Jon Stewart | |
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 Stewart in 2016 | |
| Born | Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz (1962-11-28)November 28, 1962 (age 62) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | College of William & Mary (BA) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Comedy career | |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Medium |
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| Genres | |
| Subjects | |
Jon Stewart (bornJonathan Stuart Leibowitz, November 28, 1962) is an American comedian, writer, producer, director,political commentator, actor, and television host. Stewart is known as the host of thesatirical news programThe Daily Show onComedy Central from 1999 to 2015 and part-time since 2024. He hostedThe Problem with Jon Stewart onApple TV+ from 2021 to 2023.[1] Stewart hasreceived numerous accolades, including 24Primetime Emmy Awards, 2Grammy Awards, and 5Peabody Awards. He was honored with theBronze Medallion in 2019, and theMark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2022.[2]
Stewart started as astand-up comedian but branched into television as host ofShort Attention Span Theater for Comedy Central. He went on to hostYou Wrote It, You Watch It (1992–1993) and thenThe Jon Stewart Show (1993–1995), both on MTV, untilThe Jon Stewart Show was retooled, dropped by the network and moved tosyndication. He has also appeared in several films, includingBig Daddy (1999) andDeath to Smoochy (2002). Stewart became host ofThe Daily Show in 1999, where he also was a writer and co-executive producer. After he joined,The Daily Show steadily gained popularity and critical acclaim, and during his tenure won numerousEmmy Awards and wasnominated for news and journalism awards.
Stewart hosted the78th and80th Academy Awards. He is the co-author of the best-selling satirical booksAmerica (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction in 2004,[3] andEarth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race in 2010. He executive producedThe Colbert Report (2005–2014),The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore (2015–2016), andThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015–present). In February 2024, he returned toThe Daily Show for Monday episodes, as well as in the role of an executive producer.[4]
After leavingThe Daily Show, Stewart maintained a low profile in entertainment industry circles, but used his celebrity and voice in a sustained advocacy for9/11 first responders[5] and war veterans' health benefits. In 2019, he received the New York CityBronze Medallion for his "tireless advocacy, inspiration, and leadership (helping to) pass the permanent authorization of theSeptember 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act".[6] He continued using his platform as an advocate for veterans by being instrumental in helping pass theHonoring our PACT Act of 2022, which expands healthcare access and funding to veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service includingburn pits.[7]
Stewart was born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz atDoctors Hospital on theUpper East Side ofManhattan,New York City. His father, Donald Leibowitz (1931–2013), was an energy coordinator for theNew Jersey Department of the Treasury,[8][9][10] and his mother, Marian Leibowitz (née Laskin), was a teacher and later aneducational consultant.[11] Stewart's family isAshkenazi Jewish; his parents had immigrated to theUnited States fromEurope. One of his grandfathers was born inManzhouli, present-dayChina.[12] He is the second of four sons, with older brother Lawrence[13] and younger brothers Dan and Matthew.[9][14]
Stewart's parents divorced when he was eleven years old, and he became largely estranged from his father.[11] Due to their strained relationship, Stewart dropped his surname and began using his middle name alone, stating: "There was a thought of using my mother's maiden name, but I thought that would be just too big a 'fuck you' to my dad.... Did I have some problems with my father? Yes. Yet people always view [changing my surname] through theprism of ethnic identity."[15] He had his surname legally changed to "Stewart" in 2001.[15][16] In 2015, he described his relationship with his father as "still complicated" after his father's death two years earlier. Stewart and his older brother, Lawrence, who was previously the chief operating officer ofNYSE Euronext (the parent company of theNew York Stock Exchange),[13][17] grew up inLawrenceville, New Jersey.[11] Stewart has stated that he experienced muchantisemitism as a child, having been bullied frequently due to hisJewish identity.[18] He describes himself in high school as "very intoEugene Debs and a bit of aleftist."[19] Stewart grew up in the era of theVietnam War and theWatergate scandal, which inspired in him "a healthy skepticism towards official reports." His first job was working with his brother at aWoolworth's store, and he has jokingly said that being fired by Lawrence himself was one of the "scarring events" of his youth.[15] He has also credited renowned television producerNorman Lear as someone who "raised me."[20]
After graduating fromLawrence High School in 1980, Stewart attended theCollege of William & Mary inWilliamsburg, Virginia, where he initiallymajored inchemistry before switching topsychology.[11][21] While at William & Mary, Stewart became a member of thePi Kappa Alpha fraternity,[22] but eventually began disassociating himself from other members, leaving the fraternity altogether after six months.[23] "My college career was waking up late, memorizing someone else's notes, doingbong hits, and going to soccer practice", he later said.[24] He was a three-year starter in 1981, 1982 and 1983 with theTribe men's soccer team. He had 10 goals and 12 assists on a squad that went 40–15–9 (.695) in his three seasons with the program.[25] He is listed as Jon Leibowitz in official William & Mary Athletics records.[26] The former head coach of the Tribe men's soccer team from 1971 to 2003,Al Albert, describes Jon as "athletic and feisty and quick" and added that he "wasn't the most technical or clinical player, but he could make things happen."[27] He graduated from William & Mary in 1984 with aBachelor of Arts. Twenty years later, the college awarded him an honoraryMaster of Arts degree.[28]
After college, Stewart held numerous jobs: contingency planner for theNew Jersey Department of Human Services, contract administrator for theCity University of New York, puppeteer for children with disabilities, soccer coach atGloucester High School in Virginia, caterer,busboy, shelf stocker at Woolworth's, bartender at the Franklin Corner Tavern (a blue-collar bar inLawrence), and bartender at theCity Gardens nightclub inTrenton, New Jersey.[11][29][30] He has said that working at City Gardens was a pivotal moment for him: "Finding this place City Gardens was like, 'Oh, maybe I'm not a giant weirdo. Maybe there are other people who have a similar sense of yearning for something other than what they have now.' I think it inspired a lot of people, man. It was a very creative environment. It was a place of great possibility."[31]
With a reputation for being a funny man in school,[11][29] Stewart moved back to New York City in 1986 to pursue a career in comedy, trying his hand at thecomedy club circuit but could not muster the courage to get on stage until the following year.[32] He made his stand-up debut atThe Bitter End, where one of his comedic idols,Woody Allen, also began.[33] He began using the stage name Jon Stewart by dropping his last name and changing the spelling of his middle name, Stuart, to Stewart. He often jokes that it was because people had trouble pronouncing Leibowitz, or it "sounded too Hollywood" (a reference toLenny Bruce's joke on the same theme).[34] He has implied that the name change was due to a strained relationship with his father, with whom Stewart no longer had any contact.[30]
