Look back in laughter: 'The Daily Show' celebrates at 25

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Comedy Central s “The Daily Show” launched 25 years ago this month, dedicated to skewering journalism and warning viewers about how they take in their news. The show was an evolutionary leap from previous attempts to skewer news like “That Was the Week That Was,” “Weekend Update" on “Saturday Night Live" and HBO’s ”Not Necessarily the News." Winstead had always been a comedian mining social and political humor, but it took the way CNN covered the first Gulf War that led her to “The Daily Show.” On the first night of the conflict — Winstead was at a bar on an unfortunate blind date — the cable network played martial music, threw up lots of snazzy graphics and seemed to relish the conflict. “That’s when the legitimate media really fell in love with us because we were the only ones that could show how not normal this situation was.” It ultimately led to fake journalists from “The Daily Show” being interviewed and featured by real journalists: “That was kind of a surreal moment because the show that’s just like poking holes in the media is suddenly the media darling.” said Smithberg.