"I watch your show every day, and it
kills me. It's so painful to watch," Stewart added as it
became apparent that the comedian was not joking. He went on
to hammer the network, and the media in general, for its
coverage of the presidential debates. Stewart said it was a
disservice to viewers to immediately seek reaction from
campaign insiders and presidential cheerleaders following the
debates, noting that the debates' famed "Spin Alley" should be
called "Deception Lane."
"The
thing is, we need your help," Stewart said. "Right now, you're
helping the politicians and the corporations and we're left
out there to mow our lawns."
While the audience seemed to be behind Stewart, Begala and
Carlson were both taken aback. The hosts tried to feed Stewart
set-up lines hoping to draw him into a more light-hearted
shtick, but Stewart stayed on point and hammered away at the
show, the hosts, and the state of political journalism.
Carlson grew increasingly frustrated, at first noting that the
segment wasn't "funny," and later verbally sparring with the
comedian.
"You're not very much fun," Carlson said. "Do you like
lecture people like this, or do you come over to their house
and sit and lecture them; they're not doing the right thing,
that they're missing their opportunities, evading their
responsibilities?"
"If I think they are," Stewart retorted.
The conversation reached its most heated moment when
Carlson said to Stewart, "I do think you're more fun on your
show," to which Stewart replied, "You're as big a dick on your
show as you are on any show."
"That went great," Stewart could be heard sarcastically
saying as the show went off the air (a transcript of the show
is available on CNN.com).
