Take a romantic stroll down memory lane with The Daily Show's Valentine's Day coverage. Nate Cordry tackles the War on St. Valentine's Day. Resident Expert John Hodgman educates us on romance. Lewis Black rails against the technology of the holiday. Jon Stewart checks in on a synagogue with a surprisingly saucy new teacher. Trevor Noah weighs in on the risks of modern romance. Ronny Chieng challenges people on the street to prove him wrong about love. Sarah Silverman and Michael Kosta investigate the world of romance scams. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapter 1: How does The Daily Show celebrate Valentine's Day?
February 14th has long been a special day for people who aren't drowning in a sea of loneliness. But have we forgotten its true meaning? Nate Corddry investigates.
Chapter 2: What is the War on St. Valentine's Day?
February 14th, the day when we pause to remember the martyrdom of Saint Valentine. As everyone knows, he married couples in defiance of the Emperor Claudius II. For that, he was brutally beheaded. But what was once a sacred holiday has been turned into a secular orgy. That's right, there's a war on Saint Valentine's Day.
We have chocolate thongs for women.
This is for the guys. And those are very beautiful Valentine's Day sweaters.
A little lingerie. It's a far cry from the St.
Valentine TV specials we remember from our youth. This represents the still beating heart ripped from St. Valentine's chest.
Let us sup on his chocolatey love for the Lord.
And how are profit-hungry retailers cashing in? I went undercover for some reason to find out. In just 18 short centuries, we've gone from honoring the bloody decapitation of a religious martyr to dogs in boxer shorts, and innocent balloons turned into wanton displays of sexual perversion. Do you have a St. Valentine's Day section? St. Valentine's? Well, we have Valentine's Day cards. No, no, St.
Valentine's Day cards. Not specifically for St. Valentine's, no. Yet another example of the War on St. Valentine's Day. Bastions of the Ivory Tower media elite like Harlequin Publishing would have you believe that it's all harmless fun. I've been out to the shops to see how people want us to celebrate Valentine's Day. How do you explain these?
I don't think I have to explain them.
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Chapter 3: Why is love such a complex emotion?
What does that mean?
Well, sexual attraction serves a clear evolutionary purpose. It's a primal urge that helps propagate the species. You can feel it in this very room. For instance, as I speak, my air of danger, coupled with my otherworldly machismo, is prompting the release of hormones in both the live and television audiences. But that's not love, it's lust. I get that a lot.
All right, so why is love?
Well, that's really the wrong question, John. You're the one who said that that was... The problem is there are so many different kinds of love. The ancient Greeks had almost as many different words for love as they did for pederasty. There was eros, passionate love, philia, familial love, agape, sacrificial love, and meze, the love of appetizers. Like stuffed grape leaves.
Stuffed grape leaves, I have to admit, are delicious. Well, if you love them so much, why don't you marry them? Why would I marry a... No, of course you wouldn't marry a grape leaf. That's my point. You love grape leaves, but you're not in love with them.
So you're saying love is, what, a social construct or an idea without any physical basis?
Well, yes. That's been my entire premise. Thank you. And it would have been successful, too, if it weren't for one thing.
The floor is yours.
The prairie vole. The prairie vole, I don't think that I... John, the prairie vole is an unusual species of rodent. Come mating season, they find a partner with whom to breed, but afterward, they remain with that partner and continue to copulate exclusively with them. This, as you've probably already guessed, is where we get the term, to like a prairie vole.
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Chapter 4: How does technology affect Valentine's Day communication?
Chapter 5: What unique Valentine's Day events are happening at synagogues?
Thank you very much. Happy Valentine's Day. John Hodgman, we'll be right back. If a news story falls through the cracks, Lewis Black catches it for a segment we call Back in Black.
It's February, the most depressing month of the year, which means it's time for Valentine's Day, the holiday that reminds you that if you don't have a special someone, you're alone. And if you haven't got the money or the energy for the holiday of love, feast your eyes on this. Free, computerized, pre-made Valentine's cards that you can email to all of your girlfriends.
And look, there's even one for Monica. Speaking of which, how about a Monica cigar? And you know these Monica specials are authentic because as you can see, they're sitting on the Don Juan's. They're making these little honeys in the Philippines and they're selling 20,000 a month.
This is good so I can give it to all my friends.
And just why would you want to do that?
Oh man, it's just like when you smoke this, it's just like reminding you that you're in the Oval Office.
Dodie.
Dodie. Diana. Diana. Man, I just can't get that haunting melody out of my head. John? Thank you, Lewis Black. That was excellent.
It was black. We'll be right back after this.
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Chapter 6: What are people's opinions on Valentine's Day?
no i mean it's rush hour for love we have all this pressure from society to take people out and if you can't get it done guess what everyone is upset in puerto rico which means friendship day what are you doing friendship day uh you give your friends like candy and flowers you get into a fight with your partner over what restaurant booking you could not get no well then that's not valentine's day
You don't have to participate. Yeah, you can just enjoy the pretty colors.
Oh, really? You don't feel the pressure of society weighing on you on February 14th?
Love doesn't have to be romantic. I text all my family and friends on Valentine's Day.
Oh, yeah? I'm sure all your platonic guy friends really love hanging out with you.
Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate love.
So the other 364 days, they can go themselves. What other day do you wake up and just think about love first? Well, if you're a good person every day.
It's an excuse to get up, pretty much, if you're single.
Some people use it to have a baby. Some people use it. So Valentine's Day is an excuse to . Yo, not me. Yeah. You know, I do me. But for people that not getting ass, you know, dudes that don't get no buns. I live on the West Coast now. I live in California. Yeah. You know, females are a little bit more happier, you know, because they enjoy, you know, sexual activities in their bedroom.
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