‘Daily Show’ co-creator gratified by reaction

The show brought her
political humor to TV.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

Comedian Lizz Winstead may not be a household name in television, comedy or politics; however, as co-creator of Comedy Central’s popular “The Daily Show,” you have to give the Minnesota native credit.

Not only did she successfully bring her stand-up style of comedic political insight to the masses, but the masses actually listened, with Jon Stewart’s era on “The Daily Show” becoming a media force. For Winstead, the idea was simple.

“When I was doing stand-up on the road before ‘The Daily Show,’ I was talking about the media and how they had become these bloviating do-nothings who spent more money on their graphics department than their research department,” said Winstead, calling from her New York City home. “When I started talking about the media and about politics and getting a response in Iowa and in the South, I thought, people get it. They want to see it. They get the nuances of ‘When your mattress attacks’ [news programming] and that kind of crap.

“They know they’re being fed a load of [expletive], so I think it’s pretty fun to see people respond in a way that’s positive.”

Winstead, who as the co-head writer left “The Daily Show” in the late ’90s, continues to be a player in the comedy/political game. After spending a few years as an Air America broadcaster, the 46-year-old comedian currently contributes to The Huffington Post blogs, has a television idea in production and is part of a weekly satirical review that takes place in a small New York City theater featuring ex-“Daily Show” and Air America writers.

Sees changes

Considering Winstead first emerged during the Reagan administration, she’s had a front-row seat watching politics change over the past two decades. 

“Interestingly enough, what’s changed for the political climate in general is there are no good guys,” Winstead said. “There are the Republicans, who have clearly shown they are incapable of creating something that works, and then there are the Democrats, who have proven themselves to be on an equal playing field of taking corporate money and are completely spineless.

In many ways, doing a job for a people — or giving them their news in a fun way — best describes why “The Daily Show” has become an influential force in the media.

Influential

“Every year the Pew [Research Center] organization does a poll and gives people a news quiz based on where they get their information, whether it’s Fox-TV or any major networks, and they added ‘Daily’ and ‘The Colbert Report’ this year. The people who answered the most questions right on this news quiz were the ‘Colbert’ and ‘Daily Show’ watchers.

“So not only is it funny but setting up the premise of the joke, it’s actually accurate. That’s interesting to me, and I don’t feel bad that people are getting their news from ‘The Daily Show’ because it’s not like they’re just making up wacky things. They’re setting up the truth and buttoning the truth with satire and humor.”

Therein also lies the appeal of Winstead’s stand-up act, which she brings back to Northeast Ohio next Thursday through Sept. 16 at Hilarities.

“It’s nice to write for yourself,” Winstead said. “It’s fun to get out there and be the messenger.”