SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015

File photo shows television host Jon Stewart during a taping of “The Daily Show with Jon President Barack Obama talks with Stewart during a taping of his appearance on “The Daily Stewart” in New York. — AP/AFP photos Show with John Stewart”. Farewell Jon Stewart: ‘Daily Show’ host leaves after 16 years he host of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” used his last turn any information of value. behind the desk to make the program a daily show about all One might even liken Stewart to a sort of Mister Rogers for a Tthe people who put the program together. Jon Stewart didn’t swath of viewers growing up in an era when the flaws of institutions use his final time on the landmark Comedy Central program to wal- their parents believed in without question were more evident than low in memories. There were no clips of past stunts, no skatey- ever. He chided CNN for presenting “partisan hackery” on a program eighth rerun of Stewart berating CNBC financial commentator called “Crossfire” suggested was toxic to national discourse. He James Cramer for the tone of that network’s coverage of finance. dressed down former New York Times reporter Judith Miller for Instead, Stewart spent a good part of a 63-minute finale celebrating allowing sources with bad information to help spur a nation to send the comedians who contributed to the program over his 16 years at US troops to Iraq. its helm and the writers and support staff behind the scenes. In doing so, Stewart - who turned a light-hearted program osten- ‘Smell something, say something’ sibly about delivering fake news into a very real, cultural touchstone Little of that was celebrated Thursday evening. Stewart delivered for thousands of viewers four nights a week - flipped another format a short monologue about being wary of “bull-t.” The world, he told on its ear. TV’s biggest latenight finales have been about the hosts viewers, is full of it, whether it be “Tolstoy’s iTunes agreement,” the and their antics. David Letterman gave nods to Chris Elliott and Larry Patriot Act, or the way cupcakes are made and marketed. “I say to “Bud” Melman when he signed off from CBS’ “Late Show” in May, you tonight, friends, the best defense against bulls-t is vigilance,” he but a thank you to his staff came in the show’s closing moments, cautioned. “So if you smell something, say something.” not in two mammoth segments that kicked things off. Jay Leno in Stewart’s farewell is the fifth in TV’s latenight firmament over the In this Nov 7, 2014 file photo, Stewart poses for a portrait in his first “Tonight Show” goodbye featured the kids of his staffers last year. Chelsea Handler left E! last summer, and Craig Ferguson promotion of his film “Rosewater” in New York. who had been born during his time on the air, but it was part of his left CBS’ “The Late Late Show” and Stephen Colbert left Comedy nearly-last hour’s denouement, not the main gist of the au revoir. Central’s “Colbert Report” last December. Letterman’s departure seems fresh, mainly because Colbert will not succeed him on CBS Cast and crew spotlight until September and the network has used the “Late Show” timeslot Stewart, on the other hand, put his contributors and cast front to show repeats of “The Mentalist” and “Blue Bloods.” and center. A frenetic opening segment made use of dozens of Stewart’s “Daily Show” finale may be one of the final moves on “Daily Show” correspondents ranging from early Stewart sidemen TV’s wee-hours chessboard, meaning that upheaval in what has like Mo Rocca and Vance DeGeneres to newer players like Jessica been an area where hosts stay on for decades may be ready to settle Williams and Al Madrigal. The show’s biggest success stories - down once again, albeit with a greater array of players in place. Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, John Oliver, Larry Wilmore - made Conan O’Brien, who has hosted latenight programs since 1993, is prominent appearances. Trevor Noah, who will succeed Stewart arguably the genre’s elder statesman. Stewart seemed not to care September 28, popped up on stage to measure the set - and for any of it - the timeslot, the TV industry or his place in any of it. Stewart’s, er, inseam. “Actually, hey, Trevor, could you give me, like, The most ornate segment of the night was a single-take shot of the 20 more minutes?” Stewart asked him. “Daily Show” staff in the office, during which Stewart aped a scene Politicians and targets of Stewart’s ire over the years also joined from Martin Scorsese‘s 1990 film “Goodfellas,” introducing his co- the spectacle in taped cameos. Fox News host Bill O’Reilly jokingly workers in rapid-fire style, each getting a nickname and a second for teased Stewart for being a “quitter.” “So long, jackass!” hooted a quick word. People receive posters while in line for the taping of the final Senator John McCain. Hillary Rodham Clinton lamented the “bum- Scorsese showed up in the middle to protest Stewart’s hom- episode of “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart, Thursday, mer” that Stewart was leaving just as she began to run for President. age.”Hey, Jon, you ripped me off for the last time on ‘Goodfellas,’ Aug. 6, 2015, in New York. CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Craig Kilborn, Stewart’s predecessor on the OK? You’ll hear from my lawyers soon.” Stewart professed not to show, made brief appearances. Paul Brown, the chief executive of know what the director was talking about. “There are days where Arby’s, a frequent Stewart target, offered a new slogan for the you come in and the confusion and the fog is everywhere, and the comedian: “Jon Stewart: It’s like a TV threw up on your face.”Bruce people here never fail to have my back on those moments. Springsteen and the E Street Band played “Land of Hope and Somebody in the building bringing inspiration - ideas, tenacity, hard Dreams” a selection the singer said were a “request” from the host. work - it’s the thing I’m proudest of, of this place. It’s not the show. Stewart appeared visibly stirred, if not shaken, during all the pro- It’s the process of the show. It’s the people of the show and the ceedings. He begged Colbert not to spend time praising him on atmosphere,” Stewart said, adding: “This is the most beautiful place I camera. During the finale’s taping earlier in the evening, Stewart have been and I’ll never have that again, and I had to come to terms hugged nearly every correspondent who came on the program, with that before leaving.” then turned to his desk and blew air from his mouth, obviously In his final moments, Stewart told the audience that the show emotional. That last moment was not shown during Comedy wasn’t ending but that the exchange he has had with them for 16 Central’s broadcast. years was due for a small break. “We are merely taking a small pause He had reason to be overwhelmed. Under his aegis, “The Daily in the conversation,” he said, “a conversation, which, by the way, I Show” became more than a spoof of TV news on Comedy Central. have hogged, and I apologize for that.” — Reuters For a certain generation, it developed into a truth-seeking exercise as Stewart railed against monoliths like government and the media in hopes of reducing confusion and bureaucracy into simple truths. Not since Walter Cronkite has a generation put so much trust in a Stewart exits the studio following the final taping of “The single on-air host - and this when Stewart never professed to offer Daily Show With Jon Stewart”.