64. If I Could Tell Jon Stewart...: Talk Shows Include Listening

After a long, intensive career in broadcasting, I went cold turkey on the medium and stopped watching television, except for news, football, and a few select programs. One of the select of the select, the only series on my DVR, is The Daily Show. Its appeal:

• Format. Pure television, not televised radio

• Intelligence. Adult, not talking down to the audience

• Expression. Both sacred and profane, not bland pap

• Timeliness. Current, not designed for reruns

• Point of view. Innovative, not imitative

And the greatest appeal is Jon Stewart, the star and spirit behind the series, whose talent (and, frequently, humor) is over the top. I’m addicted to the show.

Yet if I could offer one piece of advice to Mr. Stewart, it would be to do more listening to his guests during interviews and less interrupting. Jon Stewart’s illustrious predecessor, Johnny Carson, the king of late-night television, got as many laughs per minute as does Mr. Stewart, but Mr. Carson drew more out of his guests. The king’s approach: listening and reacting. His reaction, more often than not, was a silent mug.

Jon Stewart’s rubbery face can mug with the best of them. His repertory of facial expressions is as broad as that of Red Skelton or Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. If you think about it, the comic talent of those classic clowns was as much in what they did as in what they said. Silence is golden.

Listen and react. It worked for Johnny Carson, it can work for Jon Stewart, and it can work for you.