The BEST episodes of The Daily Show season 12
Every episode of The Daily Show season 12, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Daily Show season 12!
The Daily Show's intrepid news team dives into the biggest headlines of the day, providing fearless coverage, expert analysis, and no-nonsense commentary.
#1 - Gen. Rupert Smith
Season 12 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/22/2007
Tonight former British Army General Rupert Smith, author of "The Utility of Force: The Art of War in the Modern World".Jon begins with a look at the President's State of the Union Address and Bush's strong use of the word strong. Jon discusses with Jason Jones, Senior Political Analyst, the piece of mind we Americans sacrifice when we watch the news about Iraq. Jon briefly looks at all the new nominees who dropped their hat into the presidential race of 2008. Finally, Jon looks at the online newspaper versus the paper kind, and how people are using the vows section of the N.Y. Times to tell their life story as well as living obituaries, where the dead person speaks his own obituary.
#2 - Michael Oren
Season 12 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/16/2007
Tonight journalist and author of "Power, Faith and Fantasy: America in the Middle East 1776 to the Present", Michael Oren.Jon begins by looking at Steve Jobs introduction of the IPhone and then on to Iraq and the White House's public relations offensive to sell Bush's new strategy. Jon discusses Bush's plan further with John Oliver, Senior Policy Analyst. Finally, Jon delves deeper into criticism of the Bush plan with an in depth analysis of Rep. David Wu's comments comparing Bush to Star Trek's Klingons, with Senior Star Trek Analogy Analysts, Leonard Nimoy and George Takei.
#3 - Brink Lindsey
Season 12 - Episode 68 - Aired 5/17/2007
Tonight, contributing editor to Reason Magazine & author of the new book The Age of Abundance: How Prosperity Transformed America's Politics and Culture, Brink Lindsey.
#4 - Scott McClellan
Season 12 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/24/2007
Tonight former White House press secretary Scott McClellan.Jon begins with a thorough review of the President's State of the Union address. Rob Riggle and Samantha Bee then report on their overall impressions of the speech. Finally, Jon looks at the Democrats and medias response to Bush's speech.
#5 - Sen. Charles Schumer
Season 12 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/25/2007
Tonight New York Senator Charles Schumer.Jon begins with a look at Senator John Kerry's long winded speech about how he is not running for President. Finally, Jon looks at Wolf Blitzer's interview of Dick Cheney and his lack of commenting on anything, specifically how he refuses to answer any question about his lesbian daughter.
#6 - Jeffrey Rosen
Season 12 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/12/2007
Tonight law professor and legal editor for the "New Republic" and author of "The Supreme Court: The Personalities and Rivalries That Defined America", Jeffrey Rosen.Jon looks at the media's heavy coverage of Anna Nicole's death with Rob Riggle, Senior Entertainment Correspondent & Jason Jones, Senior Media Analyst. Finally, Jon looks at Obama's announcement that he is running for President and he discusses this with Senior Black Correspondent, Larry Wilmore.
#7 - Ishmael Beah
Season 12 - Episode 23 - Aired 2/14/2007
Tonight former child soldier in Sierra Leone's civil war and author of "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier", Ishmael Beah.Jon begins the show with a look at the deal struck with North Korea to stop their nuclear weapons program and John Bolton's disapproval of it. Jon then talks with John Hodgman about the nature of love. Finally, Jason Jones looks at partisan political dating sites in 'Must Love Dogma.'
#8 - Don Rickles
Season 12 - Episode 67 - Aired 5/16/2007
Tonight, comedian and author of the new book Rickles' Book: A Memoir, Don Rickles
#9 - Bob Woodruff
Season 12 - Episode 29 - Aired 3/5/2007
Tonight, journalist and author of In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing, Bob Woodruff. Jon first looks at and later discusses the conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical center with Senior Military Analyst, John Oliver. Finally, Jon looks at the Bush administrations record of deflecting blame, even now with the problems at Walter Reed.
