The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is so laugh-out-loud funny that Indecision 2004--which could have been a dated recap of a time many would rather forget--is instead a hilarious time capsule of the follies and foibles of the 2004 presidential election. What also helps is that many of the issues being lampooned, such as the Iraq war, are still in the news in 2005. The 10 episodes included in the three-disc set are the four reporting on the Democratic National Convention, the four from the Republican National Convention, the episode following the first Bush-Kerry debate, and the hourlong election-night episode, subtitled "Prelude to a Recount." The Daily Show mimics the format of a news program, with Stewart as the anchor and his troupe of "senior correspondents/analysts"--Stephen Colbert, Rob Corddry, Samantha Bee, and Ed Helms--filing their "reports" from the field. Stewart is always quick to dismiss his show as "fake news," but an increasing number of people have taken to the Comedy Central staple as the way to get their news. Political news is mostly sound bites anyway, so Stewart piles the video clips together at their most incongruous or contradictory, then follows up with a wisecrack or a marvelously deadpan look of disbelief. As further proof of its impact, The Daily Show won a 2005 Peabody Award for electronic media excellence for its "satire that deflates pomposity on an equal opportunity basis." (Stewart admitted during the campaign that he himself was voting for Kerry, and his audience is very anti-Bush, but he takes the opportunity to skewer anyone who deserves it.) He also attracts a number of "legitimate" guests. Appearing on these episodes are Ted Koppell, Joe Biden, Chris Matthews (shortly after he'd been challenged to a duel by Zell Miller), Al Sharpton on election night, and a wry John McCain not looking like the combative party zealot that had appeared at the convention podium the night before.

In addition to the 10 episodes, the three-DVD set has more reports by Colbert (whose survey of Democratic minority groups has something to offend anyone), Corddry, Bee, and Helms. There's also John Edwards's 2003 announcement of his presidential candidacy on The Daily Show, the Schoolhouse Rock! spoof about midterm elections, a surprisingly musical four-correspondent rendition of the national anthem, and other lunacy. --David Horiuchi

The 2004 race for the White House was one of the most memorable presidential elections of the last five years. Now relive it again - and again - and, that's enough - with this exquisitely packaged heirloom collection. This 3-DVD set brings together some of the most repackageable moments from "Indecision 2004."

At the outset I want to say that prior to getting this dvd collection, I was not a fan of the show. Due in large part to the media, I did not think this was going to be good. Quite simply, I thought that the show simply took easy shots at the party in power. But as the 2008 Presidential campaigning started and I saw this set at a reasonable price on Amazon (I bought it used), I, a fan of comedy, decided to give this a shot. And I must say that I have rarely been this pleasantly surprised. Sure, I think that if you look at the show as a whole, they probably do take more shots at the Republicans, but it is nowhere near as skewered as some would have you believe. And particularly this set of dvds, which pokes even fun at both sides for the 2004 Presidential election.

I hope that the powers that be at Comedy Central give us "Indecision 2008" on dvd at the end of this year (we all know they have plenty of material already, and we all know this Presidential election is going to give us a lot more comedy between now and November 2008).


Sincerely,
A Former Non-Fan




PS - THIS is what the Colbert Report dvd SHOULD have been like!

If you love the characters on the Daily Show then you CANNOT go wrong with this amazing installment of the 2004 election.. I wish they would release for DVD's of their shows, especially on MR. Stephen T. Colbert!!!

Okay, the 2008 United States Presidential Elections are more than a year away and it looks like there is no escaping it no matter how hard you try but despite the political upheaval of our country. The 2004 presidential election coverage was handled with style, slickness, and humor by Jon Stewart, Stephen COlbert, Samantha Bee, Rob Corddry, Ed Helms and their guests like Hardball's Chris Matthews, Ted Koppel, Senator John MCCain, and others. I love how they present the two hosting cities of Boston and New York City. It's kind of funny how New York City is categorized as the home of Greenwich Village, moral decay, Harlem, Spanish Harlem and English as a third language and hosting the whoops, The Republican Convention. While Boston hosted the Democratic convention which boasts liberal values like same sex marriages and abortions for everyone. You can't help thinking that the two cities should have been switched. Corddry visits his hometown of Boston. Stewart doesn't have to room with Boston University students. Stephen Colbert is always hilarious as well as Samantha Bee, Rob Corddry, Ed Helms, and others. Who can forget the Zell Miller incident at the Republican Convention challenging Chris Matthews to a dual. I keep reminiscing of the Saturday Night Live sketches with Chris Mattews and Zell Miller. My sister who lives and works in London has missed the Daily Show and COlbert REport so she got this DVD package.

This DVD brings back a lot of fond memories of the Daily Show, with half the cast no longer there. Rob's segments on life in Boston are hilarious. The usual dissection of political life is there and is always entertaining.

The opportunity to have these 8 full episodes [4 from each convention] is great and the bonus disc as well is brilliant. I hope Comedy Central can come up with some other similar-themed packages as well from this era.

I am a huge fan of the Daily Show, and for my money, no one can beat Jon Stewart at political satire. I bought this right after the 2004 elections and it was a great collection for all the fun they provided-lies, flip-flops and open bloopers.

This takes it a steap ahead with candid interviews, and pulling gags on some famous senators. Definitely a must have if you love political satire.