Stewart became a regular at theComedy Cellar, where he was the last performer every night. For two years, he performed at 2 a.m. while developing his comedy style.[35] In 1989, he landed his first television job as a writer forCaroline's Comedy Hour. In 1990, he began co-hostingComedy Central'sShort Attention Span Theater withPatty Rosborough.[36] In 1992, he hosted the short-livedYou Wrote It, You Watch It on MTV, which invited viewers to send in their stories to be acted out by the comedy troupe,The State.[37]
Stewart said that his career did not take off until his March 6, 1992, appearance onNBC'sLate Night with David Letterman.[24][38] He was considered to take over the show when Letterman left it, but it was given to a then relatively unknownConan O'Brien.[39] He co-hostedMTV Spring Break '93 Blind Date fromDaytona Beach withMelissa Rivers.[40]
Later in 1993, Stewart developedThe Jon Stewart Show, a talk show onMTV, which was later dropped by the network and was syndicated for its last two years.The Jon Stewart Show was the first talk show on that network and was an instant hit, becoming the second-highest rated MTV show, behindBeavis and Butt-Head.[41] In 1994,Paramount canceledThe Arsenio Hall Show and, with new corporate sibling MTV (through MTV parentViacom's acquisition of the studio), launched an hour-longsyndicated late-night version ofThe Jon Stewart Show. Many local affiliates had moved Hall's show to 2 a.m. during its decline and Stewart's show inherited such early morning time slots in many cities. Ratings were dismal and the show was canceled in June 1995.[42]
Among the fans of the show wasDavid Letterman, who was the final guest ofThe Jon Stewart Show. Letterman signed Stewart with his production company,Worldwide Pants.[43] Stewart then became a frequent guest host forTom Snyder onThe Late Late Show with Tom Snyder, which was produced by Letterman and aired after theLate Show onCBS. This led to much speculation that Stewart would soon replace Snyder permanently,[44] but instead, Stewart was offered the time slot after Snyder's, which he turned down.[45]
Stewart's first film role was a bit part in the box-office bomb,Mixed Nuts. He landed a minor part inThe First Wives Club, but hisscene was deleted.[46] In 1995, Stewart signed a three-year deal withMiramax.[47] Stewart played romantic leads in the films,Playing by Heart andWishful Thinking. He had a supporting role in the romantic comedy,Since You've Been Gone and in the horror film,The Faculty. Other films were planned for Stewart to write and star in, but they never were produced. Stewart maintained a relationship with Miramax foundersHarvey andBob Weinstein and appeared in films they produced including,Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,Doogal, and the documentary,Wordplay.
In 1996, Stewart hosted a short-lived talk show entitled,Where's Elvis This Week?, which was a half-hour, weekly comedy television program. It aired on Sunday nights in the United Kingdom onBBC Two. It was filmed at theCBS Broadcast Center in New York City and featured a set of panelists, two from the UK and two from the United States, who discussed news items and cultural issues. The show premiered in the UK on October 6, 1996; five episodes aired in total. Notable panelists includedDave Chappelle,Eddie Izzard,Phill Jupitus,Nora Ephron,Craig Kilborn,Christopher Hitchens,Armando Iannucci,Norm Macdonald, andHelen Gurley Brown. In 1997, Stewart was chosen as the host and interviewer forGeorge Carlin's tenth HBO special,George Carlin: 40 Years of Comedy.[48] Stewart had a recurring role inThe Larry Sanders Show, playing himself as an occasional substitute and possible successor to late-night talk show hostLarry Sanders (played byGarry Shandling). Stewart also headlined the 1997White House Correspondents' dinner.
In 1998, Stewart hosted the television special,Elmopalooza, celebrating 30 years ofSesame Street. He has guest-starred on other sitcoms includingThe Nanny,Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist,Spin City, andNewsRadio. The same year Stewart released his first book,Naked Pictures of Famous People (1998), a collection of humorous short stories and essays. The book reachedThe New York Times Best Seller List.[49] In the mid-1990s, Stewart launched his ownproduction company,Busboy Productions, naming the company in reference to his previous job as abusboy. Stewart signed a deal withMiramax to develop projects through his company, but none of his ideas have been produced. After Stewart's success as host and producer ofThe Daily Show, he revived Busboy Productions withDaily Show producersBen Karlin and Rich Korson. In 2002, Busboy planned to produce a sitcom for NBC starring Stephen Colbert, but the show did not come to fruition.[50][full citation needed]
Later that year, when Craig Kilborn left the show to replace Tom Snyder onThe Late Late Show, Stewart began hostingThe Daily Show on Comedy Central.The Daily Show blends humor with the day's top news stories, usually in politics, while simultaneously poking fun at politicians, newsmakers, and the news media. In an interview onThe O'Reilly Factor, Stewart denied the show has any intentional political agenda, saying the goal was "schnicks and giggles" and that "[t]he same weakness that drove me into comedy also informs my show", meaning that he was uncomfortable talking without hearing the audience laugh.[51] In his first Daily Show on-air appearance on January 11, 1999, Stewart told his guest that evening,Michael J. Fox, that he felt as if "this is my bar mitzvah".[52] His style was described by one critic as, "Stewart does not offer us cynicism for its own sake, but as a playful way to offer the kinds of insights that are not permitted in more serious news formats that slavishly cling to official account of events."[53]
He appeared inHalf Baked as an "enhancement smoker" and inBig Daddy asAdam Sandler's roommate; he has joked on theDaily Show and in the documentaryThe Aristocrats that to get the role, he slept with Sandler. Stewart often makes fun of his appearances in the high-profile flop,Death to Smoochy,[54] in which he played a treacherous television executive; and the animated filmDoogal,[55] where he voiced the villain Zeebad. In 2007, Stewart made acameo appearance as himself inEvan Almighty, which starred formerDaily Show correspondent Steve Carell. In the movie, Stewart was seen on a television screen in a fictionalDaily Show episode poking fun at Carell's character for building anark.
Until Trevor Noah permanently took over the show in 2015, Stewart hosted almost all airings of the program, except for a few occasions when correspondents such asStephen Colbert,Rob Corddry,Jason Jones, andSteve Carell subbed for him, and duringJohn Oliver's stint as host during the summer of 2013. Stewart won twentyPrimetime Emmy Awards forThe Daily Show as either a writer or producer, and two for producingThe Colbert Report (2013–14), earning a total of twenty-two Primetime Emmy Awards, the most wins for a male individual.[56] In 2005, Stewart andThe Daily Show received theGrammy Award forBest Comedy Album for the audiobook edition ofAmerica (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction. In 2000 and 2004, the show won twoPeabody Awards for its coverage of the US presidential elections in those years, called "Indecision 2000" and "Indecision 2004", respectively.[57][58]
The show of September 20, 2001, the first show after theattacks of September 11, 2001, began with no introduction.[59] Before this, the introduction included footage of a fly-in toward theWorld Trade Center and New York City. The first nine minutes of the show included a tearful Stewart discussing his personal view on the event. His remarks ended as follows:
The view ... from my apartment ... was the World Trade Center ... and now it's gone, and they attacked it. This symbol of American ingenuity, and strength, and labor, and imagination and commerce, and it is gone. But you know what the view is now? TheStatue of Liberty. The view from theSouth of Manhattan is now the Statue of Liberty. You can't beat that.[59]
In mid-2002, amid rumors that David Letterman was going to switch from CBS to ABC when his contract ran out, Stewart was rumored as Letterman's replacement on CBS.[60] Ultimately, Letterman renewed his contract with CBS.