#10 - Christopher Horner
Season 12 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/13/2007
Tonight attorney and senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute and author of "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming (and Environmentalism)", Christopher Horner.Jon first looks at the media's coverage of Anna Nicole's death fridge and a look inside CNN's own break room fridge. Jon then looks at Douglas Feith, the man who disseminated intelligence to the President about Iraq. Finally, Dan Bakkedahl looks at the polar bear clubs reaction to global warming.
#11 - John Mellencamp
Season 12 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/8/2007
Tonight, musician John Mellencamp.Jon first looks at the moral outrage over a Super Bowl snickers ad and a suicide prevention groups complaint over GM's ad showing a robot killing itself after losing its job. Jon then looks at Paul Bremmer's failure to account for $8 billion that went to Iraq for reconstruction. Finally, John Oliver investigates a man in Colorado who is suing a bar for sex discrimination because they have a ladies night.
#12 - Mike Rowe
Season 12 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/6/2007
Tonight the host of "Dirty Jobs", Mike Rowe.Jon begins with a look at evangelical minister Ted Haggard, who is now apparently completely heterosexual. Jon then looks at the non-binding resolution wars that continue in Congress. Also, Jon looks at the songs of the new Democratic presidential candidates. Finally, Jason Jones finishes his second part of a two part series on Laguna Beach.
#13 - Walter Scheib
Season 12 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/5/2007
Tonight former White House chef and author of "White House Chef: Eleven Years, Two Presidents, One Kitchen", Walter Scheib.Jon begins with a look at the Super Bowl and the ads. Jon moves on to the Bush administrations acceptance of the new global warming report. Dan Bakkedahl, Senior White House Correspondent, talks with Jon about this development. Finally, France shuts off the lights from famous buildings as a response to global warming, Jon discusses this with John Oliver, Senior Envirospondent.
#14 - Sienna Miller
Season 12 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/1/2007
Tonight actress and star of "Factory Girl", Sienna Miller.Jon first looks at Mary Cheney, the Vice President's lesbian daughter, who stated that the birth of her child should not be used for political maneuvering in response to Wolf Blitzer's interview the day before. Jon delves deeper into the issue as to why Dick Cheney's daughter is off limits with John Oliver, Senior Media Critic. Jon also talks with Chrissy Gephardt, lesbian daughter of former presidential candidate, Dick Gephardt. Finally, Jason Jones exposes the real Orange County in a two-part series.
#15 - Josh Bernstein
Season 12 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/15/2007
Tonight the host of "Digging for the Truth" and author of "Digging for the Truth: One Man's Epic Adventure Exploring the World's Greatest Archaeological Mysteries", Josh Bernstein.Jon first looks at the Senate Foreign Relation Committee and the disapproval of Bush's new Iraq plan as the Senator's discuss the details with Condoleeza Rice. Finally, Senior Black Correspondent Larry Wilmore discusses Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Jon.
#16 - Peter O'Toole
Season 12 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/11/2007
Tonight legendary actor and star of "Venus", Peter O'Toole.Jon begins with a review of George Bush's presidential address about his change of strategy in Iraq. He then discusses Bush's speech with Major Rob Riggle, the show's military analyst. Finally, Jon looks at the Democrats response and the media's use of puns to describe Bush's last chance to cure the Iraq War.
#17 - Neil deGrasse Tyson
Season 12 - Episode 93 - Aired 7/23/2007
Tonight, astrophysicist and the host of the new PBS show NOVA ScienceNOW, Neil deGrasse Tyson. Jon begins tonight reporting on the short lived presidency of Dick Cheney last Saturday in a segment called "The Cheney Presidency Remembered". While Bush was undergoing a colonoscopy and had to be under anasthesia, Dick Cheney was President for 2 hours. Jon gives a blow by blow account of this event, taking us on a tour of Bush's colon and Cheney's short lived attempt to start another war. Senior Presidential Historian Samantha Kearns Bee talks about the history of this temporary transfer of power in her new book on the Cheney presidency called "Classified, Assified, or Grassified: Nobody Presides for Free, The Cheney Presidency". Jon then reports on the ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, who talked with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee via a 60" plasma television from Iraq in a continuing show segment called "Mess O' Potomac". Technical difficulties riddled the Senates attempt to talk with Crocker. Crocker summed up his update on Iraq in one word, fear. Finally, Jon talks about Bush's use of so-called experts in segment called "Expert Tease".
