Five things we learned from Jon Stewart’s coverage of G20 Toronto
We’re as guilty as anyone for noting that coverage of the G20 was kind of sparse in the international media, but we knew that our summit (and its associated riot) had finally hit something of a media bonanza when it was featured on the most reputable source in fake news, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. Last night’s segment dedicated to G20 Toronto told the Comedy Central audience exactly five things about Toronto that are worth repeating.
1. We really are an Ashley Madison kind of city
Apparently it’s not just sports stars who like to visit Toronto for the ladies. Both Nicolas Sarkozy and China’s Hu Jintao came to T.O. unaccompanied by their wives. For the French PM, that actually might mean something.
2. We need to get the word out about our clubs
Yes, it was a throwaway joke poking fun at our mild manners, but still—saying our clubs close at 11? That’s crazy. We’ll have you know our clubs probably didn’t even bother opening due to security concerns.
3. Canadian beer is not worth mocking
In a joke about Barack Obama’s awkward beer exchange with new British PM David Cameron, not a single mention was made of Molson Canadian (that’s what Americans think we drink, right?). We’ve come a long way since the dark days of Canadian stereotypes.
4. G20 police tactics get a pass
While the protestors got their due, Stewart was oddly silent about the police response—including the 900 arrests, which was about the only thing other news agencies picked up on. Police officers can remind themselves of this when they are kept up at night wondering who exactly they had become.
5. Jon Stewart is just as confused as we are
Even a brilliant mind like Stewart’s was unable to glean a coherent message from the rowdy, feces-tossing crowds. It’s nice to know it wasn’t just us.
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart for June 28, 2010 [Comedy Network]
Did Greg Hudson even watch Jon Stewart’s show about the G20 in Toronto? He’s not confused about Toronto. He’s making fun of it.
P.S. When he said Toronto was a place for bachelors to party, he was mocking us. It was the biggest laugh he got all night. Please watch the video again.
Greg,
I didn’t mean to insult you or to disparage your article in any way. I simply wanted to point out that it’s obvious from the footage of the Daily Show that Jon Stewart didn’t set out to say that he didn’t understand Toronto. He was quite clearly mocking us.
I’m not happy about it either. Actually I’m quite insulted, because I love this city. But seriously, please please watch the video one more time and then tell me (straight up, in all honesty) that he isn’t making fun of us in the most vicious manner possible.
Er, Michael? I think the article is saying that Stewart didn’t get what the protesters were trying to say with their message. Not that he didn’t understand Toronto, but rather than the black blockers caused shit just to cause shit. No message. Just vandalism. The Asif Mandi (SP?) bit at the end shows this confusion.
It’s clear from this article that the author is poking a little fun at Toronto, too. I think we’d all be a little bit better as a city if we could all stop being so insulted by everything and learn to let things roll off our backs.