WATCH: The Daily Show goes gaga over the royal baby
John Oliver and his colleagues turn their gaze toward Britain — and are disturbingly amused by the madness
John Oliver promised/warned us on Monday, but Tuesday night's Daily Show went full-court coverage of the birth of the royal baby. The as-yet-unnamed son was shown to the world for the first time by its parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Oliver is impressed with the pomp and madness in his native Britain — and its former colonies — but not in a good way.
Oliver makes one dig after another about his country's rabid speculation with the baby's name, its unintelligible town criers, and even the royals themselves. "Finally we have a member of the royal family with an actual excuse for being a toothless, petulant, useless human being," Oliver says. The only thing the Britons are doing right, he adds, are drinking.
In the next Royal Baby portion of the show, Oliver skewers the media for its ongoing obsession over the Queen's new great-grandson — and then takes verbal aim at Queen Elizabeth herself. Her Majesty is not excited — about the baby or anything, Oliver says. Her constant expression, a "saggy mixture of boredom and contempt," is a constant visual reminder that she doesn't "give a royal sh*t" about anything, Oliver says:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Finally, Oliver involves the rest of the Daily Show family. Samantha Bee talks about how the media is going through its own postpartum depression. Jessica Williams goes to the fictional boutique where the Prince of Cambridge is fictionally registered. Al Madrigal pretends to be a town crier. And Jason Jones gets into a pub fight with a fake horse. Gaga indeed:
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Why more and more adults are reaching for soft toys
Under The Radar Does the popularity of the Squishmallow show Gen Z are 'scared to grow up'?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine solutions - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published