The Last Daily Show with Jon Stewart

A lot of people are going to hate me for this, but I'm not a regular viewer of "The Daily Show," not since Jon Stewart came on board sixteen years ago actually. His arrival marked a change in the show. Before, with Craig Kilborn, I kinda dug it, but when it became a news show with comedic elements as opposed to a comedy show about the news - I checked out.

The main thing that has always bothered me about this incarnation of "The Daily Show" is that there are people who think it is news. There are folks who hang on Jon Stewart's every word as if he's this generation's Walter Cronkite, and I think that's sad. Just as I think that more than half of the programming on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and others should have a big sign on the screen that says OPINION when they are doing that instead of reporting the news, I think "The Daily Show" should have one that says SATIRE.

The more Jon Stewart got political, and the more he took himself seriously, the less I liked what I saw. This wasn't what I was tuning in to Comedy Central for, ya know? And if I wanted to see one-sided fake news by people who think they're clever, let's face it, I'd watch Fox News. So yeah, I am neither a regular viewer nor a fan, but I did watch the final episode with Jon Stewart last night.

I enjoyed the SNL40 vibe of the returning correspondents, good to see many of them again, as those reports were something I did dig about "The Daily Show," and I am a fan of the official and unofficial spin-offs with John Oliver, Larry Wilmore, and even Stephen Colbert. And opposed to SNL40, it did not go on too long. As a fast food aficionado I have to say I loved the Arby's commercial, that was a touch of class.

So despite not liking the show, not being a fan of either Stewart or his concept of the show, I have enjoyed it from time to time, and enjoyed the final episode of his run. Even Springsteen was pretty awesome. It wasn't bad, even with the preaching about 'bullshit.' I think would have rather had them actually talk about the Republican debate, but as it stands, we all know the debate was much funnier. I look forward to a new take by incoming host Trevor Noah.

The Dumpsta Players Present… Bitchy Beach Burnout

Hey, ya'll! If you haven't made it to the beach yet this summer, never fear! Bob and Barbara's has agreed to make this Wednesday night, July 18th, an All Night Beach Themed Party so please dress accordingly ;-) Drink specials all night long for the hottest bathing suits!!!

LOLA LAURENT VS. SWEETIE, DRIPSTERS GET SAND AND CRABS IN SWIMSUITS!

Bitchy Beach is home to dozens of misfit, jobless hipsters living at their parents' homes and pretending they're still nineteen. Surfing, shopping and skanking are all totally rad and a sneaky shag with your best friend's guy is a favorite past time.

Buff surfer, Dex Devon and his surfing fraternity, Big Stick Club, rule the waves and snag chicks on a nightly basis. Dex's steady, Lola Laurent, has a chip on her shoulder and Daddy's credit card, but knows little of Dex's secret sex life. Enter Sweetie, new girl in town and from the wrong side of the surf.

What happens when Dex gets drunk and asks Sweetie to get kinky? What will the other girls do when they find out about this tryst? And what really ever happened to Desdemona on Crab Cove Trail?!?

Go topless, show off your bikini, but watch out for jellyfish in - "BITCHY BEACH BURNOUT!"

Wednesday, July 18th 10:00 PM doors, 11:00 PM showtime! $1.99 cover 21+ @ Bob & Barbara's 1509 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19146 Info: (215) 545-4511 www.dumpstaplayers.org www.youtube.com/dumpstaplayers

Rest in Peace Leslie Nielsen

Veteran actor Leslie Nielsen passed away Sunday due to complications of pneumonia, at a hospital near his home in Ft. Lauderdale. He was 84.

Most folks know him for his comedic work of the last thirty years starting with the spoof Airplane! and the series of television and film that followed with "Police Squad!." Nielsen, a Canadian native, was also a serious actor in both television and film with a career spanning more than six decades. It seemed that his strong serious demeanor that made his early roles so dramatic proved hilarious when Nielsen moved to comedy.

I loved him in "Police Squad!" which I saw years before I ever saw Airplane! or his other parodies, and knew he was cool before everyone else did when that TV series moved to the big screen with the Naked Gun films. Many folks don't remember that that show was a flop, barely lasting six episodes. I think "Cop Rock" might have done better in the ratings.

Before his comedy roles I remember Leslie Nielsen as the hero of the scifi classic Forbidden Planet and the villain of the B-movie eco-horror The Day of the Animals. A leading man for years, it is notable that his comedic career didn't start with the parodies of the late seventies and early eighties, he also shared billing with Don Knotts in The Reluctant Astronaut. The last role I saw him in was as the Uncle Ben character in 2008's Superhero Movie, doing some of the funniest gas humor ever on the big screen.

Leslie Nielsen was also an author, an avid golfer, and even singer. He was one of our finest actors, of any genre. He will be missed.