While boss Jon Stewart was gliding along the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors gala, “The Daily Show” comic John Oliver’s Sunday night gig went the wonky route.
He was stuck entertaining readers of British publication the Economist as part of the newsweekly’s “The World in 2010” festival at George Washington University.
“The Daily Show”‘s senior British correspondent, in a stand-up bit, tried catching the audience off guard with pop culture references (it didn’t work) and made stereotypical British jokes about taxation without representation and dying empires. He also articulated his love for his newly adopted country, the United States of America.
“It was strange falling in love with a nation at a point that many people and history may yet judge to be at its worst,” he began. “It was like falling in love with a girl who was just throwing up all over herself.”
He went on to say that, with the election of a new president, the world was ready to embrace that vomiting girl, America, yet again.
“Now, you and the world can make out once more,” he joked.
While the comedian showed reverence to America, he had some gripes about it, too.
“Only America, the greatest democracy on Earth could elect, for the entertainment of yourselves and the rest of the planet, a man like Rod Blagojevich,” Oliver said, adding that 50 percent of the state’s last eight governors have ended up in jail. “If you grow up in South Central L.A., you are supposed to have a one-in-three chance of ending up in prison, that’s [better than if] you become governor of Illinois.”
Oliver was the first bold-faced name to appear at the Economist’s two-day event, and easily the most lighthearted. Also on hand: “Meet the Press” host David Gregory, Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., celebrity chef Jose Andres and former press secretary Joe Lockhart.
