Fans of Comedy Central's left-leaning The Daily Show (this means you, Mom and Dad), rejoice! Jon Stewart will remain the show's host through at least 2010. The affable anchor has signed a two-year contract extension that keeps him in the employ of the Viacom (NYSE: VIA) network through 2010. His previous contract was set to expire at the end of next year.

In other news, fans of Stewart can review his Daily career, beginning in 1999, as Comedy Central has launched a standalone website for the program, featuring video clips dating back to January 11, 1999, when Stewart first took over the reins. Seriously, does anyone remember when rigid pretty-boy Craig Kilborn hosted the thing? It seems now as though The Daily Show and Stewart were simultaneously formed. The website also features episode synopses, games, and additional features.

Stewart will also continue to serve in a executive producing and writing role.

In addition to South Park, The Daily Show is the cable network's longest-running original series that is still on the air. It spawned a very successful spin-off -- The Colbert Report -- which itself may have spawned our next Commander in Chief. Referring to Colbert's (fake?) declaration of his candidacy earlier this week, Stewart was quoted by The Associated Press as joking: "I look forward to using this [contract] extension to having great fun at President Colbert's expense."

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

Evan Almighty, sequel to the 2003 hit Bruce Almighty, is opening this weekend to some bad reviews. The estimated $175 million price-tag, which earned itself the title "the most expensive comedy story ever told," had to raise some eyebrows from the beginning.

Still, Universal executives Marc Shmuger and David Linde think they're going to rake in the dough with the Almighty sequel. "This movie is a great bet," Universal Chairman Marc Shmuger told the LA Times last year. "It's a spectacle fantasy and also a comedy. And a sequel to one of the most successful hits in the studio's history."

If Tom Shadyac's Evan Almighty turns into a hit, as Shumger and Universal hopes, the movie could put big-budget comedies on the front burner. If it flops, don't expect to see another big comedy for a while. Remember how Kevin Costner's Waterworld flopped in 1995? Costner's budget was also estimated at $175 million (back then), however, the U.S. box office only raked in $88 million. We didn't see too many high budget sci-fi flicks for a while after that one.

Who does this hurt? Well, it hurts General Electric (NYSE: GE) for one, parent company of Universal Pictures. Outside of the possibility of it hurting Steve Carell's career, it hurts you, the viewer. If Evan flops, don't expect to laugh while munching on your popcorn at the movies anytime soon.

According to our sister blog Styledash, in one of the most self-ironic announcements of the year the trashmeisters of the Girls Gone Wild video empire have announced they will launch a new clothing collection. Planned attire includes swimsuits, sweats, sandals and (wait for it!) tops.

This caused me to wonder if we at Bloggingstocks might not be missing some product marketing opportunities. For example:

• Blog-S Stock Decision Facilitation Device (SDFD). Just like the one I use-- a two-sided coin with Alan Greenspan on one side and Scrooge McDuck on the other.
  
• Blog-S Rose-colored Glasses. For the bulls in the audience.
• Blog-S "The End is Near" t-shirts. Available in bear-able sizes.
• Blog-S Sea Salt. So you'll always have a grain handy to accompany market advice.
• Blog-S Eye Drops. Because we know you sit at your PC 24/7 waiting for our next post.
• The Blog-S Center for treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior. Not that any of us obsess over our investments...
• Blog-S Investor's Diapers. Astronaut-tested, for those times when the key piece of financial info is due any second, and leaving your workstation could cost you big bucks.
• Blog-S Carpal Tunnel Pads. Since the staff needs them anyway, any production overrun we sell to you will just be gravy.
• Blog-S Champagne. We love the bubble! For those big upturns.
• Blog-S Handkerchiefs. For those 'minor market corrections'.
• The Blog-S Guide to America's Highest Bridges and Tallest Buildings. For those REALLY big downturns.

Any suggestions for our imaginary product line?

In its never-ending quest to capture eyeballs, Time Warner is going for laughs. DCComics, home of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, has teamed up with Warner Books to cross promote a pre-publication version of Brad Meltzer's The Book of Fate, a graphic novel thriller chocked full of American historical tidbits.

Also on a comedic note, Turner Broadcasting System announced it will distribute two "very funny broadband destinations: veryfunnyads.com and Laugh Lab." Veryfunnyads.com will be the world's largest online collection of humorous commercials. Viewers will be able to email links to their favorite commercials. Veryfunnyads.com will offer periodic updates to its collection. This just could replace fantasy football leagues as many people's favorite work-time activity. Veryfunnyads.com launched today via a one-hour World's Funniest Commercials show on TBS. Laugh Lab will feature original materials from well known stand-ups, as well as encore performances of comedy materials already distributed by TBS. Viewers will be able to customize their choice of comedy videos.

Using the capabilities provided by its purchase of Truveo, Time Warner subsidiary AOL aims to be the premier web video site. AOL Video will provide online video search capabilities and will also carry thousands of hours of programming by partnering and sharing revenue with Arts and Entertainment network, the History Channel, Nickelodeon and MTV channels. The initial 30,000 videos also include on-demand news segments from ABD, CNN and Reuters. AOL plans to increase its sale of video ads to over $1 billion in the next few years as additional programming, both original and encore performances, is put on the Web. TV ad marketing is already a $60 billion per year industry.