In late 2002, ABC offered Stewart his own talk show to air right afterNightline. Stewart's contract withThe Daily Show was near expiring, and he expressed strong interest. ABC, however, decided to give another Comedy Central figure,Jimmy Kimmel, the post-Nightline slot.[61] In 2004, Stewart andThe Daily Show writing staff released,America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction, a mock high-school history textbook offering insights into the unique American system of government, dissecting its institutions, explaining its history and processes, and satirizing such popular American political precepts as "one man, one vote", "government by the people", and "every vote counts". The book sold millions of copies upon its 2004 release and ended the year as a top-fifteen best seller.[3] He also delivered the commencement address for the class of 2004 at his alma mater, the College of William & Mary. In 2005, Stewart provided the voice of PresidentJames A. Garfield for the audiobook version ofSarah Vowell'sAssassination Vacation.[62]
In 2005, Comedy Central reached an agreement with Busboy in which Comedy Central would provide financial backing for the production company. Comedy Central has a first-look agreement on all projects, after which Busboy is free to shop them to other networks.[63][64] The deal spawned theDaily Show spin-offThe Colbert Report and its replacement,The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. Other projects include the sitcom pilotThree Strikes, the documentarySportsfan, the seriesImportant Things with Demetri Martin, and the filmThe Donor.[65] In 2007, Stewart voiced Mort Sinclaire, former TV comedy writer and communist, onStephen Colbert's audiobook version ofI Am America (And So Can You!).[66]
On April 4, 2006, Stewart confrontedUS SenatorJohn McCain (R-AZ) onThe Daily Show about his decision to appear atLiberty University, an institution founded byJerry Falwell whom McCain previously had denounced as one of the "agents of intolerance". In the interchange, Stewart asked McCain, "You're not freaking out on us? Are you freaking out on us, because if you're freaking out ... and you're going into the crazybase world—are you going into crazy base world?" McCain replied, "Just– just– just a little" and "I'm afraid so." The clip was played onCNN,[67][68] was noted and discussed in more detail in theblogosphere[69] and was followed up on in themainstream media.[70]
In 2007,The Daily Show was involved in former correspondentStephen Colbert's announcement that he would run for president in 2008. In 2008, Stewart appeared on the news programDemocracy Now!.[71] A 2008New York Times story questioned whether he was, in a phrase originally used to describe longtime network news anchorWalter Cronkite, "the most trusted man in America".[72]
On April 28, 2009, during a discussion ontorture withClifford May, Stewart stated that former PresidentHarry S. Truman was awar criminal for hisuse of the atomic bomb on Japan during World War II.[73][74] He defended his view moments later: "Here's what I think of theatom bombs. I think if you dropped an atom bomb fifteen miles offshore and you said, 'The next one's coming and hitting you', then I would think it's okay. To drop it on a city, and kill a hundred thousand people? Yeah. I think that's criminal." On April 30, Stewart apologized on his program, and stated he did not believe Truman was a war criminal:[75] "I shouldn't have said that, and I did. So I say right now, no, I don't believe that to be the case. The atomic bomb, a very complicated decision in the context of a horrific war, and I walk that back because it was in my estimation a stupid thing to say."[76]
On September 16, 2010, Stewart andStephen Colbert announced a rally for October 30, known as theRally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear. It took place on theNational Mall in Washington, D.C., and attracted an estimated 215,000 participants.[77] In December 2010, Stewart was credited by theWhite House, other media, and political news outlets for bringing awareness of the Republicanfilibuster on theJames Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act to the public, leading to the ultimate passing of the bill that provides health benefits to first responders whose health has been adversely affected by their work atGround Zero.[78]
In March 2010, Stewart announced that he had optioned rights to the story of journalistMaziar Bahari, who was imprisoned inIran for 118 days.[79] On June 6, 2011, episode ofThe Daily Show, Stewart again hosted Bahari, and in March 2013, he announced that he was leaving the show for 12 weeks to direct the film version of Bahari's 2011 book,Then They Came For Me. Stewart's screenplay adaptation is entitled,Rosewater.[80][81] It premiered at the September 2014Toronto International Film Festival, receiving "generally favorable" reviews,[82] and was released to general audiences on November 14, 2014.
In 2010, Stewart andThe Daily Show writing staff released a sequel to their first book entitled,Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race. The book is meant to serve as aBaedeker travel guide for an alien civilization that discovers Earth after humanity has died out, most likely by its own hands.[83] In April 2010, Comedy Central renewed Stewart's contract to hostThe Daily Show into 2013.[84][85] According to aForbes list of celebrities in 2008, he was earning $14 million a year.[86]The New York Times opined that Stewart is "the modern-day equivalent ofEdward R. Murrow"[87] and the UK national newspaperThe Independent called him the "satirist-in-chief".[88] In an interview, Senator John McCain described Stewart as "a modern-dayWill Rogers andMark Twain".[89][90]
On the show of January 10, 2011, Stewart began with a monologue about theshootings in Tucson, Arizona.[91] He said he wished the "ramblings of crazy people didn't in any way resemble how we actually talk to each other on television".[92] Before a commercial break, Stewart told viewers that the show would continue as usual the next night. After the commercial break, the show featured a rerun of a field piece done by Jason Jones two years earlier.[93]
In March 2012, Stewart interviewedBruce Springsteen forRolling Stone.[94] WriterWyatt Cenac said that Stewart cursed him out after Cenac acknowledged he was uncomfortable about a June 2011Daily Show bit about Republican presidential candidateHerman Cain (reported in July 2015).[95][96]
In March 2013, it was announced that Stewart would be taking a 12-week hiatus fromThe Daily Show to direct the filmRosewater, which is based on the bookThen They Came for Me byMaziar Bahari.[97][98] Beginning June 10, 2013,The Daily Show correspondentJohn Oliver assumed primary hosting duties during Stewart's break.[99] TheTV Guide annual survey for 2013 star salaries showed that Stewart was the highest-paid late night host, making an estimated $25–30 million per year.[100] On July 14, 2014, Stewart interviewedHillary Clinton about theMiddle East. Clinton's condemnations ofHamas led Stewart to ask her: "But don't you think they would look at that though as, they've given a lot of different things a chance and these are the only guys to them that are giving any resistance to what their condition is?" For Gazans living in that situation, he said Hamas could be viewed as "freedom fighters".[101][102]
During a taping of the show on February 10, 2015, Stewart announced he was leavingThe Daily Show.[103] Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless confirmed Stewart's retirement with a statement.[104] Later, it was announced that South African comedianTrevor Noah would succeed Stewart as the host of the show.[105] On April 20, 2015, Stewart indicated that his final show would be on August 6, 2015.[106]
