Desi Lydic Says Trump is ‘Picking Mascots,’ Not Leaders

“The Daily Show” host said Trump could do worse than an “actual doctor” like Dr. Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: “I’m impressed he didn’t pick Dr Pepper.”

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Paging Dr. Oz, Medicare Mascot

President-elect Donald Trump continued to roll out his cabinet selections this week, with Dr. Mehmet Oz being tapped to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

On Wednesday’s “The Daily Show,” the host Desi Lydic said, “It could be worse.”

“At least Dr. Oz is an actual doctor. I’m impressed he didn’t pick Dr Pepper.” — DESI LYDIC

“So far, he’s made a number of cabinet picks whose main qualification seems to be being on TV. His defense secretary is a guy from ‘Fox & Friends,’ his transportation secretary is a guy from Fox Business, and his attorney general is a guy who I’m pretty sure was on ‘To Catch a Predator.’” — DESI LYDIC


“Wow, another daytime television guy. It’s like his whole cabinet was selected by a kid who was home sick with the flu.” — SETH MEYERS


“But is someone going to tell him that this isn’t actually a doctor’s job? This is running a vast insurance bureaucracy. If you have to pick someone from TV, at least pick the LiMu Emu.”— DESI LYDIC


“And you might be saying, ‘Relax, Dr. Oz doesn’t have to know what he’s doing — he’ll have people around him who do.’ Sure, except that Dr. Oz’s boss will be R.F.K. Jr.” — DESI LYDIC


“There’s not going to be a layer of competent workers at some point. It’s just celebrities all the way down. Because Donald Trump isn’t really picking leaders of agencies — he’s just picking mascots.” — DESI LYDIC

The Punchiest Punchlines (Happy Birthday, President Biden Edition)

“President Biden today celebrated his 82nd birthday, and he marked the occasion the way many older men do, by fighting Jake Paul.” — SETH MEYERS

“Happy birthday, Joe! We got you a cake, but Nancy Pelosi insisted you sacrifice it for the good of democracy.” — STEPHEN COLBERT


“You could tell Biden is getting up there because they didn’t cut him a slice of cake — they puréed it and he drank it with a straw.” — JIMMY FALLON

“The only 82-year-old white man who doesn’t watch Fox News every night in this country.” — JIMMY KIMMEL


“However, the White House medical team advised the staff not to throw a surprise party.’” — GREG GUTFELD

“He just came back from a really fun birthday trip. It was a six-day tour of Latin America, where he ended it by wandering off into the Amazonian jungle.” — STEPHEN COLBERT

The Bits Worth Watching

Blake Shelton performed a song with lyrics he’d never seen before for “Wing It and Sing It” on Wednesday’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

What We’re Excited About on Thursday Night

Brooklyn-based rock band TV on the Radio will play a track from the new 20th-anniversary edition of their 2004 album “Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes” on Thursday’s “Tonight Show.”

Also, Check This Out

Audiences for the new “Wicked” movie are not thrilled with some attendees who treat screenings as singalongs.