http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6117542/
Bill OReilly's viewers are actually less educated than Stewart'sThe Associated Press
NEW YORK - The folks at Comedy Central were annoyed when Fox News Channels Bill OReilly kept referring to The Daily Show audience as stoned slackers.
So they did a little research. And guess whose audience is more educated?
Viewers of Jon Stewarts show are more likely to have completed four years of college than people who watch The OReilly Factor, according to Nielsen Media Research.
OReillys teasing came when Stewart appeared on his show earlier this month.
You know whats really frightening? OReilly said. You actually have an influence on this presidential election. That is scary, but its true. Youve got stoned slackers watching your dopey show every night and they can vote.
Comedy Central executives realized, and OReilly acknowledged, that he was poking fun. But they said they didnt want a misconception to persist.
If the head of General Motors was watching OReillys show, that could be very important to us, said Doug Herzog, Comedy Central president.
If you listen to OReilly, you get the sense that it was crazy longhairs behind the show, he said. And its not. Its great, smart television that attracts a well-compensated audience, most of whom are voting age.
No sense of humor at Comedy Central?
Relax, said Fox News Channel spokesman Rob Zimmerman.
Comedy Central must have lost their sense of humor, Zimmerman said. Without Jon Stewart, Comedy Central would turn into the Great American Country Channel.
Comedy Central also touted a recent study by the University of Pennsylvanias National Annenberg Election Survey, which said young viewers of The Daily Show were more likely to answer questions about politics correctly than those who dont.
Comedy Central had no statistics on how many people watch The Daily Show stoned.
Although seemingly taken aback by repeated stoned slackers references while talking with OReilly, Stewart was ready with a joke.
This election is going to rely on the undecided, he said. And who is more undecided than stoned slackers? Ice cream or pretzels? Ice cream or pretzels? Whats it going to be?
Whether its the slacker or no-slacker zone, OReilly is entering it Oct. 7, when hes scheduled to appear on The Daily Show.
So if Stewarts audience is comprised of stoned slackers, how would Herzog describe OReillys audience?
Im not getting into that game, he said.
Bill OReilly's viewers are actually less educated than Stewart'sThe Associated Press
NEW YORK - The folks at Comedy Central were annoyed when Fox News Channels Bill OReilly kept referring to The Daily Show audience as stoned slackers.
So they did a little research. And guess whose audience is more educated?
Viewers of Jon Stewarts show are more likely to have completed four years of college than people who watch The OReilly Factor, according to Nielsen Media Research.
OReillys teasing came when Stewart appeared on his show earlier this month.
You know whats really frightening? OReilly said. You actually have an influence on this presidential election. That is scary, but its true. Youve got stoned slackers watching your dopey show every night and they can vote.
Comedy Central executives realized, and OReilly acknowledged, that he was poking fun. But they said they didnt want a misconception to persist.
If the head of General Motors was watching OReillys show, that could be very important to us, said Doug Herzog, Comedy Central president.
If you listen to OReilly, you get the sense that it was crazy longhairs behind the show, he said. And its not. Its great, smart television that attracts a well-compensated audience, most of whom are voting age.
No sense of humor at Comedy Central?
Relax, said Fox News Channel spokesman Rob Zimmerman.
Comedy Central must have lost their sense of humor, Zimmerman said. Without Jon Stewart, Comedy Central would turn into the Great American Country Channel.
Comedy Central also touted a recent study by the University of Pennsylvanias National Annenberg Election Survey, which said young viewers of The Daily Show were more likely to answer questions about politics correctly than those who dont.
Comedy Central had no statistics on how many people watch The Daily Show stoned.
Although seemingly taken aback by repeated stoned slackers references while talking with OReilly, Stewart was ready with a joke.
This election is going to rely on the undecided, he said. And who is more undecided than stoned slackers? Ice cream or pretzels? Ice cream or pretzels? Whats it going to be?
Whether its the slacker or no-slacker zone, OReilly is entering it Oct. 7, when hes scheduled to appear on The Daily Show.
So if Stewarts audience is comprised of stoned slackers, how would Herzog describe OReillys audience?
Im not getting into that game, he said.