#18 - Robert Pallitto
Season 12 - Episode 94 - Aired 7/24/2007
Tonight, political scientist and author of Presidential Secrecy and the Law, Robert Pallitto. Jon devotes the entire episode to the CNN YouTube debate last night in a segment called "Indecision v.2.008". Senior Political Reporter Jason Jones talks about his concern that everyday people asking candidates questions threatens real life reporters. Finally, John Oliver takes over Demitri Martin's "Trendspotting" and asks the question whether the YouTube debate has youthanized politics.
#19 - Rob Gifford
Season 12 - Episode 95 - Aired 7/25/2007
Tonight, a correspondent on National Public Radio and author of China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power, Rob Gifford. Jon begins tonight reporting on the House Judiciary Committee citing Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers with contempt of Congress for refusing to testify under oath about the Alberto Gonzalez firings. Who enforces this contempt of Congress charge, why Alberto Gonzalez of course. Jon continues by looking at Alberto's testimony yesterday before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a segment called "Hearing Problems". Alberto's 'I don't recalls' have transformed into flat out refusals to answer any questions. Senior White House Correspondent Rob Riggle discusses the situation with Jon. Finally, Lewis Black in "Back in Black". Lewis takes on professional athletes beginning with Barry Bonds who is about to break the all time home run record while on steroids, NFL quarterback Michael Vick arrested for running a dogfight, & NBA referee Tim Donaghy for fixing several games he bet on.
#20 - Robert Dallek
Season 12 - Episode 96 - Aired 7/26/2007
Tonight, presidential historian and author of Nixon and Kissinger: Partners in Power, Robert Dallek. Jon begins tonight's show reporting on a story from New Zealand in a segment called "Kiwi the People". The democratically elected government of New Zealand banned the use of any footage from their Parliament for the purpose of satire, ridicule, or denigration. Jon comes to the rescue, taking some footage of their Parliament and spices it up with some political satire and fart jokes. Jon also reports on the suspensions of cyclists in the Tour de France for suspected drug use in a segment called "The Audacity of Dope". Then, Senior Flood Correspondent John Oliver reports from the top of London's Big Ben due to the massive flooding of Great Britain in a segment called "London Flooding". Finally, Jason Jones reports on a lazy Las Vegas man who rents a scooter used for disabled people to move around the city in a segment called "High Rollers".
#21 - Alastair Campbell
Season 12 - Episode 97 - Aired 7/30/2007
Tonight, former press secretary to Tony Blair as well as the author of The Blair Years: The Alastair Campbell Diaries, Alastair Campbell. Jon begins tonight with some sports news as Iraq's soccer team defeats Saudi Arabia in the Asian Cup in a segment called "Achieving Our Goooal". Senior "Football" Correspondent John Oliver talked about the celebrations in the streets of Iraq resulting in only seven deaths for the day, a record low for Iraq. Jon then talks about Sen. Patrick Leahy who issued a subpoena for Karl Rove to testify about the fired U.S. attorney's scandal in a segment called "The Sworn Supremacy". Also, Senior White House Correspondent Aasif Mandvi talks about the use of contempt by the Bush administration. Finally, Jon reports on Britain's new prime minister Gordon Brown who had a sleepover with Bush at Camp David in a segment called "Foxy Brown". As Jon notes, Bush has a new British lapdog.
