Comedy Central's Indecision 2008
Encyclopedia
Comedy Central's Indecision 2008 was the special coverage of the United States presidential election
provided by several programs on the Comedy Central
network.
Unlike the previous "Indecision" specials, presented only by The Daily Show
(or The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, in the case of Indecision 2006 Midterm Midtacular
), two Comedy Central programs were involved. Lil' Bush
was originally going to be the third show involved, but after the show's second season finale on May 15, 2008, it entered an indefinite hiatus that had not ended by the time of the election.
, alluding to the many candidates that had entered the election race.
On March 3, the show revealed its new election desk, in the style of network news stations like CNN
, MSNBC
, and Fox News.
On August 26, coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention
began, and the The Daily Show moved temporarily to Denver, Colorado
, interviewing members of the convention. The following week The Daily Show traveled to St. Paul, Minnesota
to cover and attend the Republican National Convention
.
the Hail to the Cheese Stephen Colbert Nacho Cheese Doritos 2008 Presidential Campaign Coverage. The Doritos sponsorship was a result of Colbert's character finding out that he was not allowed to use the Doritos corporate sponsorship to fund his own presidential campaign and thus diverted the funds to sponsor the election coverage segments of his show.
On March 17, 2008, Stephen kicked off a preview for his visit to Philadelphia to cover the primary between Barack Obama
and Hillary Clinton, entitled "Stephen Colbert's Doritos Spicy Sweet Pennsylvania Campaign Coverage, Live from Chiladelphia: The City of Brotherly Crunch!"
, former GOP candidate in the U.S. Presidential primaries in 1996 and 2000, and Charles Ogletree
, Jr., teacher of both Barack and Michelle Obama
(Michelle Robinson at the time) when they were both students at Harvard Law School
. In between reporting results from various electoral votes in selected states, correspondents from The Daily Show reported "updates" from the respective headquarters of both presidential candidates, as well as "reactions" from the international community, particularly from Pakistan.
During the final segment of the show, Jon Stewart announced that Barack Obama had won the election. The entire team went through withdrawal, finally exiting onto the roof of The Daily Show studio, remarking on the world "without George Bush
", before Colbert brought them back to reality by saying that Bush still has two and a half months left as president.
Many jokes in the show were based on the discomfort of Colbert, who was attempting to ignore Obama's apparent victory by distracting the show with methods such as inviting a cockatoo
to sit on his shoulder and greeting fictional characters who recently celebrated their 100th birthdays.
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
provided by several programs on the Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
network.
Unlike the previous "Indecision" specials, presented only by The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
(or The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, in the case of Indecision 2006 Midterm Midtacular
The Daily Show: Indecision 2006
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart's Indecision 2006 coverage of the 2006 general elections extended for most of the campaign period for that election, but grew especially intensive toward the actual date of the election on November 7....
), two Comedy Central programs were involved. Lil' Bush
Lil' Bush
Lil' Bush is a satirical, politically-themed animated television series which premiered on June 13, 2007 on Comedy Central. The series features childlike, caricatures of members of the George W. Bush administration, and other American and international political leaders. Donick Cary created the...
was originally going to be the third show involved, but after the show's second season finale on May 15, 2008, it entered an indefinite hiatus that had not ended by the time of the election.
Clusterf@#k to the White House
During 2007, The Daily Shows coverage of early events in the election has been named Clusterf@#k to the White HouseWhite House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, alluding to the many candidates that had entered the election race.
On March 3, the show revealed its new election desk, in the style of network news stations like CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
, and Fox News.
On August 26, coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
began, and the The Daily Show moved temporarily to Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, interviewing members of the convention. The following week The Daily Show traveled to St. Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
to cover and attend the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
.
Don't F@#k This Up America
The Colbert Report has named its coverage of the 2008 election campaign Indecision 2008: Don't F@#k This Up America.Doritos sponsorship
From October 18, 2007, the The Colbert Report started calling its coverage of Stephen Colbert's own presidential campaignStephen Colbert presidential campaign, 2008
On October 16, 2007, satirist Stephen Colbert officially announced that he would run for President of the United States. This came after weeks of being pressured to do so by the public and stating that he would need a sign, which came from Aragorn giving him the sword Anduril...
the Hail to the Cheese Stephen Colbert Nacho Cheese Doritos 2008 Presidential Campaign Coverage. The Doritos sponsorship was a result of Colbert's character finding out that he was not allowed to use the Doritos corporate sponsorship to fund his own presidential campaign and thus diverted the funds to sponsor the election coverage segments of his show.
On March 17, 2008, Stephen kicked off a preview for his visit to Philadelphia to cover the primary between Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and Hillary Clinton, entitled "Stephen Colbert's Doritos Spicy Sweet Pennsylvania Campaign Coverage, Live from Chiladelphia: The City of Brotherly Crunch!"
The "Indecision 2008: America's Choice" Live Election Special (A.K.A. The Final Endgame Alpha Action Go Time Lift-Off Decide-icidal Hungry Man's Raw Extreme Power Ultimate Voteslam Smackdown '08 No Mercy: Judgement Day '08)
On the night of November 4, 2008, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report teamed up for a 40-minute coverage of the elections. Two guests appeared: Steve ForbesSteve Forbes
Malcolm Stevenson "Steve" Forbes, Jr. is an American editor, publisher, and businessman. He is the editor-in-chief of business magazine Forbes as well as president and chief executive officer of its publisher, Forbes Inc. He was a Republican candidate in the U.S. Presidential primaries in 1996...
, former GOP candidate in the U.S. Presidential primaries in 1996 and 2000, and Charles Ogletree
Charles Ogletree
Charles J. Ogletree is Jesse Climenko Professor at Harvard Law School, the founder of the school's Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, and the author of numerous books on legal topics....
, Jr., teacher of both Barack and Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States...
(Michelle Robinson at the time) when they were both students at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. In between reporting results from various electoral votes in selected states, correspondents from The Daily Show reported "updates" from the respective headquarters of both presidential candidates, as well as "reactions" from the international community, particularly from Pakistan.
During the final segment of the show, Jon Stewart announced that Barack Obama had won the election. The entire team went through withdrawal, finally exiting onto the roof of The Daily Show studio, remarking on the world "without George Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
", before Colbert brought them back to reality by saying that Bush still has two and a half months left as president.
Many jokes in the show were based on the discomfort of Colbert, who was attempting to ignore Obama's apparent victory by distracting the show with methods such as inviting a cockatoo
Cockatoo
A cockatoo is any of the 21 species belonging to the bird family Cacatuidae. Along with the Psittacidae and the Strigopidae , they make up the parrot order Psittaciformes . Placement of the cockatoos as a separate family is fairly undisputed, although many aspects of the other living lineages of...
to sit on his shoulder and greeting fictional characters who recently celebrated their 100th birthdays.
See also
- The Daily Show: Indecision 2000The Daily Show: Indecision 2000The Daily Show: Indecision 2000 was a series of special episodes featured on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart spoofing the 2000 Presidential Election. This series covered the primaries leading up to the general election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. The series featured "correspondents" at the...
- The Daily Show: Indecision 2004The Daily Show: Indecision 2004The Daily Show: Indecision 2004 is a DVD boxed set of several episodes of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart relating to the 2004 presidential election...
- The Daily Show: Indecision 2006The Daily Show: Indecision 2006The Daily Show with Jon Stewart's Indecision 2006 coverage of the 2006 general elections extended for most of the campaign period for that election, but grew especially intensive toward the actual date of the election on November 7....
- List of The Daily Show recurring segments