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Review: Jon Stewart's interview with Parazit
23-Jan-2011
Hopefully Parazit will be on the Jon Stewart Show again, so just in case Kambiz Hosseini didn't catch it himself watching and re watching his performance, here's a suggestion: don't laugh at the host's jokes louder than the audience would. It doesn't help him. The feel good pats on the back and mutual admiration seemed sincere enough (and then some), so why push it with the kind of taarof Iranians are on to and Americans are confused by? Saman Arbabi was perfect, though. Other than that bit of feedback directed at Parazit, the rest is a review of this episode of Jon Stewart's show, not of the Parazit program.
Stewart bills the Dialy Show as comedy, but he must be fully aware that what he does is political commentary in a humorous package -much like Parazit. Though he is not a reporter, his audience thinks of him as also being in the journalism business. So he was ethically obligated to make it clear to those unfamiliar with VOA that this is a broadcasting service of the US government and not a typical TV station. Though this fact stands as an interesting interview question on its own and merits emphasis from the purely entertainment angle, we only get vague hints of it during the show.
As a matter of fact, not bringing up the matter seemed awkward at times. "I got a hold of your show on the web," said Stewart. Those unfamiliar with VOA would wonder why Stewart didn't respect the show enough to watch it as it was aired on satellite. Even if the host has watched the guest's show as an obscure rerun on the web, he would come across as arrogant to mention it-as though the show was not worth his quality time. Of course arrogance is not what Stewart meant to convey at all. He couldn't have watched the show on Satellite TV because of the following US law regarding VOA: Voice of America is forbidden to broadcast directly to American citizens. This law was passed in 1948 to protect the American public from propaganda coming from its own government. In other words VOA does real journalism when it serves the purpose but one of its missions is to distort the truth or lie if political circumstance demands it.
The most awkward result of this omission was when Stewart brought up the subject of vitriol in criticizing US politicians, and Hosseini took the Fifth. "Honestly," he said, "we don't care that much about American politics." Even if Parazit doesn't concern itself with American politics, Hosseini has lived in this country for over ten years. How could a political satirist be so inattentive to the important affairs of the American public? Is America not worth his attention or concern, despite his having lived here for so long? Again, this was far from what Hosseini wished to convey; the fiasco was the result of Stewart's incomplete disclosure about Parazit's US government funding. And he paid for it, laughingly expressing frustration with, "I worked on that question for fifteen bleeping minutes."
There were ways, however, in which this absence of explicit disclosure rescued the Iranian- American aberoo. Indulging my nationalistic demon as only Iranians can I would welcome it if everyone believed we Iranian-Americans are actually responsible for this groundbreaking show. I truly wish it was the Iranian-American community who had mustered the organization and funding to encourage these two bright talents to produce their primetime quality show. Hey, why not shut up and take credit for a show that sticks in the IRI craw as painfully as any resistance at home? Well, because the angels on both sides our Iranian-American hyphen would feel like crap if we didn't clearly disclose the relevant facts to those who would trust us to do just that.
As we say in Iran, "Daashtim Jon joon!" or as they say in America, "Say it ain't so Jon!"
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IRI apologists are
by vildemose on Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:24 AM PSTIRI apologists are embodiment of the ethical and moral cesspool in which their paymaster, IRI, is immersed, they are nourished by the filthy swamp everyday for their propagandist work here on IC.
It's sickening.
satire
by Niloufar Parsi on Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:00 AM PSTdavid,
actually i find these guys quite funny at times. it's just their distortions and exaggerations that is a little irritating. there's plenty of charm but a distinct lack of competence in subjects they tackle.
and i hope we are all 'doing' something to help in how we know and feel we can. one of these things we can do is to engage in a democratic debate about the content, the message and what lies behind the whole affair. voa belongs to the american military. this is an important point that the 'liberal' (stewart) agenda seems to be sweeping under the carpet. the suspicion is that this is due to his allegiance to israel's interests rather than those of america. right now it is in the interests of both iran and america to reach a deal. it is only israel that would be a real loser. millions of americans, iranians and other middle eastern people would benefit directly from such détente.
thanks Vildemose, I am glad you thought it was good.
by Anahid Hojjati on Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:59 AM PST.
Anahid jan: LOL good one.
by vildemose on Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:56 AM PSTAnahid jan: LOL
good one.
