I love The Daily Show, I really do. But when it comes to segments about the South, they often do a piss poor job of it. The latest example came from correspondent Al Madrigal who did a story on the dispute between Georgia and Tennessee regarding state borders and the water supply. (Watch the segment here.)
Georgia essentially wants and needs access to the water provided by the Tennessee River, and in typical Daily Show fashion, the actual story was less important than Madrigal’s effort to highlight the stupidity of local officials. This is nothing new, because the show’s correspondents are often satirizing politicians. Where it fails is in its pitiful attempt to poke fun at the South, which can be done, but with more intelligence.
Instead, it’s so lame, it’s as if the writers dialed this one in. Want to discuss the South? Incorporate banjo music and, these days, mention Honey Boo Boo. Want to suggest that rural southerners are inbred? Incorporate a clip from Deliverance. Need to establish that people are ignorant? Mock their accents to their face or include “man on the street” interviews with people who fit the stereotype. It was on this last point where The Daily Show showed its hand, because it was clear to anyone with a keen eye that a couple of those interviews were plants, what I’ll call “hicks for hire”.
First, there were the two men in camouflage: one held a shotgun, while his friend offered a bug-eyed look. These two were obviously playing to the camera. Second, there was the guy who had mutton chop sideburns, slicked back hair, and sunglasses circa-1970s Elvis. The tip off that this guy was playing to the camera was his Unknown Hinson t-shirt. While the studio audience in New York was laughing at this guy, I knew that he was saying things Al Madrigal needed to pull the piece off. And he was probably having his own laugh at Madrigal’s expense. Like Unknown Hinson, he was portraying a character. Everything he said played to stereotype on purpose.
So, suffice it to say, I’m disappointed with The Daily Show’s latest attempt at satirizing the South. As usual, the writers relied on worn out tropes about the South and not only was it not amusing, it wasn’t even funny.
Pop South 
It was, most surely, not funny.
As soon as the banjo music began to play, I thought “here we go again.”
The Daily segment was pathetic and stupid. It was not funny. The officials dealt with that jerk, Al M., with dignity and grace in spite of his idiocy, thus showing Southern good manners. The plants had stupid lines, thus showing how bad the show’s writers are.
I gave up on the Daily Show not long after it began. I’m all for poking politicians, celebrities, anyone who willingly puts themselves in the public eye with sticks, but I’m repulsed by the way the show treats ‘normal’ people who are unfortunate enough to fall under their lens. Most of the ones I have seen are decent folks, maybe not the sharpest knives in the drawer, seriously attempting to answer questions from someone they think is a legitimate reporter. I’m always reminded of the Brits who paid a sixpence to tour Bedlam and gape at the inmates.
I felt as if, in the end, the “reporter” looked the most foolish.
I know this is over a year late, but the guy in the Unknown Hinson T-shirt was the guy that plays Unknown Hinson!
No, it wasn’t, but thanks for your interest!