On July 28, 2015, Darren Samuelsohn ofPolitico reported that twice, Stewart had been at theWhite House for previously unreported meetings with President Obama: once in October 2011 and once in February 2014.[89]Michael D. Shear ofThe New York Times also picked up on the story.[107] Stewart responded on his show by pointing out that the meetings were listed in the president's publicly available visitor log and that he has been asked to meet privately by many prominent individuals, includingRoger Ailes ofFox News. He said Obama encouraged him not to make young Americans cynical about their government and Stewart said that his reply was that he was "skeptically idealistic".[108]
On June 19, 2015, in the wake of theCharleston Church Shooting, Stewart decided not to write jokes for the opening monologue. Elaborating on his decision, Stewart stated, "I honestly have nothing other than just sadness". Stewart spoke about the racial disparity and injustices in America, saying "TheConfederate flag flies over South Carolina ... and the roads are named for Confederate generals" describing it as "racial wallpaper".[109] Instead he designated a large portion of the show to his guest that nightMalala Yousafzai, calling her "an incredible inspiration," and that "to be quite honest with you, I don't think there's anyone else in the world I would rather talk to tonight than Malala: So that's what we're going to do. And sorry about no jokes."[110]
On August 5, 2015, Stewart's friend of 30 years, comedianLouis C.K., was selected to be the last guest before the finalDaily Show episode with Stewart helming the show. C.K. joked that he was there "representing comedy to say good job".[111]
The hour-long-plus finalDaily Show on August 6 featured reunions with former correspondents Stephen Colbert,Steve Carell, John Oliver,Samantha Bee,Hasan Minhaj,Ed Helms,Kristen Schaal,Larry Wilmore,Jessica Williams,Aasif Mandvi,Lewis Black,John Hodgman,Rob Corddry,Olivia Munn,Josh Gad,Michael Che, andMo Rocca and cameo video clips from people Stewart had targeted over the years, includingHillary Clinton,John McCain,Lindsey Graham,Chris Christie,John Kerry,Chuck Schumer,Bill O'Reilly,Wolf Blitzer,Joe Scarborough, andMika Brzezinski.[112] During the final episode, there was a pre-taped behind-the-scenes look at the show spoofing the long-takeCopacabana scene fromGoodfellas, featuring a brief appearance byMartin Scorsese.[113] It concluded with a performance byBruce Springsteen and theE Street Band.[114]
He also guest starred in the animated seriesAmerican Dad!, andThe Simpsons as well as thechildren's television seriesBetween the Lions,Sesame Street,Jack's Big Music Show, andGravity Falls. After Stewart's departure fromThe Daily Show, he was listed as an executive producer onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[115][116] In addition, Stewart has presented occasional comedic monologues filled with political and media commentary.[117][118][119][120]
In November 2015, it was announced that Stewart signed a four-year deal withHBO that would include exclusive digital content for HBO NOW, HBO Go, and other platforms.[121] HBO programming president Casey Bloys has said that "the idea is it will be an animated parody of a cable news network with anOnion-like portal."[122] The team began working with the cloud graphics company, OTOY, to build a system for creating content. Working on the project were Mike Brown, Steve Waltien, Chelsea Devantez, Lucy Steiner, Kate James, and Robby Slowik. The team tested material in Red Bank, New Jersey, at TheCount Basie Theatre Performing Arts Academy.[123] The show's premiere was moved several times, from fall 2016,[124] to the first quarter of 2017,[125] and then cancelled on May 23, 2017.[126] The cancelation statement read: "HBO and Jon Stewart have decided not to proceed with a short-form digital animated project... We all thought the project had great potential but there were technical issues in terms of production and distribution that proved too difficult given the quick turnaround and topical nature of the material. We're excited to report that we have some future projects together which you will be hearing about in the near future".[126]
In July 2017, HBO announced Stewart would produce a stand-up comedy special for the network, his first stand-up special since 1996.[127] Ultimately, no special aired. In 2018, Stewart andDave Chappelle joined forces for a duo comedy tour in theUnited States, and across theUnited Kingdom.[128] Stewart performed standup in the 13th AnnualStandup for Heroes event alongsideJohn Oliver andHasan Minhaj.[129]
On directing, Stewart noted onEmployee of the Month thatThe Daily Show influenced his directing process more than his acting gigs did. He said, "It's about the collaboration. It's about understanding. Doing a show taught me this process of clarity of vision, but the flexibility of process. So know your intention, know where you're wanting to go with the scene with the way that you want it to go, the momentum shifts, the emphasis, where you want it to be."[130] He also expressed interest in directing more films.[131] Stewart directed thepolitical satireIrresistible, released in June 2020,[132][133] which follows a demoralized Democratic strategist (played byDaily Show alumnusSteve Carell), who helps a retired veteran (Chris Cooper) run for mayor in a small,blue collar town in Wisconsin.[134]
After his contract with HBO ended, Stewart signed a multi-year show deal withApple. On September 30, 2021, Stewart's new series,The Problem with Jon Stewart, premiered onApple TV+. The series featured hour-long, single-subject episodes. In addition to hosting the show, Stewart served as executive producer through his company, Busboy Productions.[135] The show was canceled after two seasons, allegedly due to Apple executives disagreeing with coverage ofChina andartificial intelligence.[136] Apple's cancelation attracted criticism from theUnited States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party.[137]
In July 2022, aPolitico writer named Juleanna Glover wrote an op-ed titled "If Tucker Runs in 2024, Here's Who the Democrats Need." In the op-ed, Glover called for Stewart to run for president in 2024. Stewart promptly responded to the viral article with a Tweet, stating "ummm... no thank you."[138] In 2023 Stewart performed at the comedy festival,Netflix is a Joke in Los Angeles.[139]
In January 2024, it was confirmed that Stewart would return toThe Daily Show as the weekly Monday guest host starting February 12, 2024.[140] It was also confirmed that Stewart and his manager James Dixon would serve as executive producers for allDaily Show episodes through 2025.[140] In May 2024, it was announced that Stewart would additionally begin hostingThe Weekly Show, an original podcast from Comedy Central.[141] Stewart andThe Daily Show team won the Primetime Emmy Award for Best Talk Series, his 23rd Emmy.[142] In late October, Stewart extended his contract by one year to remain host until the end of 2025.[143] In November of 2025, he again extended his contract by a year to remain host until the end of 2026.[144]
