The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Season 16 Episode 71 Tim Tebow

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart season 16 episode 71 is titled "Tim Tebow" and centers around the controversial football player and his devout Christian beliefs. Throughout the episode, Jon Stewart delves into the cultural and political implications of Tebow's public displays of faith, which have both earned him a passionate fanbase and sparked heated debates across the country.

The episode kicks off with a news segment covering Tebow's recent move to the New York Jets, which prompts Stewart to reflect on the intense media scrutiny that has followed the quarterback throughout his career. From his days at the University of Florida to his brief stint with the Denver Broncos, Tebow has been a lightning rod for opinions from both supporters and critics.

Stewart then turns his attention to Tebow's religious beliefs, which he argues have become almost as famous as his football skills. He plays a clip of Tebow delivering a sermon at a church in Texas, where he encourages his audience to embrace their faith in public and not be ashamed of their beliefs. "It's about who you are, what you stand for," Tebow says in the clip. "That's what you represent. You represent your Lord and Savior."

Stewart notes that Tebow's public displays of faith have made him a polarizing figure, with some people celebrating him as a hero and others decrying him as a zealot. He plays a clip of Fox News host Gretchen Carlson, who praises Tebow for "putting God first" and standing up for his beliefs in the face of criticism. Stewart responds with a smirk, noting that the Fox News definition of "persecution" might be different from most people's.

The episode takes a satirical turn as Stewart enlists correspondent Wyatt Cenac to interview some of Tebow's fiercest detractors. Cenac visits a bar in Denver, where he talks to fans of the Broncos who were fed up with Tebow's overt religiosity during his time with the team. "He was preaching on the field!" one fan exclaims. Cenac also visits a secular humanist group in New York, where the members express their skepticism about Tebow's belief in a higher power. "If he really thinks God cares about football, he's got bigger problems than we do," one member says.

Stewart then circles back to the larger cultural implications of the Tebow phenomenon. He plays a clip of ESPN analyst Skip Bayless, who defends Tebow's Christian faith as an important part of his identity and character. Stewart mockingly agrees, calling Tebow "an American hero" for his ability to throw a football and "talk to the invisible man in the sky." He also notes that Tebow's brand of Christianity has become a powerful political force, with some conservatives embracing him as a symbol of traditional values.

Throughout the episode, Stewart maintains a balance of humor and insight as he explores the complex issues surrounding Tim Tebow and his faith. He doesn't shy away from the controversies and criticisms that have surrounded the football player, but he also acknowledges the genuine passion that Tebow's religious devotion has inspired in many people. By the end of the episode, he leaves the viewer with a compelling question: what does it say about our culture that we can't talk about sports without talking about religion?