‘Daily Show’ writer had hoped common sense would prevail
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NEW YORK — John Oliver, the bespectacled comedian and writer from ‘The Daily Show,’ was among those marching on the picket line in front of Rockefeller Center this morning.
‘When you usually spend your whole week knocking sincerity, coming out here is a bit of a gear shift,’ he acknowledged. ‘But it’s best to make a stand now, or it will get out of hand very quickly,’ he added, referring to the lack of protection for writers in the new media landscape.
Oliver said the ‘Daily Show’ writers were working on material for tonight’s show as late as Friday, hoping a strike would be averted.
‘It’s hard to believe, because part of you wants this not to be happening,’ he said, gesturing to his fellow writers marching behind the barricades in the thin November air. ‘You just assume common sense will prevail.’
Oliver said he expected his fellow ‘Daily Show’ writers would be putting in time on the picket line, though he said he didn’t know if Jon Stewart planned to come out.
-- Matea Gold