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Stewart has hosted theGrammy Awards twice, in 2001 and in 2002,[145] and the78th Academy Awards, which were held March 5, 2006, at theKodak Theatre in Hollywood.[146] Critical response to Stewart's performance was mixed.Roger Ebert compared him favorably to legendary Oscar hostJohnny Carson.[147] Other reviewers were less positive;Tom Shales ofThe Washington Post said that Stewart hosted with "smug humorlessness". James Poniewozik ofTIME said that Stewart was a bad host, but a great "anti-host" in that he poked fun at parts of the broadcast that deserved it, which lent him a degree of authenticity with the non-Hollywood audience.[148] Stewart and correspondentJohn Oliver later poked fun at his lackluster reception onThe Daily Show coverage of the79th Academy Awards by saying that the "demon of last year's Oscars had finally beenexorcised".[149]
Stewart returned to host the80th Academy Awards on February 24, 2008.[150] The reception to his performance was better this time. Matthew Gilbert of theBoston Globe felt the ceremony was average, but praised Stewart, writing that, "It was good to see Jon Stewart being Jon Stewart. He is shaping up to be a dependable Oscar host for the post-Billy Crystal years. He's not musical, but he's versatile enough to swing smoothly between jokes about politics, Hollywood, new media, and, most importantly, hair."[151]Variety columnist Brian Lowry lauded Stewart's performance noting that he "earned his keep by maintaining a playful, irreverent tone throughout the night, whether it was jesting aboutCate Blanchett's versatility or watchingLawrence of Arabia on aniPhone screen."[152]
In December 2009, Stewart gave a speech at theJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honoringBruce Springsteen, one of that year'sKennedy Center Honors recipients, and of whom Stewart is a fan.[153] Stewart gave another speech paying tribute to Springsteen in February 2013 as part of the singer'sMusiCares Person of the Year award ceremony.[154]
Stewart began a comedic feud withWWE wrestlerSeth Rollins in March 2015, and appeared onWWE Raw during aDaily Show-styled segment hosted by Rollins.[155] On August 23, 2015, Stewart returned to host the WWE'sSummerSlam at theBarclays Center inBrooklyn, New York.[156] Later, he got involved in the main event between Rollins andJohn Cena, helping Rollins retain hisWWE World Heavyweight Championship, as well as winning Cena'sUnited States Championship when he interfered and hit Cena with a steel chair. The next night onRaw, he explained his actions, saying he did it forRic Flair (who was also present), which was to retain hisworld championship record. Cena then gave Stewart his finishing move, the Attitude Adjustment, to end the segment. Stewart returned atSummerSlam on August 21, 2016, as a special guest.[157]
In 2016, Stewart joined PresidentBarack Obama,Michelle Obama,Vice President Joe Biden,Jill Biden, andDavid Letterman in honoring military families on May 5 atJoint Base Andrews,Maryland. The special celebration which marked both theUSO's 75th anniversary and the fifth anniversary of Joining Forces.[158]
Stewart got into aTwitter argument with then-presidential candidateDonald Trump, who in multiple tweets stated that Stewart changing his name indicated that he was a fraud. Stewart and some analysts considered this to beanti-Semitic. Trump then tweeted that Stewart should be "proud of his heritage", and Stewart tweeted back, facetiously, that Trump's real name was "Fuckface Von Clownstick" and that Trump should be proud of the "Clownstick heritage".[159][160][161]
In June 2017, Stewart spoke at the funeral service for Ray Pfeifer, anFDNY firefighter fromHicksville, New York, who died after an eight-year battle with cancer as a result of service as a first responder at the September 11 attacks.[162]
Stewart has said his influences includeGeorge Carlin,[163]Lenny Bruce,[164]Woody Allen,[39]David Letterman,[165]Steve Martin,[166] andRichard Pryor.[11]
Among comedians who say they were influenced by Stewart areStephen Colbert,[18]John Oliver,[167]Hasan Minhaj,[168]Samantha Bee,[169]Larry Wilmore,[170]Bassem Youssef,[171]Seth Meyers,[172]Trevor Noah,[173]Desi Lydic,[174] andJordan Klepper.[175]
In 2000, when he was labeled aDemocrat, Stewart generally agreed, but described his political affiliation as "moresocialist orindependent" than Democratic.[176] Stewart has also voted forRepublicans, the last time being in the1988 presidential election when he voted forGeorge H. W. Bush overMichael Dukakis. He described Bush as having "an integrity about him that I respected greatly."[177] Stewart has said that during the2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, he was not a supporter of nomineeJoe Biden, describing himself as more of a, "Sanders,Warren guy."[178] He reluctantly supported Biden's candidacy in 2020, but has criticized him since then overhis age, and his handling of the 2023Gaza war.[179][180] Stewart has been a vocal proponent of the United States implementing asingle-payer healthcare system.[181]
Stewart is known as an outspoken, humorous critic of personality-driven media shows, in particular, those of theAmerican mediacable networks such asCNN,Fox News, andMSNBC. Critics say Stewart benefits from a double standard: he critiques other news shows from the safe, removed position of his "news satire" desk;[182][183] Stewart asserts that neither his show nor Comedy Central purport to be anything other than satire and comedy.[183]
In a televised exchange with then-CNN correspondentTucker Carlson onCrossfire on October 15, 2004, Stewart criticized the state of television journalism and pleaded with the show's hosts to "stop hurting America", and he referred to both Carlson and co-hostPaul Begala as "partisan hacks".[183][184] When posted on the internet, this exchange became widely viewed and was a topic of much media discussion.[185]
Despite being on the program to comment on current events, Stewart immediately shifted the discussion toward the show itself, asserting thatCrossfire had failed in its responsibility to inform and educate viewers about politics as a serious topic. Stewart stated that the show engaged in partisan hackery instead of honest debate, and said that the hosts' assertion thatCrossfire is a debate show is like "sayingpro wrestling is a show about athletic competition". Carlson responded by accusing Stewart of hypocrisy, stating that Stewart's interview ofJohn Kerry was primarily "softball" questions, though Stewart criticizes news organizations for not holding public officials accountable (Stewart had stated that he had voted for Kerry in the2004 presidential election).[186] Stewart responded that he didn't realize "the news organizations look to Comedy Central for their cues on integrity". When Carlson continued to press Stewart on the Kerry issue, Stewart said, "You're on CNN! The show that leads into me ispuppets making crank phone calls! What is wrong with you?" In response to prods from Carlson, "Come on. Be funny." Stewart said, "No, I'm not going to be your monkey." Later in the show when Carlson jibed, "I do think you're more fun on your show", Stewart retorted, "You're as big a dick on your show as you are on any show." In response to Stewart's criticisms, Carlson said, "You need to get a job at a journalism school", to which Stewart responded, "You need to go to one!"[183]
Stewart discussed the incident onThe Daily Show the following Monday:
We decided to go to this place,Crossfire, which is anuanced public policy analysis show ... named afterthe stray bullets that hit innocent bystanders in a gang fight. So I go toCrossfire and, let's face it, I was dehydrated, it's theMartin Lawrence defense ... and I had always in the past mentioned to friends and people that I meet on the street that I think that show ... um ... blows. So I thought it was only the right thing to do to go say it to them personally on their program, but here's the thing about confronting someone with that on their show: They'rethere! Uncomfortable! And they were very mad, because apparently, when you invite someone on a show calledCrossfire and you express an opinion, they don't care for that ... I told them that I felt their show was hurting America and they came back at me pretty good, they said that I wasn't being funny. And I said to them, "I know that, but tomorrow I will go back to being funny, and your show will still blow."[182][187]
In January 2005, CNN announced that it was cancelingCrossfire. When asked about the cancellation, CNN's incoming president,Jonathan Klein, referred to Stewart's appearance on the show: "I think he made a good point about the noise level of these types of shows, which does nothing to illuminate the issues of the day."[188]
On March 18, 2009, Carlson wrote a blog entry forThe Daily Beast criticizing Stewart for his handling of the CNBC controversy (see below). Carlson discussed the CNN incident and claimed that Stewart remained backstage for at least "an hour" and "continued to lecture our staff", something Carlson described as, "one of the weirdest things I have ever seen".[189]
Stewart again became aviral internet phenomenon following a March 4, 2009,The Daily Show sequence. CNBC canceledRick Santelli's scheduled appearance onThe Daily Show that day, so the show ran a short segment showing CNBC giving poor investment advice.[190]
Subsequent media coverage of exchanges between Stewart andJim Cramer, who had been featured heavily in the original segment, led to a highly anticipated face-to-face confrontation onThe Daily Show.[191] The episode received much media attention and became the second most-viewed episode ofThe Daily Show, trailing only the 2009 Inauguration Day episode. It had 2.3 million total viewers, and the next day, the show's website saw its highest day of traffic in 2009.[192] Although Cramer acknowledged on the show that some of Stewart's criticisms of CNBC were valid and that the network could "do better", he later said onThe Today Show that Stewart's criticism of the media was "naïve and misleading".[193]
Throughout his tenure onThe Daily Show, Stewart frequently accused Fox News of distorting the news to fit aconservative agenda, at one point ridiculing the network as "the meanest sorority in the world".[194] In November 2009, Stewart "called out" Fox News for using some footage from a previousTea Party rally during a report on a more recent rally, making the latter event appear more highly attended than it was. The show's anchor,Sean Hannity, apologized for the footage use the following night.[195] A month later, Stewart criticizedFox & Friends cohostGretchen Carlson – a formerMiss America and aStanford graduate – for claiming that shegoogled words such as "ignoramus" and "czar". Stewart said that Carlson was dumbing herself down for "an audience who sees intellect as an elitist flaw".[196]
Stewart stepped up his criticism of Fox News in 2010; within five months,The Daily Show had 24 segments criticizing the Fox News coverage.[84]Bill O'Reilly, host of the talk showThe O'Reilly Factor on Fox News, countered thatThe Daily Show was a "key component of left-wing television" and that Stewart loved Fox News because the network was "not boring".[84]
During an interview withChris Wallace on June 19, 2011, Stewart called Wallace "insane" for saying that Stewart's earlier comparison of the marketing techniques of aSarah Palin campaign video and an anti-herpes medicine ad was a political comment. Stewart also said Fox viewers are the "most consistently misinformed" viewers of political media.[197] This comment was ranked by the fact-checking site,PolitiFact, as false, with conditions. Stewart later accepted his error.[198]
In 2014, Stewart engaged in an extended "call-out" of Fox News, based on their coverage offood stamps and US government assistance, opining that said coverage was biased.[199] This culminated in segments across multiple episodes, specifically singling out Sean Hannity and his show's coverage of theBundy standoff. Hannity would "return fire" by calling out Stewart for associating himself withCat Stevens during his Rally in 2010.[200] Stewart responded to this by criticizing Hannity for frequently callingTed Nugent a "friend and frequent guest" on his program and supporting Nugent's violent rhetoric toward Barack Obama andHillary Clinton in 2007.[201] In late August 2014, Stewart criticized the manner in which Fox News portrayed the events surrounding the shooting of teenagerMichael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson inFerguson, Missouri, and the subsequent protests from citizens.[202]
Stewart was an important factor in the unionization of theComedy Central writers.The Daily Show writers were the first of Comedy Central's writers to be able to join the guild, after which other shows followed.[203][204]
Stewart supported the2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. OnThe Daily Show episode just before the strike, he sarcastically commented about how Comedy Central had made available all episodes for free on their website, but without advertising, and said, "go support our advertisers". The show went on hiatus when the strike began, as did other late-night talk shows. Upon Stewart's return to the show on January 7, 2008, he refused to use the title,The Daily Show, stating thatThe Daily Show was the show made with all of the people responsible for the broadcast, including his writers. During the strike, he referred to his show asA Daily Show with Jon Stewart until the strike ended on February 13, 2008.[205]
Stewart's choice to return to the air did bring criticism that he was undermining the writers of his show.Seth MacFarlane wrote an inside joke into an episode ofFamily Guy about this, causing Stewart to respond with an hour-long call in which he questioned how MacFarlane could consider himself the "moral arbiter" of Hollywood.[206] FormerDaily Show writerDavid Feldman also accused Stewart of being anti-union at the time and of punishing his writers for their decision to unionize by not using their material.[207]
The Writers Guild Strike of 2007–2008 also was responsible for anotable mock feud between Stewart,Stephen Colbert, andConan O'Brien in early 2008. Without writers to help fuel their banter, the three comedians concocted acrossover/rivalry to garner more viewers during the ratings slump. Colbert claimed that because of "the Colbert bump", he was responsible forMike Huckabee's success in the2008 presidential race. O'Brien claimed that he was responsible for Huckabee's success because not only had he mentioned Huckabee on his show, but also that he was responsible forChuck Norris's success (Norris backed Huckabee). In response, Stewart claimed that he was responsible for the success of O'Brien since Stewart had featured him onThe Jon Stewart Show, and in turn, the success of Huckabee. This resulted in a three-part comedic battle among the three pundits, with all three appearing on each other's shows. The feud ended onLate Night with Conan O'Brien with a mock brawl involving the three hosts.[208]
