What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1263710
Q. There's clearly connective tissue between your film and "The Daily Show," where campaign finance reform was often a subject. This is surely the big-screen debut of your former guest, Trevor Potter, former chairman of the United States Federal Election Commission. A. I don't know. Did you see "The Bodyguard"? But that's right. I looked at the marketplace and I thought: You know what's missing? A raunchy, R-rated campaign finance reform flick. We need a "Porky's" of campaign finance reform. Q. You regularly tried to bridge the divisions of the country through sanity and common sense on "The Daily Show." Those divisions have only grown during the Trump administration. Do you still believe in a middle ground? A. We certainly did a couple of things that pointed to: Look, it doesn't seem like we're as divided as they say we are. You try not to buy into the artificiality of it, but, yes, the divisions get much worse. But some of that is because of the permanence of it. That's not to suggest that those divisions are real or don't exist. But the permanence of it means there's no time for make- up sex. The next election starts the next day. There's just too much money. You're in this permanent cycle that just entrenches and solidifies whatever those very real differences of opinion may be. The way I look at is: An argument becomes a feud and a feud becomes a war. Q. Do you wonder if we're outside of that cycle right now? Some see the future of the country riding on the election in November. A. It always feels that way to some extent because it's correct. The future of the country is riding on every election. But I don't think it's as black and white, that if it goes this way, the country survives, and this way it doesn't. I still believe in resilience. I love this country and the idea that this is the guy that takes us down is something I cannot comprehend. I cannot comprehend that we're not able to withstand this. I don't put that much faith in one man. You see throughout history the pendulum swinging. I was alive in the '60s and '70s. I don't recall that being a picnic. Q. I know you don't miss having a show but does something like the turnout at Trump's recent rally in Tulsa make you want to tell a few jokes about it? A. Uh, I told a lot of jokes. I don't sit at home and go: "Oh, my God, this is absurd. I'd love to do it." One of the things that made me want to do this movie was the redundancy of the absurdity. I mean, for God's sake, Eric Trump was out there in Tulsa the day after Juneteenth in the city that was one of the worst racist massacres in the history of the country, and he's yelling about: "We're going to be able to say Merry Christmas again." The absurdity of that. I can't tell you how many "War on Christmas" stories that I've done. It's all just the Eagles getting together and playing the old hits. Trump doesn't respond to the moment. He doesn't even think of the moment. He's just got one song and he just plays it over and over and over again. Q. This is the second film you've written and directed. Are you enjoying it? A. When you spend so much time doing something that's more ephemeral, the ability to work on something over a period of time and craft it a little more distinctly is more satisfying. It's also a little more nerve- wracking, too. It's sort of the difference between being a short-order cook and preparing for a gala. LIKE our Facebook page before 11:59 pm this Tuesday, June 30, to be entered to win... Go to: facebook.com/BestBranson Like The Best of Branson on Facebook for a chance to win some Really Great Prizes! THIS WEEK'S PRIZE: New contest each week! facebook.com/BestBranson A $25 GIFT CARD to be used In exchange for two tickets to any show or attraction offered at Branson.com Welcome Center! Gift Card $ 25 486 Branson Landing Blvd., Ste. #207 Branson, Mo 65616 40 WHAT'S UP! JUNE 28-JULY 4, 2020 Stewart Continued From Page 39 5X5