Tonight will be Jon Stewart’s final night as host as The Daily Show. As I’ve said before, I’m a big fan. But I’m sort of uncomfortable with the way Stewart’s comedic, political and media-critic legacy is being written into hagiography. Some say he’s this generation’s Walter Cronkite. Some say he is the most influential journalist in decades. Some say when Jon Stewart speaks, the world trembles. Is that really the case? I don’t know. I think Stewart’s best years were ironically the worst years for America, the Bush years. Back then, Stewart was one of the few people on air questioning the conservative government takeover, the lead up to the Iraq War, then the slow descent into chaos. By Bush’s second term, it was Stewart who looked prescient, thoughtful and progressive and other people had to catch up. Back then, The Daily Show was must-see TV.
But even Jon Stewart’s most devoted fans have to admit that his heart hasn’t been in it for a few years at least. I think the depressing news really started to get to him, and he just seemed antsy to move on to other things. So I don’t begrudge the fact that Stewart is leaving before another presidential election – at some point, it must feel like he’s bashing his head against the wall.
Will I miss him? Of course I will. Did he change the way we discuss the news? Sure. Is he and was he an influential political voice? Of course. But he wasn’t a saint or anything, for the love of God. Anyway, just use this as an Open Post to discuss all things Jon Stewart!
On Jon’s penultimate episode last night, he talked to his old friend Louis CK. He also did a segment on his legacy called “Jon Stewart: Destroyer of Worlds.”
Photos courtesy of WENN.
One hundred percent over it.
One Hundred percent looking forward to Trevor Noah. He so cute!
SO over it! I’m also looking forward to Trevor Noah. But I hope people don’t continue to see this as a news show and think they are well informed because they watch it. Did you see him pushing his wife’s book about how to have a better relationship with the animals around your house? I don’t understand why she wrote her book under the stage name Stewart. Their last name is Leibowitz. I’ve never heard of a wife taking her husband’s stage name as her own professional name.
He and his wife filed a petition years ago (when they got married I think) to legally change the name.
They have subsequently dropped Leibowitz.
Stewart isn’t a stage name anymore but their proper legal name.
Sad. So damn sad.
one hundred percent sad! Jon did and meant so much more than irreverently skewering politicians. Nothing will ever be the same again.
This ^.
I will miss him very much.
This, too ^
Truly sad.
I’m sad and over it. I will miss TDS but as Kaiser said, he seems ready to move on and it shows.
He and Stephen Colbert did more for comedy, satire and informed political sensibility & critique than anyone in recent memory… quite the combination. But I get the feeling he’s hit that point in life where noticing, mocking and pointing out are not as important as doing something more tangible yourself; it happens.
(I also think the more involved in politics you get, the faster this evolution of disgust becomes obvious, and a nagging voice in your own head.)
TDS has a deep well of talent and excellent writers, but I will miss him terribly.
I agree! Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert were the only trustworthy newsmen on television.
Agree 100%. All good things must eventually come to an end.
Wish he could have lasted through primary season as he would have made it entertaining. He is going to miss the debate tonight and his interpretation would have made it great. Will miss him.
Who will make me gasp with laughter at all the crazy stuff politicians says now? Trump hardly needs help, it’s true, but… I’m sad.
Very sad. He’s amazing.
SOOOO SAD!! Plus on Clowncar debate Night!! I’m gonna forget and then tune in Monday Like he was going to lambast these fools and then be sad again… But I Think Larry Wilmore will do his best
Are you as stunned by the Clown Car as I am? My husband keeps sending me these fake mock-ups of NYT announcements of ridiculous people running for president – oh, wait, they’re true…
I’m sad, too. I’ll miss Jon.
I truly cannot wrap my mind around whatever the Trashy F*ck is going on in the Republican Party Is all a haze of Ugly candidates with punchable faces, nefarious war talk wanting government small enough to Introduce in women’s vaginas and enough racist Dog Whistles to drive dogs in a 100 Miles Radius Insane
I thought they would clean up their act after the clowns that ran in 2012 but nope, they seem to have stepped up their clown game to a whole other level this go around. I will be popping the popcorn and tuning in for the insanity tonight.
