stewart and his crew painting a painfully hilarious picture of life in America and putting it in perspective with the world at large. There's no denying that the show is funny, combining Stewart's at-the-news-desk reports, taped field pieces, and in-studio interviews. The pre-taped segments mix deadpan humor with insight into issues that other news programs would never cover. In one episode, for example, correspondent Jason Jones visited small-town Ohio to interview a political candidate who wanted to legalize drunk driving. Instead of approaching the topic in a sobering (pardon the pun), earnest manner, he managed to capture the absurdity of the whole process by mining it for laughs.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 6 ):
Kids say ( 17 ):

The genius of Stewart and the rest of the cast is that they get viewers to ponder huge issues—drunk driving, for instance, which is a problem long cast aside as a rallying point now that many other causes have taken center stage—without boring them with too much gravitas and zeal. The guest interviews are first-rate, too: irreverent, off the cuff, and candid. They reveal more about the actors, politicians, and celebrities who chat with Stewart than any five-minute appearance on a pandering late-night talk show.

In short, there's not much to hate about The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and a lot to love. No wonder it has uber-loyal fans who watch it unfailingly. Too bad the real McCoys—the six o'clock news broadcasts—aren't anywhere near as entertaining. Nevertheless, thanks to its subject matter (which is mature in all senses of the word), the show is best for older teens and adults.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about current events and what's going on in the world around them. How do The Daily Show with Jon Stewart's "reporters" use sarcasm to make their points? What are their points? Is the daily news truly that funny in real life? What makes it so?

  • Stewart often refers to what he does as the "fake news," but many of his fans say they get most of their news from his show. Is that responsible behavior? Does Stewart have a responsibility to those viewers to present his information accurately, or does humor trump that?

  • How does The Daily Show with Jon Stewart promote curiosity? Why is this an important character strength?

TV Details

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The Daily Show with Jon Stewart TV show poster: A middle-aged Steward looks at the camera

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