The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Season 11 Episode 81 Helen Thomas

In season 11 episode 81 of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the focus is on the legendary White House correspondent, Helen Thomas. Stewart starts off the show by lauding Thomas for her distinguished career wherein she has covered every president from Eisenhower to Obama. In the show, there are various clips displayed wherein Thomas asks questions to presidents about important national and international issues, which highlights her signature confrontational style of asking questions.

As the show progresses, Stewart shifts his attention to the controversy surrounding Thomas, which has overshadowed her career in recent times. Thomas had made comments about Israel and Jewish people in an interview, which were considered anti-Semitic, and she resigned from her role as a column writer for Hearst Newspapers. Through the clips shown in the show, Stewart examines the controversy in-depth, discussing both sides of the issue. He shows clips of Thomas apologizing for her remarks and also other journalists coming out in support of her, citing her long and illustrious journalistic career.

However, Stewart is not afraid to criticize her remarks and their implications. He brings on to the show Richard Perle, a politician, and pro-Israel commentator, who pushes back at Thomas and her comments. Stewart plays devil's advocate, questioning Perle about the pro-Israel stance and whether that limits the ability of journalists to question the country's policies. The interview gets quite heated, and both Stewart and Perle hold their ground in their arguments.

In the next segment of the show, Stewart brings on comedian, actor, and radio host, Marc Maron, to lighten the mood. Maron shares his perspective on the journalism industry and how it's evolved over the years. He adds a touch of humor to the show by talking about his stint as a radio host and how he lost his job because of his irreverent attitude towards politicians.

The final segment of the show is again dedicated to Helen Thomas and her legacy. In this segment, Stewart gives his opinions and observations about the issue of free speech and political correctness, which are some of the long-term implications of the Thomas controversy. He discusses the fine line between freedom of speech and responsibility towards what one says and how it's important to balance the two. He acknowledges that Thomas's career was impressive but also questions her judgment in making the remarks she did.

Overall, season 11 episode 81 of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is an engaging segment that showcases the journalistic career of Helen Thomas while also exploring the nuances of free speech and political correctness. Stewart's ability to analyze the issue objectively, without taking sides, makes the show a captivating watch for both those familiar and not familiar with Thomas.