Now that Walter Cronkite has passed away, a Time Magazine poll says that Jon Stewart is the most trusted anchor in America (although not in Iowa!). Time seems mystified why, but we have a good explanation.

This caps a trend we've been watching for some time: Comedy, and especially self-deprecating comedy, has become the major signifier of authenticity in America.

Here's another case in point: Once Al Gore stopped pretending to be a 'serious' politician and started making fun of himself, he suddenly became a lot more likeable and trustworthy - even when he was delivering an inconvenient truth.

We think this is why SNL, Conan, Leno and Letterman have become essential appearances for any politician. Because the fact that they are willing to mock themself, especially in public, to admit that they're an idiot, is endearing and humanizing. The ability to make fun of themself also let's us know that they have enough self-knowledge to know why they're funny. And that implies they might be right about other things too. (Even though they usually aren't.)