But does Colbert/Stewart/Oliver actively promote the notion that what they are saying is wisdom, and that watching their shows provide a good foundation on issues? You and I know both know that the shows are entertainment in the end, but many people do not. My question is if that is because of their misinterpretation or because it is the image actively put on by these shows. If it's the former, then I'd attribute it more towards people wanting the information as quickly and easily as possible (see: Twitter) and not entirely faulting the shows themselves. However, I'm unsure which issue is the greater issue for these shows.
I think they do to an extent. The holier-than-thou attitude -- I haven't watched any of the shows in ages, but I recall Stewart on many occasions taking on a sort of righteous moral stance about various issues. Part of his shtick is, "I'm better than the real news anchors on the right." Which puts him on the same playing field, and fools a ton of people (or allows them to fool themselves ... it's human to seek affirmation for your ideas, not confirmation). I don't blame him. As I said above, he's a brand. His face and voice and persona, and Colbert's, are worth tons of money. He is paid to act the way he does, and fool people along and insult Republicans along the way. S'fine. But when my liberal friends trash Fox News all day every day and refuse to acknowledge the degree to which all of us^ are getting our news from biased echo chambers ... nope. Not having it. ^I include myself in this, though for about five years now I've been doing my absolute damnedest to escape bias and get news from every source possible. Feels like a losing battle sometimes. Has mostly made me skeptical of everything and very bitter.