Watch Stephen Colbert bring Jon Stewart to tears with unscheduled thank you

Stephen Colbert surprises Jon Stewart with gratitude — (Image credit: The Daily Show)

Stephen Colbert coming on Jon Stewart's final Daily Show was expected, and his long, detailed analogy about how Stewart is Frodo in the Lord of the Rings trilogy was scripted, but it looks like Stewart was really blindsided when Colbert went off-teleprompter. Stewart tried to go to commercial, but Colbert stopped him and gave the kind of thank you speech most former bosses could only dream of, except funnier and more heartfelt. Stewart teared up, and you just might, too. Watch below. Peter Weber

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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.