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Over the years, Stewart sometimes usedThe Daily Show to argue for causes such as the treatment ofveterans and9/11 first responders. He is credited with breaking a Senate deadlock over a bill to providehealth care andbenefits for 9/11 emergency workers; the bill passed three days after he featured a group of 9/11 responders on the show. In March 2009, he criticized a White House proposal to remove veterans from Veterans Administration rolls if they had private health insurance; the White House dropped the plan the next day.[89] In 2010, Stewart held an interview with a panel of four of the 9/11 first responders—Kenny Specht with theFDNY, Chris BowmanNYPD, Ken GeorgeDOT, and Kevin Devlin, Operating Engineer of Heavy Equipment—who discussed their health problems with Stewart. In 2015, four months after leavingThe Daily Show, he returned to reunite the four with Specht as the only panelist healthy enough to attend. Devlin had died and the two other panelists, Bowman and George, were too ill to make it to the show.[209][210]
In February and June 2019, Stewart again went to Congress to oppose the $7.375 billion limit in pay-outs to9/11 first responders through December 2020 and to lobby for permanent funding for theVictims Compensation Fund past December 2020, delivering a tearful testimony.[211][212]
Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak to no one. Shameful. It's an embarrassment to the country and it's a stain on this institution. And you should be ashamed of yourselves for those that aren't here. But you won't be because accountability doesn't appear to be something that occurs in this chamber...And I'm sorry if I sound angry and undiplomatic. But I'm angry, and you should be too, and they're all angry as well and they have every justification to be that way. There is not a person here, there is not an empty chair on that stage that didn't tweet out "Never Forget the heroes of 9/11. Never forget their bravery. Never forget what they did, what they gave to this country." Well, here they are. And where are they? And it would be one thing if their callous indifference and rank hypocrisy were benign, but it's not. Your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity: time. It's the one thing they're running out of.[213][214]
Stewart continued to be a vocal advocate, appearing on late night shows such asThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert,The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and news programs such asFox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, andThe Fox Report with Shepherd Smith.[215] On July 12, 2019, the House approved the bill overwhelmingly 402–12. The bill came to the Senate floor where it passed the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund through 2092, virtually funding health care for 9/11 victims and first responders for life.[216] The vote was 97–2 withRepublican senatorsRand Paul (KY) andMike Lee (UT) opposing.[217] When hearing that the bill had been passed, Stewart responded by saying, "It has been the honor of my life working with the 9/11 first responders...these families deserve better...and I will follow you wherever your next adventure shall be."[218]
On September 30, 2021, Stewart debuted hisApple TV+ show,The Problem with Jon Stewart by discussing the effects burn pits have had onveterans. Earlier in 2021, the billHonoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021 (PACT Act) was introduced. TheHouse of Representatives passed the bill by 256–174 on March 3, 2022,[219][220] and passed theSenate by 84–14 on June 16, 2022.[221][222][223] The bill was reintroduced to the Senate for minor changes which Republican senators includingPat Toomey,Ted Cruz, andJosh Hawley voted against, putting the bill in jeopardy. Their opposition was the unfounded claim that the bill could be used as a slush fund.[224]
Stewart became a prominent advocate for the bill in person, onTwitter and on various cable news shows includingFox News'America's Newsroom with Bill Hemmer,CNN'sThe Lead with Jake Tapper,MSNBC'sMorning Joe, andNewsmax.[225][226][227] On July 28, 2022, Stewart held a press conference onCapitol Hill where he stated:
America's heroes, who fought in our wars, outside sweating their asses off...battling all kinds of ailments, while these motherfuckers sit in the air conditioning, walled off from any of it. They don't have to hear it, they don't have to see it. They don't have to understand that these are human beings.... I'm used to the lies, I'm used to the hypocrisy.... Senate is where accountability goes to die.... I'm used to all of it. But I am not used to cruelty.[228]
On August 2, 2022, the PACT Act passed in bipartisan measure, 84 to 11.[229] Stewart was praised for lending his voice and celebrity to the issue and is credited as being an essential actor in getting the bill passed.[230][231] Stewart stated after the bill's passing, that while it "feels good", it "shouldn't have been this hard".[232] On August 10, the act was signed by PresidentJoe Biden at a ceremony in theWhite House, where he praised Stewart for his commitment on this issue saying in part, "What you've done Jon, matters...It really, really matters. To refuse to let anybody forget, refuse to let them forget. And we owe you big, man. We owe you big."[233]
Stewart hascriticized Israel for its military and political conduct in thePalestinian territories.[234] In 2023, Stewart, alongside other media figures, signed theArtists4Ceasefire open letter urging American presidentJoe Biden to call for a ceasefire in the ongoingGaza war.[235][236]
In April 2024, Stewart claimed that Apple restricted him from interviewingLina Khan, the Chair of theFederal Trade Commission (FTC), on his podcast. This incident follows the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit againstApple for alleged anti-competitive practices in the smartphone market. The lawsuit highlights potential harm tofree speech due to Apple's dominance. Stewart's comments raise concerns about Apple's influence over content creation beyond its control of the mobile device market.[237]
Stewart isirreligious, but ofJewish heritage.[238]
A production assistant onWishful Thinking arranged a 1995 blind date between Stewart and Tracey Lynn McShane.[166][239] Stewart proposed to her through a personalized crossword puzzle created with the help ofWill Shortz, crossword editor atThe New York Times.[240][241] Married in 2000,[166][239][242] the two filed a jointname change application legally changing their surnames to "Stewart" on June 19, 2001.[16] With the help ofin vitro fertilization, the couple has two children.[243][244] In 2015, he adopted avegetarian diet for ethical reasons; his wife is a long-timevegan.[245] Later, he became vegan as well.[246]
In 2013, Stewart and his wife bought a 12-acre (4.9 ha) farm inMiddletown, New Jersey, called "Bufflehead Farm". The Stewarts operate it as a sanctuary for abused animals.[247] Four years later, they received approval to open a 45-acre (18 ha) animal sanctuary inColts Neck, New Jersey, a home to animals saved from slaughterhouses and live markets.[248]
After leavingThe Daily Show in 2015, Stewart took up playing thedrums, saying it was partly to give his life the structure he no longer had without a daily late-night show to work on. He has since been taking drum lessons from New Jersey–based drum teacher Andy Bova, a former member of theindie-rock band No Wine For Kittens.[249]
Stewart is a lifelong fan of theNew York Mets and was in attendance whenJohan Santana threw the first no-hitter in franchise history on June 1, 2012.[250] Shortly before he left theDaily Show in 2015, a compilation played of Stewart's jokes about the team during his time on the show.[251] He is also a fan of theNew York Knicks,New York Giants, andNew York Rangers.