Niloufar, I am glad to be ignored by you
by Anahid Hojjati on Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:52 AM PSTYou support IRI so we are very different.
funny
by Niloufar Parsi on Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:47 AM PSTanahid,
don't take yourself so seriously. your name was only included as an after thought, and i honestly had forgotten about your stinking attitude. won't be repeated again. consider yourself ignored from now on.
Political Satire
by David ET on Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:08 AM PSTJon Stewart and Parazit are not meant to be serious political debates. For that Iranians have 10's of satelite garbage to feed from Tehran to Los Angeles.
This is comedy addressing political matters. So all these SERIOUS expectations from a few minutes interview with couple of A'iranians for American audience is totally unaccounted for.
The guys are good at what they are doing, and are not willing to give opinions on what is not their expertise, for that we have enough Iranians who have opinion on everything from how to cook and eat kabob to how to topple IR regime in 24 hours to how we are superior to everypne because our what are ancestors did 2500 years ago !
VOA is voice of America but has much better and sympathetic programing to Iranian freedom seekers than its counter part IRTV which is run by those who crush every voice for freedom or most LA TV's who do nothing but call each other names or sell concert tickets in Dubai.
Is US looking for its interest? Of course and it should as every nation does!
The problem is that majority of Iranian political groups and leaders chose their own interests instead of the interest of Iran and Iranians as a whole..
So next time before blaming US, VOA, Parazit and Jon Stewart , may be we should first start with ourselves.... while enjoying our dooghs questioning at everyone who is at least DOING "something"!
He should have followed "we don't care about US politics" w/...
by MM on Sun Jan 23, 2011 09:33 AM PSTI agree Ari,
He should have had a follow up to "we don't care about US politics"
with
"because US politics is lame compared to the Iranian political follies".
Or, we target Farsi audience, so ......
Revealing...
by Mola Nasredeen on Sun Jan 23, 2011 09:00 AM PSTFirst let me thank you Ari for writing a review on this subject.
But what's revealing is when you quoted one of them saying:
"The most awkward result of this omission was when Stewart brought up the subject of vitriol in criticizing US politicians, and Hosseini took the Fifth. "Honestly," he said, "we don't care that much about American politics." Even if Parazit doesn't concern itself with American politics, Hosseini has lived in this country for over ten years. How could a political satirist be so inattentive to the important affairs of the American public? Is America not worth his attention or concern, despite his having lived here for so long? Again, this was far from what Hosseini wished to convey; the fiasco was the result of Stewart's incomplete disclosure about Parazit's US government funding."
They get their paychecks from U.S. government. They are superficial and not funny just like the rest of the LA satellite TV programs. They presented themselves as two over excited apple polisher who almost wetted themselves for being on Jon Steward's show.
" they work for america's propaganda machine"
by Roozbeh_Gilani on Sun Jan 23, 2011 08:11 AM PSTAnd you work for islamist regime's propaganda machine.
The difference is , they are funny, they tell the truth and are extremely popular amongst Iranians, unlike you. Now jealous?
"Personal business must yield to collective interest."
Again
by MOOSIRvaPIAZ on Sun Jan 23, 2011 08:09 AM PSTI dont see how that is relevant. American politics matters to Iranian American too, and especially at these troubling times. How else can we stand up to American politicians who call for bombing Iran on a regular basis? Or those who call for funding of Maryam Rajavi's Mojahedin group? Or push them for sanctioning of human rights abusers? You think that does not effect Iran and Iranians? We dont have much power to change things in Iran because it is a tyranny!. It is up to the Iranian people who live there to decide their fate. We can only show moral support and be their voice over here. What we can do practically is to effect how our politicians react with Iran and that is by staying informed about American politics! To become active in organizing and achieving goals we want for Iranian-Americans and issues that concern their families and Iran.
As for your last paragraph, I can only hope that it is not directed at me because it would be ridiculous and baseless.
MooSir, just to explain more
by Anahid Hojjati on Sun Jan 23, 2011 07:40 AM PSTThe reason Iranian Americans have been at times more concerned with politics in Iran particularly in past two years is that it is such a sensitive time for history of Iran and we are faced with such a criminal government in Iran. In Iran, people are faced with jail and execution and rape just for criticizing the politicians. Therefore, you can not find fault if some Iranian Americans want to write more about what atrocities is happening in Iran rather than follow details of American politics. Political freedom in United States is much more than in IRI so if I don't comment about some wrong happening in US, chnaces are someone else will do but case is different about Iran, every voice counts in order to achieve fall of IRI.
