Television series
The Opposition with Jordan Klepper
- Satire
- Dip in and out
Jordan Klepper's satirical news show skewers fringe media and conspiracy culture by playing a credulous pundit who earnestly parrots their talking points. It's smart comedy about how misinformation spreads, best enjoyed if you're already suspicious of ideological echo chambers. Smart people who like their politics served with a sharp edge.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you like satire that plays a clueless, self-certain pundit and lets the joke build through confident, escalating field reporting rather than one-liners.
Skip it if you find the persona of a know-it-all host wearing thin, since most of the comedy rests on one man's unshakable certainty, which can feel repetitive across a whole season.
What it asks of you: Half-hour episodes, 128 of them across two seasons, a shape that suits dipping in and out rather than a single long sitting.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah2015
Sharp topical comedy that dissects current events and media absurdity with real comedic chops. Trevor Noah's versatility and the show's sketch segments offer consistent laughs while staying intellectually engaged.
But Can feel repetitive when covering the same news cycle; sometimes the outrage-response structure becomes predictable.
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee2016
Bee combines fury with surgical precision, building elaborate segments that expose hypocrisy in politics and media. Her commitment to character and investigative comedy goes deeper than most news satire.
But Her anger, while justified, can feel relentless; some find the show exhausting rather than cathartic.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver2014
Oliver dismantles complex policy and political stories into digestible, hilarious pieces. The long-form deep dives feel substantial while remaining genuinely funny and often surprising.
But Twenty-minute segments occasionally meander; the sentimentality underneath can feel manipulative if you're skeptical of his framing.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Opposition with Jordan Klepper
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Network1976
Chayefsky predicted exactly this moment: an entertainment industry willing to amplify dangerous demagogues for profit and attention, presented as news.
Paddy Chayefsky's scorching prophecy about a news anchor playing a demagogue to save ratings. It's decades old and terrifyingly prescient, with Peter Finch absolutely unhinged. Essential viewing for understanding what Klepper is satirizing.
But The film is furious rather than funny—it's a tragedy masquerading as satire, and the anger can feel heavy rather than entertaining.
More like this (6)
The Colbert Report2005
The template for what Klepper is doing here: a fearless parody of right-wing media bluster, with Colbert fully committed to the character's obliviousness. Sharp, inventive, and genuinely daring for its time.
But The conceit can exhaust you after sustained viewing; requires you to stay engaged with the irony or it lands as just loud.
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj2018
Minhaj brings a personal perspective to political comedy, mixing stand-up energy with investigative pieces. The tone is livelier and less cynical than some peers, with real stakes underneath the humor.
But Sometimes juggles too many ideas in one episode; can feel scattered when reaching for both laughs and substance.
Our Cartoon President2018
Claymation satire of Trump's administration that commits fully to absurdist comedy. The format allows for visual gags that live-action political comedy can't quite reach, and it's genuinely inventive.
But Animation distance can feel like it lets things off easy; some sketches misfire completely, and the show's broadness isn't everyone's speed.
The Newsroom2012
Aaron Sorkin's idealistic drama about fighting for honest journalism offers a complete tonal contrast to Klepper's cynicism. If you appreciate the media criticism, seeing what Sorkin thinks good journalism looks like is illuminating.
But The sincerity plays as preachy to many; Sorkin's trademark rapid-fire dialogue exhausts some viewers, and the show hasn't aged as well as he'd hoped.
Saturday Night Live1975
The breeding ground for most modern comedy talent, SNL's political sketches have shaped how we talk about public figures. Inconsistent but sometimes brilliant, and watching it live carries an energy no other format matches.
But Hit-to-miss ratio is brutal; long sketches drag and filler music performances test your patience severely.
NewsRadio1995
Where Klepper shows media as a machine for spreading lies, NewsRadio shows it as a flawed human system—the same landscape, but with laughter that comes from affection rather than contempt.
A workplace sitcom about a news radio station that treats journalism as comedy fodder without cynicism. It's warm and silly, full of people who actually like each other, using the media setting to explore how information travels and gets twisted.
But Broad sitcom humor from the '90s feels dated; the show's optimism about workplace dynamics will read as naive to many.
People
Cast
Jordan KlepperHost
Writing
- Jordan KlepperCreator
- Trevor NoahCreator