Comedy news hosts ready rallies for DC face-off

Jon Stewart of The Daily Show on the US cable network, Comedy Central, announced his plans to join the demonstration fray with the "Rally to Restore Sanity" on the National Mall in Washington DC, October 30.

The 2- to 3-hour rally is an attempt "to take it down a notch," said Stewart, referring to the level of rhetoric over issues. "Think of our event as Woodstock, but with the nudity and drugs replaced by respectful disagreement," he said.

Meanwhile, host Colbert of the news parody show The Colbert Report, on the same channel, will stage a counter march, called 'Keep Fear Alive" designed "to fight Jon Stewart's creeping reasonableness."

"Now is not the time to take it down a notch," responded Colbert who sends-up right-wing commentators. "Now is the time to freak out for freedom - to restore 'Truthiness'." He warned that "America cannot afford to face reality."

A response to the recent "Restore Honor" rally by Fox News's conservative host Glenn Beck, Comedy Central promises the event will be bigger than Ali/Foreman, Aniston/Jolie, 50/Nas, Alien/ Predator and Bunny/Fudd.

On Colbert's show website, clicking on a big "Don't Click Here" button takes readers to Stewart's site.
The rally will be the culmination of a week reporting from Washington for both television shows. "It will be like being in a chat room, but real," said Stewart.

http://www.rallytorestoresanity.com and http://www.keepfearalive.com

RC