In an exclusive interview with Radar, pop maven John McCain sounds off on Jon Stewart, media turncoats, and other stuff

This article is from the October/November issue of Radar Magazine. For a risk-free issue, click here

The 72-year-old GOP nominee for president may not be able to work the Google or use e-mail, but his grasp of popular culture is arguably firmer than that of his much younger rival, Barack Obama.

Last year, for example, on a slow day on the campaign trail, I asked the Original Maverick what movie he'd last seen. "The one about zombies," he said.

"28 Weeks Later?" I asked. "The one about a zombie plague in London that has some not very subtle allusions to Gitmo?"

"Yeah, that one," he said. "I liked the first one, too."

"The one that was sort of about the effects of government-propelled hysteria that happened to come out after 9/11?"

He shrugged. "A lot of those zombie movies are political, you know."

He is a TV buff as well, enthusing over Showtime's Dexter, a program about a serial killer who murders serial killers. Possibly this edginess in his viewing taste is related to the edginess that crops up, on occasion, in his politics. (What's bombing Iran if not extreme?)

After a bit of wrangling, I got John McCain on the phone for a half hour on a Sunday in late August—he was on his way 
to church at the time—to discuss matters both political and pop. Is there anything to be learned about this man—who could soon have his finger on the button—from how he wields the remote control?

Sit back, watch the replay, and decide for yourself.

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I was surprised to learn that Dexter is one of your favorite shows.

I think it's a very good series. I enjoy Dexter; I enjoy The Tudors. You know, I think I'm pretty normal in my tastes.... Lost, I also like Lost. And Prison Break. I think it's a shame when the guys get out of prison. I thought The Wire was an excellent series. I've also heard that John Adams is excellent—that's my next viewing assignment.

Obama likes M*A*S*H. Your taste seems slightly edgier. Do you think that says anything about you or about him?
No, I occasionally see a rerun of M*A*S*H, but I never watched it that much, to be honest with you. Like 
every other living American, I watch reruns of Seinfeld. Everyone has their favorite episodes.

Talk a bit about your affection for Dexter. It's a very disturbing show—lots of blood and rage and frustration.

I think it's an interesting show with lots of black humor. I've enjoyed watching it. But again, I'd rank The Tudors as one of the best shows I've watched recently. Frankly, I usually just read a lot of TV reviews. And I read [the scripts of] some of the programs, because obviously with my schedule and such, I don't get a chance to watch them on a regular basis.

Does it suggest something about your personality that you like the dark humor and the political intrigue of The Tudors?
Well, most of all I think the show has very good acting. I like most of the actors. The Sopranos was also a great show. But it's just good entertainment.

Did you see Hillary Clinton's video parodying The Sopranos?
No, I did not.

Well there's obviously been a lot of pop culture and political overlap this cycle, including your campaign ad with Britney and Paris, and then Paris's response. What did you think of her video, by the way?
It was fine.

You've had a high profile in popular culture for many years, appearing on Saturday Night Live, and you actually hold the record for Daily Show appearances. Is the cross-pollination of pop and politics more pronounced in this election than past ones?
Oh, I think you could trace it all the way back to Johnny Carson. He was probably the first one to do all that. But I think The Colbert Report and The Daily Show are just increased manifestations of it. One reason I like to go on those shows, particularly ones like Leno or Letterman, is that they help you reach a wide viewing audience that otherwise would not be paying attention to the political scene—people who would never be exposed to the Sunday-morning shows or other programs that politicians traditionally are on.