Even before Jon Stewart hosted his final edition of The Daily Show on the Comedy Central cable television channel, liberal journalists announced on Thursday that they "are thrilled" to celebrate his 16 years as host, when he “often blurred the lines between news, satire and comedy,” according to a press release from the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
“Today, the Newseum announced it will acquire the set of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” in a “donation” that will become part of the organization's collection “for future display,” the article noted while avoiding the concept that “Fake News” is apparently considered just as good as “Real News” by the museum.
Cathy Trost, senior vice president of exhibits and programs at the Newseum, stated:
We are thrilled to accept the donation of these artifacts to the Newseum collection because they are part of America’s cultural and media history, telling an important story about how political satire and news as humor made The Daily Show a trusted news source for a generation.
Jon Stewart dissected the news with blistering wit and wisdom as millions watched. He also was a voice for a strong and free press, and against the silencing of journalists by repressive regimes.
“Stewart began hosting the show in 1999 and quickly generated a loyal following among a new generation of news consumers who identified with his sharp-witted humor,” the release noted. “Quick to poke fun at politicians, newsmakers and authors, Stewart also made the news media a frequent target of his barbs.”
In addition, the comedian “has been called 'the Walter Cronkite of the millennial generation,' and his show became a primary source of news for many young Americans.”
The news release indicated that Stewart's program “is a 20-time Emmy winner [including a record 10 consecutive wins for his program], with a grand total of 60 Prime-Time Emmy nominations. The series also is a two-time winner of the prestigious Peabody Award for Excellence in Broadcasting.”
The Daily Show also helped launch the careers of such comedy stars as Stephen Colbert [David Letterman's replacement on The Late Show for CBS starting Sept. 8], Steve Carell [who played Michael Scott on The Office situation comedy for NBC] and John Oliver [the host of Last Week Tonight on the Home Box Office cable channel].”
According to press contact Jonathan Thompson: “The mission of the Newseum is to champion” the freedom “of the First Amendment through exhibits, public programs and education,” and the site is “one of the top attractions in Washington, D.C.”
Meanwhile, Gary Levin of USA TODAY also praised Stewart as more than just a comedian:
He's been a media critic, news provider, political scold, truth-teller and guiding spirit (though he'd never admit it) to baby boomers and their millennial offspring.
And throughout, his love for [rock singer] Bruce Springsteen and the New York Mets [baseball team] has been matched only by his distaste for the Fox News Channel, Arby's [fast-food outlets] and deep-dish pizza. Not to mention the hypocrisy of media outlets and politicians, whose hypocrisy he expertly eviscerated with well-researched video clips.
“Stewart's final episodes this week featured stand-up comedian Amy Schumer, Louis CK [another comedian whose real name is Louis Székely] and longtime pal Denis Leary, who made his 17th appearance [and is Stewart's third-most-frequent guest, behind CNN host Fareed Zakaria and former NBC News anchor Brian Williams],” Levin noted.
“Daily was "the perfect gig" for Stewart, Leary stated. "He can be goofy, angry, bitter, silly and smart all in the same bit, which is what he was always about. The gift Jon got from The Daily Show and the one that he gave back to it was: 'I'm taking the world, rolling it into a half-hour ball and throwing it back in your face.'"
“But after so many years, he admitted he was growing restless,” Levin noted, and Stewart has spurned other hosting offers because interviewing celebrities, he often said, was his least favorite job.”
“For now, he wants to spend time with his kids at his newly purchased New Jersey farm, where his wife, Tracey, will provide a haven for mistreated animals,” the reporter indicated.
“Even as his political stature climbed -- capped by the discovery that he made two visits to the Oval Office at the request of President Barack Obama -- he insisted he was merely a comedian doing a late-night comedy show,” Levin asserted.
However, as Stewart told viewers last week: “I'll leave this show knowing that most of the world's problems have been solved by us, The Daily Show. But sadly, there are some dark corners that our broom of justice has not reached yet."
His departure will also hopefully strike a blow against the concept that vulgarity equals comedy, something Stewart obviously believes in.