Moosir, look at my answer to Niloufar Parsi. It is not wise for me to engage in comment exchange with IRI supporters and apologists since their ideas are fundamentally wrong, also they have resources to be commenting 24/7 and I don't. Frankly, I see this as waste of my time to engage with these kind of people since if they don't know IRI is criminal after all this, they are not going to accept anything else. They either don't get it or pretend so.
Anahid
by MOOSIRvaPIAZ on Sun Jan 23, 2011 06:47 AM PSTYou say: "Many Iranian Americans; particularly in the past two years have been preoccupied with Iranian politics."
This is not an excuse. When Iranian-Ameircans find the time to be twenty four seven opinionated about Iranian-American organizations like NIAC, etc they should also find the time to learn about American politics and how these organizations operate and what they are for. When they bring up the subject of "Obama are you with them or with us", one would assume they have some kind of familiarity with American politics. They all go hand in hand.
Niloufar, As usual, I disagree with your comment
by Anahid Hojjati on Sun Jan 23, 2011 05:45 AM PSTNiloufar, Your views and mine are too different for me to engage with you in comment exchange. When you agree that IRI is criminal, let me know and then I start exchanging comments over these kind of issues with you.
Ari (and Anahid)
by Niloufar Parsi on Sun Jan 23, 2011 05:40 AM PSTactually i think Ari is being too soft on these guys. they work for america's propaganda machine. before reading this blog, i was not aware that the american military were too ashamed of their own propaganda channel to broadcast it to their own citizens. this actually makes them worse than irib!
and they do lie and they do distort the news, and these two boys are doing little more than playing fetch for america.
Dear Ari, I agree with David ET
by Anahid Hojjati on Sun Jan 23, 2011 05:16 AM PSTAri jan, I did not read David's comment before your blog but I have an opinion very close to him. I think you are finding too many faults with this appearance of Kambiz and Saman on Jon Stewart. The fact that they don't concern themselves with American politics. That is so Iranian-American. Many Iranian Americans; particularly in the past two years have been preoccupied with Iranian politics. Also as David mentioned, it is logical for Stewart to have seen the show on Internet.
GREAT INTERVIEW
by David ET on Sun Jan 23, 2011 04:40 AM PST1- Jon Stewart always laughs like that . That kind of fake laugh is part of his ACT and everyone who watches Jon knows that.
2- There is a difference between Ta'arof and sincerity. These guys DO look UP to Jon Stewart and what they said was honest from heart and not just Ta'rof.
3- It is customary and necessary to introduce your guest to an audience whop does not know them and these two work for VOA , so that was just common and necessary to say what VOA is!
4- Noone expected Jon Stewart to have known and watched the show in the past, as it is in Persian and geared towards Iranians, so of course he had to watch it on internet.
As it is common for many Iranians you have reflected your own negative pre-dispositioned view on above subjects without any merit.
It is very nice of Jon Stewart to bring Parazit to the international audience of Daily Show. Thank you Mr. Stewart and thanks to VOA , Kambiz and Saman for the show..
Punch line
by comrade on Sun Jan 23, 2011 04:34 AM PSTI yearn for a day when we would not measure ourselves by a foreign stick.
If you find the first sentence a nonsensical abstract one-liner, you might as well go with the alternative:
This is my problem with Jon Stewart and his so-called lefty, corporate-sponsored likes: They are a bunch of multi-millionaires whose sole purpose is to function as political safety valves for the American establishment.
Never increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything.
Thanks Moosir
by Ari Siletz on Sun Jan 23, 2011 01:13 AM PSTSpot on Ari!
by MOOSIRvaPIAZ on Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:56 AM PSTYou took the words right out of my mouth. I have nothing more to add to this brilliant review other than to suggest a new venue for Parazit. I couldnt help notice in this post-daily show interview that Kombiz somehow wanted more from VOA.
Maybe the newly professional TV channels like ManOto can to be contacted to see if they are willing to hire Saman And Kombiz. Maybe that is the only way the dream of a DailyShow'sque Ferrari set will be realized.