Paul Hawthorne via Getty Images; Paramount
- Jon Stewart spent much of his monologue on Monday criticizing Tucker Carlson's visit to Russia.
- "You aren't as dumb as your face would have us believe," Stewart said of Carlson.
- Stewart also roasted Carlson on CNN's "Crossfire" back in 2004, calling him a "dick."
Jon Stewart and former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson go way back. And while Carlson is no stranger to being slammed, one does wonder if he was ready for as intense a roasting as he got from his old nemesis on Monday night.
And the gloves certainly did come off on Monday's episode of "The Daily Show," which Stewart now hosts once a week.
This week, Stewart took some time to air his thoughts on Carlson's recent visit to Russia. Besides interviewing Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Carlson also visited Russia's subway system and a supermarket and got it all on film.
Kicking off his monologue, Stewart acknowledged the blowback he received for critiquing Biden's age on his first day back behind the desk at "The Daily Show." Stewart pointed out how calling Biden out had resulted in him being accused, among other things, of being a potential danger to democracy.
However, the late-night show host's rebuttal to those criticisms on Monday was that the US now appears to face far bigger threats to democracy than Jon Stewart speaking his mind.
"Where do I go to study the particulars of unquestioning propaganda? I would need mentorship," Stewart said before playing a clip of Carlson touting his interview with Putin.
"Saints be praised. For Professor Tucker Aloysius Mayflower Kennebunkport Backgammon Carlson III has arrived," Stewart continued as he pulled out a notebook and pen.
Stewart proceeded to lampoon Carlson's interview with Putin under the guise of an eager disciple learning from his "sensei."
"Just out of curiosity, as a student, when you're sitting there interviewing Putin, and you don't plan to challenge his utter bullshit, but you don't want to really be that obvious, what do you do with your face?" Stewart said, mocking Carlson's facial expressions.
"It's not really a straight face as much as you try to convey a mixture of what appears to be shame, arousal, and I'm going to say irregularity," Stewart said. "For instance, like you're constipated while jerking off to a Sears catalog."
It wasn't just the interview. Stewart also had much to say about Carlson's visit to a Russian supermarket.
Carlson said in a video segment on his trip to Russia that he'd only spent about $104 on groceries in a Russian supermarket. This, Carlson argued, "will radicalize you against our leaders."
"It will radicalize you unless you understand basic economics," Stewart said. "See, $104 for groceries sounds like a great bargain unless you realize Russians earn less than $200 a week."
"You fucking know all this. Because you aren't as dumb as your face would have us believe," Stewart said of Carlson.
Thank you, Tucker Carlson, for giving Jon Stewart this masterclass in journalism. pic.twitter.com/hxQYOzB29K
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) February 20, 2024
Old foes
This isn't the first time Stewart and Carlson have crossed swords. Back in October 2004, the two had a tense exchange on CNN's "Crossfire," where Stewart accused Carlson and his co-host Paul Begala of "hurting America" and being "partisan hacks."
"How old are you? And you wear a bow tie," Stewart asked a then 35-year-old Carlson. "Listen, I'm not suggesting that you're not a smart guy because those are not easy to tie."
Carlson did try to defend himself. At one point, Carlson told Stewart he'd thought they'd all get some laughs from having Stewart on as a guest.
"Well, I thought you were going to be funny," Carlson said. "Come on, be funny!"
"No, I'm not going to be your monkey. I watch your show every day, and it kills me," Stewart replied. "Oh, it's so painful to watch."
And as they closed out a segment and went to a commercial break, Carlson couldn't resist trying to get the last word in.
"I do think you're more fun on your show, just my opinion," Carlson said.
"You're as big a dick on your show as you are on any show," Stewart fired back.
That roast may have taken place nearly 20 years ago, but it looks like Stewart hasn't lost his touch at all — or forgotten what he told Carlson on "Crossfire."
"I know I've said this before," Stewart said on Monday, responding to a comment Carlson made in Russia about homeless people in America. "You're such a dick. Really, truly, like, a dick."
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