|
 Stewart, whose Comedy Central show racked up 18 prime-time
Emmy awards over 16 years spent satirizing the eccentricities of
American politics, TV news and culture, opted for a relatively
straight-forward finale of filmed bits, one-liners from famous
names and a soupcon of political satire.
The requisite musical sendoff came courtesy of Bruce Springsteen
and the E Street Band.
Stewart opened the show at his desk to wild cheers, stating
simply "Welcome to 'The Daily Show,' my name is Jon Stewart,"
adding "I've got big news. This is it, this is the final
episode."
An extended segment featured a bevy of the show's storied
correspondents who served up commentary on Thursday night's
crowded Republican presidential debate.
Steve and Nancy Carell, John Hodgman, Lewis Black, Wyatt Cenac,
Kristen Schaal, Mo Rocca, Jason Jones and brothers Rob and Nate
Corddry were but a few who showed up to deliver quips aimed at
both the politicians and Stewart himself.
"You're still here?" cracked Schaal. "I thought Trevor had
started by now," a reference to Stewart's replacement Trevor
Noah, who takes over in late September.
During the bit, Noah popped up behind Stewart measuring the set
and desk, at which point the outgoing host asked "Could you give
me like, 20 more minutes?"
Stephen Colbert, who went on to his own "Colbert Report" before
nabbing the plum job replacing David Letterman on CBS "Late
Show," got the last word - and the most air time.
Stewart targets including Clinton, TV host O'Reilly, Secretary
of State John Kerry, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and New
York Senator Chuck Schumer weighed in with a litany of often
snarky goodbyes, culminating in Senator John McCain's snarled
"So long, jackass."
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A filmed segment went behind the scenes to show staffers in
cubicles, writers' rooms, the control room and office kitchen, many
of them cracking wise in the process.
Stewart reflected that "The thing I'm going to miss most about this
place is the people," who he said "never fail to have my back ...
This is the most beautiful place I've ever been."
He grew emotional as he thanked his wife Tracey and his children
"for teaching me what joy looks like."
Stewart, 52, who has twice hosted the Oscars, has given little
indication of his immediate plans after stepping away from a show
whose influence on American life is disproportionate to its small
nightly audience.
But he promised fans, "This show isn't ending. We're merely taking a
small pause in the conversation."
At the end, he offered: "Rather than saying goodbye, or goodnight,
I'm just going to say I'm gonna' go get a drink."
(Reporting By Chris Michaud; Editing by Ken Wills)
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