Rob Ford's rehab trip big news on the late night shows

Rob Ford was, rather naturally, the biggest item on late night TV last night, as the various hosts did their bit on the latest crack allegations and the mayor's subsequent to rehab. The widespread coverage comes as no surprise, but it's interesting to track how each host handles a situation that is at once comedic fodder and at least somewhat tragic. Toward that end, my vote goes to Jon Stewart as the best in show. His take manages to underscore the severity of Ford's problems while dramatizing just how baffling the whole narrative is when you step back for a second.

Jon Stewart

The Daily Shows combination of physical humour and news clips works just about perfectly here.

Jimmy Kimmel

Kimmel, who's carried the torch on late night Rob Ford coverage, gives a full rundown of the latest revelations. While the tone is perfectly sarcastic (he goes so far as to suggest that Ford should join his show in an official capacity), there's no gloating.

Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show host never really hits his stride with this one, but at least the bit is PG-enough that it doesn't come off as bottom of the barrel laughs.

David Letterman

I'll admit that I thought this top 10 list (his second on Ford) might be in poor taste, but Letterman manages to keep mostly light. His serious bit at the beginning does, however, ring hollow.

by Derek Flack via blogTO