I can’t believe Trump is leading, either. My husband keeps calm saying “oh he won’t win, ” but truly there are people out the right now who would actually vote for him and that blows me away.
I think it is officially a clown bus being driven by Trump. They couldn’t even get all the participants on the stage!! His face would have been enough as there are probably no words to describe the event.
The Republican primary is like a really tacky Reality Show. Is this what our country has come to? I’m sure the rest of the world thinks we’re an embarrassment.
What’s crazier to me is listening to a couple GOP-based pundits on a local news show last night talk about the primary race as if it were legit. Saying that Walker and Bush in particular were the only ones, Republican or Democrat, to offer new ideas and energy.
I was way more emotional when ‘Colbert Report’ ended. He was killing it and I made sure not to miss it. TDS, not so much. Not saying it wasn’t awesome. It was.
I haven’t watched in forever.
i’m w/ u. i go to bed too early nowadays to watch it, and i don’t have time to dvr & see it during the day.
It’s not that I fall asleep that early. It’s just that the content would often get me all riled when I needed to wind down, and the format sort of got tiring too. I liked seeing the clips of the show that were posted on the internet the next day, if the subject interested me. No matter how good someone is, I think their schtick can get tiring.
I used to watch the previous night’s show over lunch but stopped about a year ago and haven’t really missed it even though I love Stewart. Even before that I had stopped watching the interview segment, it always made me cringe for various reasons. I always thought the first 2/3 of the show were the strongest.
It’s very sad. I still miss The Colbert Report terribly, too.
My fan fires for Jon Stewart were substantially dimmed once he started with the “both sides do it” stuff, which was around the time of his Rally to Restore Sanity. That said, it’s a pretty sad testament to the state of journalism that the number one source for news was a comedy show.
He was a comedian, who read material written by a large group of predominantly male comedy writers. His interviews were always edited to get the result he wanted..it’s entertainment folks..
Content, I’d say. I like that he knows it was time to move on.
He was not perfect, but when he was good he was AMAZING! Happy trails Jon.
I will miss him. He was able to articulate perfectly how I felt on so many issues.
With that being said, his constant focus on Fox News got really old.
Yes I find the comedy circuit’s reliance on Fox News as a punchline really tiring, and interesting that they think CNN or other news networks are somehow less skewed. They are all feeding the public some version of spin and propaganda.
I think Fox was a fair target since they’re the ones spewing the largest portion of ludicrous propaganda. Plus, CNN and other outlets weren’t immune to his criticism by any means.
I feel eternally grateful to him for so excellently pointing out the absurd in politics. He’s irreplaceable. It’s a big loss. Yes, I am sad, but wish him well. He was a real warrior in the battle against ignorance, phoniness and lies.
I agree. I probably will not watch anymore. The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore is great though!
I will always be a huge fan. He kept me sane during the insanity of the Bush years but have to admit that I have not watched on a regular basis in a few years.
I’m not ready for this. I… like… need him. :/
He made life as an American living abroad during the Bush administration bearable.
And I don’t think it all amounts to overblown hagiography… he may be a comedian and satirist more than a “real” journalist, but he made an entire generation- *my* generation- start paying attention to the news, think critically, consider the possibility that there are other ways, and that the rest of the people laughing might actually be in agreement… He upheld standards of decency in public life even while making the occasional poop joke…. yeah, kind of a saint.
I understand him needing to move on but I don’t think anyone (sorry Trevor Noah) can fill his shoes. The thing is, we really do need a Court Jester in America, and with Stephen Colbert gone too, I’m kinda worried.
Don’t remember the last time I watched his show.
I can hardly believe it.
I don’t always catch the show but I watch highlights all the time…I remember when he took over for Craig Kilborn, of all people.
