We Want Media

So, I missed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind over at Pioneer and thought my night would be ruined.

But alas, the Internets proclaimed that a snippet from Fox News' "conservative Daily Show" had been leaked! Would it involve bits from satirists like John Hodgman, Samantha Bee and Rob Corddry? Would it gleefully poke fun at its parent company and other groups? Maybe it would be hilariously self-referential and make quips against Jon Stewart and company!

No? What do you mean "it has a live audience but only one guy is laughing?"

Nonsense, I'll just watch the link provided here by user "dk7dr7" who made their YouTube account yesterday and only uploaded this one video which has to be a "leak."

What do you mean he's most likely an intern? Nonsense! This fellow clearly enjoys releasing political comedy to the web!

But wait, the jokes are beginning! And--it's about Barack Obama.

Hah. Ah, I get it. His initials are B and O. Yeah. Wow. Um. Oh yeah, Marion Barry. Yeah. Because he did coke. Ha...hah...ah......oh...oh dear lord, it got worse.

As The Hater remarks, "If you're the least talented member in your second-rate college sketch comedy group, don't worry. One day, you could host a Daily Show rip-off on Fox News Channel!"

As for what this has to do with digital journalism? May I present to you the best backfiring of releasing "viral" content by some poor intern over on 6th Avenue and 48th.

edit 2/15 11:14 pm: And Slate's take on the whole thing?

It happens that there's an actual joke in there, and The ½ Hour News Hour flubs it in eight or nine ways.

Oooh! Today is truly a great day for American comedy.