Jon Stewart eviscerates himself, overexcited Daily Show recappers, in penultimate show
On Wednesday's Daily Show — the second-to-last one Jon Stewart will ever host — Stewart turned his satire on himself. And on the poor grunts who toil away thanklessly every Monday through Thursday nights, recapping The Daily Show under ridiculous headlines touting Stewart's various conquests.
As he looked back on his time at The Daily Show, Stewart began, "I feel like what we built here was a monument to evisceration. Issues, pundits politicians — we here at the show left no target un-disemboweled." With overwrought headlines filling the screen, Stewart turned the mockery his own way: "And so now, at the end of my tenure, with all my targets pulverized into ash before me, I'd like to take a moment to see my crushed enemies driven before me and hear the lamentation of their women, in our new segment: The Daily Show, Destroyer of Worlds."
What followed was a string of Stewart's pet issues — ISIS, racism, big banks — and a look at how they're doing today. (Spoiler: Fine.) "Perhaps Fox News, the best-known target in our show's proverbial crosshairs, paid the ultimate price," he said, in vain. Finally, the cri de cœur: "The world is demonstrably worse than when I started. Have I caused this?!?" But just as Stewart was about to go all Hamlet on us, bad Shakespearean English and all, he found one note of saving grace. He'll take it. After all, he only has one show left. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Tutankhamun: the mystery of the boy pharaoh's pierced ears
Under the Radar Researchers believe piercings suggest the iconic funerary mask may have been intended for a woman
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Exploring Easter Island, one of the world's most remote inhabited islands
The Week Recommends It takes time and effort to travel to this mystical locale
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Linda McMahon, the former wrestling mogul tapped for Department of Education
In the Spotlight Longtime Trump ally set for nomination as secretary of the agency despite limited background in the field
By David Faris Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published