More proof the original Jezebel article was BS.
Rachel Axler, former writer for the show, responds to the Jezebel article on the Jezebel site.
"Okay, screw it. I've been following this story for a while without comment, but with some sadness. As a former writer for the show (for almost 3.5 years) and current female (for even longer), I guess I'm uniquely qualified to say the following:
Jon Stewart is a freaking mensch. That's the jew-way of saying: not a sexist. Not a jerk. A wonderful boss and human being. The kind of person you'd want to work for. Yes, he *does* set the atmosphere in the office, and strives (in my experience, very successfully) to make it like a family. Except more functional.
This whole thing stemmed from a single question: why so few female correspondents? And yeah, I won't try to answer that, because that'd be speculation. Like almost every single other comment, here. Which is totally fine -- it's a blog. It's an open forum for speculation and opinion. Like Wikipedia.
So, not to dismiss the testimonies of those former employees who have chosen to speak out about their disgruntled-ness, but, for what it's worth (and as someone with nothing owed to the show, for whom my daily existence at my job won't get more or less awkward, based on this statement) here's my opinion -- I loved working at The Daily Show. Looooooved it. I enjoyed and believed in what we did every day. I wasn't treated differently, as a female, and I wasn't expected to act differently, as a female. I was never party to "joyless rage" from anyone. People there treated me with respect...or, you know, its equivalent in a comedy writers' situation.
Yes, it's a crazy environment. It can be stressful. The stress is self-motivated, because obviously, you want to do great work, and you're almost always on a deadline. In my experience, absolutely none of the stress came from my gender, or Jon's treatment of me, or of any of the women there. He was (and, I'm sure, remains) a supportive, compassionate, smart & funny person and boss.
So please don't discontinue your crushes on the show, on account of your feminist bent. At least in my opinion, they're still deserved.
-Rachel Axler
TDS Writer '05 - '09.
PS- I already regret typing my full, real name onto The Internet.
@raaxler: '08! '08. not '09.
damn."
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Found via shamskygirl from TWoP