Stewart has done great work; he’ll be missed.
I have always been a Jon Stewart stan, but ever since I read that interview by Wyatt Cenac, my love for Jon has waned a bit. That was such a big dent in his armor for me.
I’m still going to miss the show, though. So many great moments and interviews.
I’ll miss him, but I think he is smart to get out now. Give the new guy the primary season and the next election to have something worthy of generating buzz. I hardly ever actually watched TDS. I saw the best clips online and watched them there. I do think he was influential if only for calling out hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle. He’s admittedly a liberal, but does not hesitate to call out liberals. I think he did a good job of keeping it “fair and balanced” and I hope the new guy is up to the task.
I’m going to miss him. I actually came to watch the show later in its broadcast.. I wish he would have waited until this election season was over.. but oh well.
Thanks for all the Laughs, Discussion, Humor.. Thoughts.. all of it..
You will be missed.
I feel like this is a demarcation in my life. From now on it’ll be pre-Jon, post Jon.
Trevor has boat size shoes to fill.
sad. very sad. sadness……
I thought he had left months ago.
I’ve been over Jon Stewart for many years. But, I am also over most mainstream media as it is not real news and hasn’t been for a long time. Our country is in a sad place and nobody seems to want to report on the real problems.
Sad. It’s the end of an era. Won’t be watching Noah’s iteration.
Trying not to think about it. I know he’s ready to move on, and I wish him continued success, but yeah….this totally sucks. 🙁
Incredibly sad! My only consolation is that Colbert comes back next month…
It was a good ride but he’s been clock-watching for a while now. Actually as soon as he announced his plans to do Rosewater I knew he’d gotten the wanderlust and it was only a matter of time. I can’t say I blame him. There’s only so much incredulity one can feel for the state of affairs before it wears you down. Still it’s been a long time since I said to one of my family, “hey you’ve got to see this Stewart bit.” He’s been coasting for a while now. I’m sure there must be something worthy of an ironic spotlight that isn’t Trump.
So right on the fact that Stewart best years were Americas worst. He was so smart and scathing about the idiotics of the conservative takeover. While still honoring NYC and 9/11 victims he brought to light how INSANE things were getting re: politics in USA.
I will miss his show, his particular brand of sarcasm and wit. I’m not depressed about it, as he seems a bit over it himself. He had a phenomenal run. He was my go-to show in high school and especially college. I would sit in the cafeteria and watch the day old rerun of his show during lunch. I really felt it kept me into politics but also kept me laughing. Thanks Jon!!
The Daily Show has not been a “must watch” for me in a long while. Folks started taking it too seriously when it was nothing more than a comedy forum. Without The Colbert Report following TDS, the comedic spark was lost. You had Jon with the more liberal spiel followed by Stephen with the more conservative spiel, showing how ridiculous both sides are. Back to back, it was magic. Jon hasn’t shown any real passion for TDS since his sabbatical until Trump burst out of the political starting gate a few months ago. I think it rattled Jon that he was easily replaceable with John Oliver’s guest hosting success.
I keep trying to get into Larry Wilmore but he and his show are just plain boring. Larry and his panel guests usually agree on most things rather than offer any real debate and they aren’t even amusing. Looking forward to Trevor Noah and his take on things. He is very funny and his life has been bizarre as a mixed race South African. John Oliver has done amazing well as the “foreigner” on the outside looking at the inanity of what makes America tick but he does love our spirit. Heck, his wife is a US Gulf War vet. Oliver’s rants against FIFA are both hysterically funny and sadly true at the same time. Looking forward to seeing Colbert on the Late Show. Colbert is very smart and very funny and I love watching him pick at Neil deGrasse Tyson while Tyson picks right back at him.
For the last couple of years, I was definitely preferring Colbert over Stewart. Some of his mannerisms and faces were just getting really old and fake to me. That said, I don’t watch much TV and he was one of the few things I watched without fail for many, many years.