The Power of Funny: Is Jon Stewart a Public Servant?

Sometimes it's more obvious than others -- Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are media watchdogs. And I guess that statement is self-evident. They make fun of every misstep of the major news networks on a nightly basis. But I think it's important not to confuse a flame-stoking satirist with someone who's willing to light the match. When Colbert and Stewart make fun of the oversights of mass media, they're wielding an enormous power, rarely better evidenced than last night's interview with Jim Cramer from CNBC's Mad Money. Cramer was finally sent on this public pillorying by his executives, and faced -- no surprise here -- an arsenal of incriminating clips. Stewart spoke from the perspective of "We, the people," demanding more ethical behavior of those who invest Our retirement funds and control Our knowledge of and confidence in a very convoluted economic system. 

Cramer's point is taken -- it's an extremely nebulous system on which to report, and, while they wish they were the first to catch Bernie Madoff, they can't win 'em all. But, after repeated sound-bite bludgeoning, Stewart exposed Cramer's repeated and blatant disingenuousness, and -- here's the real kicker -- in the process, was able to extort a very public promise: Cramer vowed, going forward, to do a better job and always try harder.

Check. Balance.

Here it is, Ladies and Gentlemen, your moment of Zen:

So maybe would could remove the financial expert and the "In Cramer We Trust" and start getting back to fundamentals on the reporting as well, and I can go back to making fart noises and funny faces.