Jon Stewart Criticizing CNBC Reporter for Backing Out of Scheduled Daily Show Appearance at Last Minute

Jon Stewart Following David Letterman's Lead, Criticizing Scheduled Guest for Backing Out at the Last Minute:
Stewart Upset at CNBC Reporter Rick Santelli for Cancelling

Written by: Karen Benardello


David Letterman isn’t the only late-night show publicly discussing his disappointment and anger over guests canceling at the last minute. Jon Stewart, the host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, brutally criticized CNBC reporter Rick Santelli for backing out from his scheduled appearance (on Wednesday, March 11) at the last minute.

Santelli shot to fame after millions of people watched an online video of him criticizing President Barack Obama’s housing plan, saying it is “promoting bad behavior” by rewarding people who might otherwise be foreclosed.

During a report at the Chicago Board of Trade on February 19, Santelli said: “This is America. How many of you people want to pay for your neighbor's mortgage that has an extra bathroom and can't pay their bills?” When the other attendees began booing, Santelli said: “President Obama, are you listening?”

But Santelli backed out of The Daily Show on Friday, March 6, with his CNBC spokesman Brian Steel saying that “we all made a decision it was just time to move on to the next story.” In response, the angered talk show host said “I guess the phrase would be bailed out.”

“How many people would have liked to see Rick Santelli on this program,” Stewart asked his audience, who responded with a cheer. “Are you listening? Are you listening, Rick Santelli?,” Stewart then said.

Stewart then began mocking CNBC even further by airing a selection of clips from personalities like Jim Cramer, who gave opinions and predictions about the economy that looked spectacularly ill-informed. “If I had only followed CNBC's advice, I’d have a million dollars today,” Stewart said, “provided I’d started with $100 million.”

In response to Stewart’s outburst, Steel said neither CNN executives nor Santelli would comment on the broadcast. But Santelli and CNBC only brought more attention to his self-described “rant” when he said he felt threatened after Robert Gibbs, President Obama’s spokesman, fought back. But when Matt Lauer, co-host of NBC’s The Today Show, interviewed Santelli on February 26, said “He wasn’t threatening you,” CNBC and Santelli decided it was time to move on.