VOA标准英语2009-American Comedy Show Finds Lots of Laughs in

Comedy Central's Daily Show brings its brand of satire¹ to Tehran

Sahar Sarshar | Washington, DC 24 November 2009

 
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

According to a recent poll by Time Magazine - most Americans watch "funny" news versus² "real" news because they find it to be more honest and revealing.  The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, a satirical news program, broadcasts on the Comedy Central network in the United States.   Two weeks before the Iranian elections in June, The Daily Show sent a reporter and producer to Iran to get the funny truth about the country.

After almost a year of planning - Jason Jones, The Daily Show's senior foreign correspondent, and Tim Greenberg, his intrepid³ producer, traveled to Iran before the Iranian elections.  They did what no other fake news show has ever done - covered Iran by actually going there.  They came back with a series of reports.  
 
"We were just trying to break some of the stereotypes⁴ that existed up to that point.  Which was it's a terrifying place, the people all hate us, they're all terrorists, we don't have anything in common with the people of Iran," Greenberg said. "And so we were trying to break some of those stereotypes.  Then subsequently, we did see that…" 

"Subsequently, we couldn't break them because they were all true.  Which was tough, Jones said. "We lied a lot."

"The thing that surprised me the most was that people very quickly seemed to understand our humor. Because we do a lot of things, where we're going out, we're asking people ridiculous questions. They have no idea what we're talking about, sometimes it can seem a little offensive.  You know? But as quickly if not more so, the Iranian people sort of understood where we were coming from," Greenberg said. "At some point understood the joke, and were happy to sort of be a part of it."
 
"Well I get some criticism here from Americans on behalf of Iranians - coming up to me saying, 'How dare you make fun of them like that!' and I'm like… 'Well, I wasn't really making fun of them, I was kind of being ironic⁵.' And she's like, 'I know, I get that - they don't.' 'Well you're kind of proving our point just there that you think they're stupid….. STUPID,'" Jones said.

"Right, which was the opposite - [the Iranian] people got it better than Americans," Greenberg said.  "So if they get it better than Americans do, given the language barrier, I think it just goes to show that they're much more sophisticated people than Americans might like to think. "
 
"I assured my producer Tim Greenberg that as long as he was with me, there was nothing to fear,"  Jones said. "We've been talking about going to Iran for about a year.  And it was a fascinating country to us.  We wanted to sort of break down a few barriers.

"America knows very little about what goes on in Iran.  So when we first landed, we were a little nervous about what to expect," Greenberg said.

"After every single interview and every meeting we had there was a tea session.  And they would be offended if you did not sit down for tea.  And we had jam packed day, so we had 4 or 5 interviews in a day after which tea was served for everything.  And the crew during the day would also want to break for tea.  And I was like, 'I can't drink anymore tea.  I'm sorry.  My teeth are stained.  And I've already wet myself," Jones explained. "Cause I do not go into Iranian public bathrooms.  I know it drains out apparently⁶ better when you squat⁷.  But I don't like it, I like to stand."

While their focus was on comedy and politics, Jason and Tim also had some moments in which they encountered the kindness and hospitality of Iranians.

"I had just spent this great evening with this family.  And they were exactly like an American family.   Same customs, same sort of sense of family.  And then at the end, we kind of all went for a walk and went to this playground - where it was the most bucolic⁸, beautiful scene you've ever seen.," Jones said. "There was a father actually teaching his kid how to walk.  There was a woman in full chador on a see-saw with a little girl.  And it was this brilliant moment, where  tears came to my eyes.  When I hear the war drum to bomb these people, I go, 'You're out of your mind.  What is your problem? Why on earth would you think these people are out to get you?  Because they're really just about something that we're about - which is having a safe, happy, prosperous life.'"

The total election fall out was a shock to Tim and Jason.  They found it challenging taking a comedic approach during a serious and worrisome time.

"What we're equipped to do primarily is comedy; yes, there's content at the heart of it.  But this definitely crossed over the line into some things that were not so funny," Greenberg says, "Events just sort of spun⁹ beyond our control.  It was a little uncomfortable to suddenly be in a very serious place and still try to do comedy.  When we went out there, you know everything looked like it was going to be a little bit easier."
 
Despite years of isolation¹⁰ between Iran and America, a comedy program was able to break some stereotypes by showing Iranians in a gracious, comedic, intelligent light.  This duo is also hoping to send a message to all Iranians - particularly the ones they met during their trip.

"Thank you for being such gracious hosts. Thanks for opening your homes and your libraries, your schools and coffee shops and letting me in - and letting me do anything.  It was truly some of the most accommodating people I've ever met in my life, over there.  And I hope everyone stays safe.  And I hope things work out cause clearly right now it's a terrible time," Jones said.

1 satire   

n.讽刺，讽刺文学，讽刺作品

参考例句：

• The movie is a clever satire on the advertising industry.那部影片是关于广告业的一部巧妙的讽刺作品。
• Satire is often a form of protest against injustice.讽刺往往是一种对不公正的抗议形式。

2 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

3 intrepid   

adj.无畏的，刚毅的

参考例句：

• He is not really satisfied with his intrepid action.他没有真正满意他的无畏行动。
• John's intrepid personality made him a good choice for team leader.约翰勇敢的个性适合作领导工作。

4 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 ironic   

adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的

参考例句：

• That is a summary and ironic end.那是一个具有概括性和讽刺意味的结局。
• People used to call me Mr Popularity at high school,but they were being ironic.人们中学时常把我称作“万人迷先生”，但他们是在挖苦我。

6 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

7 squat   

v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的

参考例句：

• For this exercise you need to get into a squat.在这次练习中你需要蹲下来。
• He is a squat man.他是一个矮胖的男人。

8 bucolic   

adj.乡村的；牧羊的

参考例句：

• It is a bucolic refuge in the midst of a great bustling city.它是处在繁华的大城市之中的世外桃源。
• She turns into a sweet country girl surrounded by family,chickens and a bucolic landscape.她变成了被家人、鸡与乡村景象所围绕的甜美乡村姑娘。

9 spun   

v.纺，杜撰，急转身

参考例句：

• His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
• Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。

10 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。