Stewart is a known fan of the musical groupBeastie Boys. Following the death of memberAdam "MCA" Yauch, Stewart dedicated his nextDaily Show's Moment of Zen to the artist.[252] MemberAdam "Ad-Rock" Horowitz also later appeared on the show as a guest to promote his appearance in theA24 movieWhile We're Young.[253] Stewart narrates a chapter written byMichael "Mike D" Diamond in the audio version of their biographicalBeastie Boys Book.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Mixed Nuts | Rollerblader | |
| 1996 | The First Wives Club | Elise's lover | Scenes deleted |
| 1997 | Wishful Thinking | Henry | |
| 1998 | Half Baked | Enhancement Smoker | |
| The Faculty | Prof Edward Furlong | ||
| Playing by Heart | Trent | ||
| 1999 | Big Daddy | Kevin Gerrity | |
| 2000 | The Office Party | Pizza Guy | Short film |
| Committed | Party Guest | Uncredited cameo | |
| 2001 | Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | Reg Hartner | |
| 2002 | Death to Smoochy | Marion Frank Stokes | |
| The Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina | Godfrey (voice) | ||
| 2006 | Doogal | Zeebad (voice) | |
| 2007 | Evan Almighty | Himself | Cameo |
| 2008 | The Great Buck Howard | ||
| 2011 | The Adjustment Bureau | ||
| The Beaver | |||
| 2014 | Rosewater | None | Director, producer, and writer |
| 2016 | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | Himself | Cameo;Ultimate Edition only |
| 2020 | Irresistible | None | Director, producer, and writer |
| 2024 | IF | Robot (voice) |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–1993 | Short Attention Span Theater | Himself (host) | Various episodes |
| 1992–1993 | You Wrote It, You Watch It | ||
| 1993–1995 | The Jon Stewart Show | 160 episodes; also creator, executive producer, and writer | |
| 1994 | The State | Fanmail Guy | Episode: "2.4" |
| 1995 | 1995 Billboard Music Awards | Himself (host) | TV special |
| 1996 | Where's Elvis This Week? | 5 episodes | |
| Jon Stewart: Unleavened | Himself | Stand-up special | |
| 1996–1997 | The Larry Sanders Show | 6 episodes | |
| 1997 | The Nanny | Bobby | Episode: "Kissing Cousins" |
| NewsRadio | Andrew | Episode: "Twins" | |
| Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist | Jon (voice) | Episode: "Guess Who" | |
| White House Correspondents' Dinner | Himself (host) | TV special | |
| Space Ghost Coast to Coast | Himself | Episode: "Mayonnaise" | |
| Mr. Show with Bob and David | Episode: "A White Man Set Them Free" | ||
| 1998 | Elmopalooza | Himself (host) | TV special |
| Since You've Been Gone | Todd Zalinsky | TV movie | |
| 1999 | Spin City | Parker | Episode: "Wall Street" |
| 1999–2015,[254] 2024–present[255] | The Daily Show with Jon Stewart | Himself (host) | 2,579 episodes; also executive producer and writer |
| 2001 | 43rd Annual Grammy Awards | TV special | |
| 2002 | 44th Annual Grammy Awards | ||
| Saturday Night Live | Episode: "Jon Stewart/India.Arie" | ||
| 2005–2014 | The Colbert Report | None | 1,447 episodes; co-creator and executive producer |
| 2006 | 78th Academy Awards | Himself (host) | TV special |
| American Dad! | Himself (voice) | Episode: "Irregarding Steve" | |
| 2007 | Jack's Big Music Show | Brunk Stinegrouber | Episode: "Groundhog Day" |
| 2008 | The Simpsons | Himself (voice) | Episode: "E Pluribus Wiggum" |
| 80th Academy Awards | Himself (host) | TV special | |
| A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! | Himself | ||
| 2009–2010 | Important Things with Demetri Martin | None | 17 episodes; executive producer |
| 2010 | The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear | Himself (host) | TV special on |
| 2012 | Robot Chicken | Matt Trakker,Serpentor (voice) | Episode: "Executed by the State" |
| 2013 | Big Time Rush | Himself | Episode: "Big Time Invasion" |
| 2014 | Phineas and Ferb | Mr. Random (voice) | Episode: "The Klimpaloon Ultimatum" |
| 2014 | Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | Himself | Episode "1.24", Cameo appearance |
| 2015–2016 | The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore | None | 259 episodes; creator and executive producer |
| 2015 | The Jim Gaffigan Show | Himself | Episode: "The Bible Story" |
| Gravity Falls | Judge Kitty Meow Face-Shwartstein | Voice; Episode: "Weirdmageddon 2: Escape from Reality" | |
| 2015–present | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | None | Executive producer |
| 2021–2023 | The Problem with Jon Stewart | Himself (host) | Also creator, executive producer, and writer |
| 2021 | Live in Front of a Studio Audience | Carl | Episode: "Diff'rent Strokes andThe Facts of Life"[256] |
| No Responders Left Behind | Himself | Documentary film | |
| 2024 | John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in LA | Episode: "Palm Trees"[257] |
Stewart and other members ofThe Daily Show have received threePeabody Awards for "Indecision 2000"[57] and "Indecision 2004",[258] covering the2000 presidential election and the2004 presidential election, respectively. He received his third Peabody in 2016 for his tenure atThe Daily Show.[259]
The Daily Show received thePrimetime Emmy Award forOutstanding Writing for a Variety, Music, or Comedy Program in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2015 andOutstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series for 10 consecutive years from 2003 to 2012. In 2013, the award for both categories instead went toThe Daily Show spin-offThe Colbert Report. In 2015,The Daily Show resurfaced, winning both categories for one last time for Stewart'sswan song as host. Stewart won theGrammy Award forBest Comedy Album in 2005 for his recording,America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction.
In the December 2003 New Year's edition ofNewsweek, Stewart was named the "Who's Next?" person for 2004, with the magazine predicting that he would emerge as an absolute sensation in that year. (The magazine said they had been correct at the end of that year.)[260] Stewart was named among the2005 Time 100, an annual list of 100 of the most influential people of the year byTime magazine.[261]
In 2004, Stewart spoke at the commencement ceremonies at his alma mater,William & Mary, and received an honoraryDoctor of Arts degree.[262] Stewart was the Class Day keynote speaker atPrinceton University in 2004,[263] and the 2008 Sacerdote Great Names speaker atHamilton College. Stewart andThe Daily Show received the 2005National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)George Orwell Award for Distinguished Contribution to Honesty and Clarity in Public Language.[citation needed] Stewart was presented an Honorary All-America Award by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in 2006.[264] On April 21, 2009,President of LiberiaEllen Johnson Sirleaf made Stewart a chief.[265] On October 26, 2010, Stewart was named the Most Influential Man of 2010 byAskMen.[266]
For his advocacy on behalf of 9/11 victims and families, Stewart was one of eighteen individuals and organizations awarded theBronze Medallion on December 16, 2019. The Bronze Medallion is the highest award conferred upon civilians by New York City.[6] On April 24, 2022, Stewart was awarded theMark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., for his lifelong contribution to the world of comedy.[267]
Marian, a teacher turned creative educational consultant, was the daughter of Nathan Laskin
| Media offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Host ofThe Daily Show 1999–2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Trevor Noah | Host ofThe Daily Show (Weekly host) 2024-present Served alongside:The World's Fakest News Team | Incumbent |
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Quotations from Wikiquote
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