Jon Stewart and Friends Say Goodbye

08.07.2015

Jon Stewart has sat behind the desk at 's Daily Show for 16 years. The comedian has brought his satirical humor, intelligent reflections and self-deprecating comedy stylings to the show that has taken down TV shows, mocked political leaders and generally had a great time doing it all.

But Thursday night was his last Daily Show as host. Longtime fans said their goodbyes online, using #JonVoyage all day long, so much so that it was a trending topic several hours before the last episode even aired.

Brands joined in the fun too, with often-mocked Arby's even making a tribute to Stewart Thursday afternoon:

TV brands were in on the action as well, with The Walking Dead posting a #TBT of his interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson that may mean zombies DO exist:

#TBT to that time we discovered the possibility of space zombies #JonVoyage pic..com/oN2iRRURYz

- The Walking Dead (@TheWalkingDead) August 6, 2015

The New York Times even ran a full-age ad presenting Stewart's last "moment of zen," from the team at Comedy Central:

New York Mayor Bill De Blasio declared Aug. 6, 2015 to be with Jon Stewart Day. Even President Obama posted his support early Thursday:

"You've been a great gift to the country." -President Obama to Jon Stewart on @TheDailyShow #JonVoyage pic.twitter.com/ku6QZx2nE1

- Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 6, 2015

And as a wild card, no one can ever forget Jennifer Grey's Dirty Dancing tribute to the host:

Don't leave me this way…#JonVoyage @TheDailyShow pic.twitter.com/Tk6caTi1oz

- Jennifer Grey (@JenniferGrey) August 6, 2015

Leading up to the telecast, The Daily Show's correspondents Jordan Klepper, Hasan Minaj and Jessica Williams ran down some of the fans' favorite moments from Stewart's run at the show. Winners included Best Election Coverage, Best Fox News Takedown and Best Interview with a Friend ().

At 11 p.m. when Stewart took the stage, #JonVoyage had garnered more than 99,000 related tweets (150,000 by the time of the west coast airing), falling in Twitter's trending topics just behind the GOP debate, and the show was just beginning.

To start, Stewart, scribbling notes on his papers for the last time, addressed the audience with "big news." "This is it!"

The broadcast then became less about Stewart, more about his coworkers and correspondents throughout his tenure.

In a segment about Thursday's GOP debate, past correspondents joined the current staff to help cover the large candidate group. Al Madrigal, Aasif Mandvi, John Hodgman, Lewis Black, Kristen Schaal, Samantha Bee and Steve Carell appeared to "help cover the candidates." Jason Jones, filming his TBS show in Georgia, called in via satellite.

Josh Gad, who many often forget got his start with Stewart, showed up to say he's a "show business god" now, even singing a bit of a Frozen song. Rob Corddry had an emotional moment at the desk to call Stewart the brother he never had, which is when his brother Nate Corddry, also a previous correspondent on the show, popped up behind the desk to remind him.

Early correspondents Nancy Carell, Mo Rocca, Matt Walsh and Dave Attell even appeared, all claiming to have just been waiting for their next assignments.

The Nightly Show's Larry Wilmore even stopped by since his show was bumped for the full hour of The Daily Show, and they reached International Correspondent Bassem Youssef, often called the Egyptian Jon Stewart.

Amid big applause, future host Trevor Noah even made his debut on the set with a tape measure. "Could you give me like, 20 more minutes?"

And then, in a big move, former host Craig Kilborn even appeared. "Wow, you're finally getting canceled, Jon," he said via satellite. "I hate to say it, but I knew you were going to run this thing into the ground."

Several more correspondents made their farewells and bid Stewart congratulations before the pre-made video of political and industry leaders rolled.

But then, Arby's made its big move. Stewart has made countless jokes about the fast food restaurant over the years, often admitting he had no idea why he loved the mock them so much. But for one night only, Arby's CEO Paul Brown had his moment. "Brought to you tonight by Jon Stewart. Jon Stewart: It's like your TV threw up on your face."

Hillary Clinton: "And just when I'm running for president. What a bummer."

John McCain said goodbye with a puppet, John Kerry called him a bore, Wolf Blitzer used his CNN magic walls to say farewell, Bill O'Reilly called him a quitter.

And then the major players came by.

John Oliver is now getting rave reviews on his own HBO show, which he used to mock Stewart's placement on cable. "We do have to go to commercial," Stewart told Oliver. "Wait, what the f*ck is a commercial?" Oliver responded.

The audience erupted in a "Stephen" chant when Colbert arrived shortly after, though. "You can't possible leave without saying goodbye to your Sam," he said, calling Stewart his Frodo. "For 16 years, you and your basic cable fellowship of funny clutched that ring of power and trudged up the steep slopes of Mount Doom," said Colbert.

The Lord of the Rings conversation made both Stewart and Colbert break several times, even holding hands. "Is there a party or anything after, because I brought a lot of people from CBS and I told them that I know you," said Colbert, referencing his upcoming Late Show debut.

Then, surprising even Stewart and going off-prompter, Colbert told him "You said to me and to many other people here never to thank you because we owe you nothing. And that is one of the few times I have known you to have been dead wrong."

Stewart, though visibly uncomfortable with the praise, was emotional when Colbert called him "you are infuriatingly good at your job."

"We are better at our jobs because we got to watch you do yours," he said. "I do not know what I would do if you had not brought me on the show."

Colbert then finally let him throw to commercial as the correspondents rushed the stage in a giant group hug.

The show aired a behind-the-scenes feature, starring the writers and producers in the office, as a way to honor everyone involved in Stewart's show.

And then, for one last time. Stewart turned to camera three. "Bulls*it… is everywhere," he said, offering a lesson on the subject for viewers. "The best defense against bulls*it is vigilance. So if you smell something, say something."

In the end, Stewart thanked Comedy Central, everyone he has worked with over the page 16 years, his family and the audience for everyone's support.

"This show isn't ending. We're merely taking a small pause in the conversation. A conversation, which by the way, I have hogged, and I apologize for that," he added, laughing.

"So rather than saying goodbye or goodnight, I'm just going to say 'I'm going to go get a drink."

And with that, Stewart ended his tenure at Comedy Central and presented his last Moment of Zen: Bruce Springsteen performing in his studio.