Broader: TV shows in general, of any type. I wasn’t trying to point anything out, though- I really didn’t know what kind of answer you’d give. There could be a lot and I would never realize it. But this entire episode has puzzled me precisely because, as you say, it’s always seemed like TDS is ahead of the game in regards to these issues.

If that’s in fact the case, then even if there is something to be investigated, it seems like the issue is blowing up simply because of shock that Jon Stewart is the target of such accusations. While not a surprising reaction, it smacks of people ignoring worse situations simply because we have this resigned acceptance that almost everywhere else sucks and it’s not going to change. I realize those worse examples of sexism/racism/etc. have probably been hammered in the past and people are tired of talking about them, but to have it result in piling onto one of the least problematic organizations can’t help anyone but the powers that be.

Also, I wonder how much Maddow controls the makeup of her staff. If it’s as complete as Stewart, then I’d agree about her show; if not, you’re still probably right, but more possibilities arise. As for Colbert, Hill-Mann might be correct in a general sense, but her evidence is flawed. Her comment about no women correspondents is irrelevant- there are no correspondents at all (unless you count Jeff Goldblum occasionally coming on and being ridiculous). I also find it odd that she thinks, or seems to think, that he’s actually being offensive to progressives; I’ve never heard anyone actually take his words on-air as offensive except in the superficial light in which they’re intended. And it *seems* as though he has a higher percentage of female guests, though I have no numbers for that and it may well not be the case.

However, none of this speaks to the makeup of his staff, and Jessica Valenti once got bounced from an appearance because he didn’t want to push “The Purity Myth” due to religious conflicts. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Colbert ended up behind TDS in some measurable way, but I don’t think it would be by a lot.

Maddow is a ‘systems thinker’ and a political activist, someone who is conscious of sexism, an avowed feminist, and working hard to be authentic to those values in her role as the focus of a show. In contrast (and along the same line of thinking as Brandann Hill-Mann at Change.org), I think The Colbert Report might fare less well than TDS.

I’m wondering if you raise that question, though, to point out how very few comedy shows or commentary shows could even be considered as possibly not sexist. The Daily Show, and possibly The Rachel Maddow Show, are likely leading the pack. cvh