#22 - Lewis Gordon Pugh
Season 12 - Episode 98 - Aired 7/31/2007
Tonight, swimmer & environmentalist Lewis Gordon Pugh. Jon begins tonight reporting on an old Daily Show favorite, Senator Ted Stevens in a segment called "Buy-Cameral Legislature". The FBI & IRS raided Senator Stevens Alaskan home due to allegations that he took oil company bribes in return for lucrative state contracts. As Jon reports, Stevens is being investigated due to his relationship with Bill Allen, an oil company contractor who was convicted this year of bribing state lawmakers. Stevens' home renovation more than doubled the size of his home & was overseen by Allen who's company has made millions in federal contracts. Senior Legislative Correspondent Jason Jones discusses some recent stories of political corruption. Jon then reports on the media's focus on the amount of cleavage shown and clothing worn by the presidential candidates in a segment called "Indecision '08". Resident Expert John Hodgman talks to Jon about how this focus on style over substance has reared it's face in the history of presidential politics via television and radio. Finally, Aasif Mandvi reports on the effect the recent intercontinental Live Earth concert has had on our country and culture. As we see from Aasif's report, raising awareness for global warming through crass consumerism is worth it, especially for Bon Jovi fans.
#23 - Jed Babbin
Season 12 - Episode 99 - Aired 8/1/2007
Tonight, former deputy undersecretary of defense during the first Bush administration and author of In The Words of Our Enemies, Jed Babbin. Jon begins tonight reporting on a "giant squid having sex with bigfoot" moment as both Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney were on television yesterday answering questions. Jon first reports on Rumsfeld who was called before the Senate to answer questions about the friendly fire death/coverup of Pat Tillman in a segment called "The Rummy Returns". As Jon notes, even though Rumsfeld has been out of the game for awhile, he jumps right back in not recalling anything. Next, Jon reports on Dick Cheney who was interviewed by CNN's Larry King in a segment called "I Now Pronounce You Dick & Larry". Jon highlights the better parts of the interview, such as Cheney's lack of regret & disregard of polls. Finally, Senior Black Correspondent Larry Wilmore talks with Jon about the recent stock market losses because of problems in the housing market due to sub-prime loans. Larry suggests this is a method employed by African-Americans to get back at the man, even going so far as saying sub-prime is the financial n-word.
#24 - Matt Damon
Season 12 - Episode 100 - Aired 8/2/2007
Tonight, actor and star of the new film The Bourne Ultimatum, Matt Damon. Jon begins tonight with another Dick Cheney fun fact in a segment called "You Don't Know Dick". When Dick was secretary of defense for the first President Bush, he met with King Hassan of Morocco. As the meeting started, the king put a small silver box containing a fragment of the Koran in his translator's hand and swore him to secrecy on pain of death, whereupon Cheney said, "Damn, I need one of those”. Next, Jon reports on how the presidential candidates use food in there internet clips in a segment called "Indecision v. 2.008: Food Edition". Jon shows us various clips: the Clintons eating at a Dairy Queen, dinner with Barack contest winners converse, Edwards eats at Wendy's for his 30th anniversary, and Giuliani apparently doesn't eat food, just terrorists. Finally, "Clusterf@#k to the White House" continues as Clinton v. Obama duke it out over whether they should talk to controversial foreign leaders like Castro and such. As Jon notes, the media overhype the story with some choice boxing metaphors.
#25 - Andy Samberg
Season 12 - Episode 101 - Aired 8/7/2007
Tonight, comedian Andy Samberg from Saturday Night Live and the star of the new movie Hot Rod. Jon begins tonight reporting on Florida Representative Bob Allen who was caught offering money to an undercover police officer for oral sex in a segment called "Clusterf@#k to the White House: Drop and Give Me $20". As Jon notes, Bob Allen authored a bill outlawing the very same lewd acts in public he was caught of and is also the state co-chair of John McCain's campaign. Mr. Allen has a simple explanation for this incident, his fear of black people. Senior Political Correspondent John Oliver talks with Jon about other possible defenses Allen could have used instead of being racist. Clusterf@#k continues as Jon reports on the Democratic meeting in Chicago to debate amongst online bloggers in a segment called "Yearly Kos Convention". The highlight of the event was Hillary Clinton, who says she accepts money from lobbyists because they're real people, but is not influenced by them. Jon then reports on the Republicans who skipped church last Sunday to appear in a forum conducted on ABC where they were asked about one of their biggest mistakes. Finally, Jason Jones reports about a project called Cape Wind that will plant hundreds of wind power plants in Nantucket Sound and the rich people who claim that their beautiful views will be destroyed, including Senator Ted Kennedy.