Last year, a surprising study came out that showed that the viewers of the Daily Show were more informed -- did better on an objective test of current events -- than viewers of any other program, including PBS's news program. Yet, when John has to get some well-deserved rest, no substitute is provided. That is why I believe that the Daily Show should invite the grand old men to come on, and say what they really want to say. This would legitimize satire as a way of telling people what's really going on (just like the ancient Greeks did in the theatre).
Finally, Cronkite could tell everyone, that yes, in fact, you bet your sweet ass that I am a turtle. Millions of Americans would bother to seek out the upper reaches of the cable channels that otherwise wouldn't have the idea of satire as news enter their consciousness.
None of my students watch the regular network news. When I watched it myself the other night, I was stunned. There was a segment on a woman who milks her own cows and makes butter. That was the story. Dog bites man. The "regular" news is already absurd, it just isn't true a lot of the time.
Let's get this idea out there. I don't want the administration thinking they can get away with anything.
As to writing staffs, those special guest nights could use the crowd from the Harvard Lampoon, the Yale Magazine, &c. -- we live in the Internet age, after all.