JournalismPakistan.com | Published August 07, 2015
Join our WhatsApp channel
NEW YORK: Cult American satirist Jon Stewart ended 16 years as host of "The Daily Show" with a standing ovation and was played out by rock legend Bruce Springsteen, bringing to close a unique era in US broadcasting.
As the hash tag #JonVoyage trended on Twitter, an emotional Stewart made his last appearance on the Comedy Central show, thanking colleagues, fans and family and delivering a final monologue. The 52-year-old had turned the four-times a week show into a unique blend of politics, journalism and entertainment that skewered politicians, the world in general and sensationalist cable news coverage in particular.
Loved by liberals as a voice of reason, distrusted by conservatives for his left-of-center perspective, the clever, biting and funny Stewart indicated that he would be back -- if only in another guise.
"Nothing ends. It's just a continuation. It's a pause in the conversation. So rather than saying goodbye or good night, I'm just going to say I'm gonna go get a drink," he said.
Since 1999 he has been a liberal conscience, from the end of the Clinton presidency and the arrival of George W. Bush, through the 9/11 attacks to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the financial crisis.
"Bullshit is everywhere. There's very little that you'll encounter in life that has not been infused in some way with bullshit," said Stewart in his final monologue.
"The best defense against bullshit is vigilance so if you can smell something, say something."
There were farewell video messages from US Secretary of State John Kerry and Republican Senator John McCain.
White House tribute
Trevor Noah, the South African comic who will replace Stewart in September, cheekily appeared to measure up the set and... Stewart's crotch.
But few fans believe Trevor can fill Stewart's enormous shoes.
Many were already missing Stewart's wit as Thursday's Republican debate ended moments after the final, pre-taped show went on air.
"It just feels like this is going to be a tremendous void and it's hard to see how it can be filled," said Chris Reilly, a homemaker from Connecticut in the queue to attend the show for a fourth time.
Besides taking politicians and TV networks to task - CNN and Fox News in particular - his show had a guest list second to none.
President Barack Obama has shared the screen with Stewart seven times, most recently last month, when he joked he would ban Stewart from leaving.
The White House blog paid tribute to "one of the most influential programs on television" that "changed the way we talk about the world around us."
Winning almost two dozen Emmy awards, Stewart also cultivated and nurtured new talent, helping to launch the careers of comedians who are now stars in their own right, such as Stephen Colbert and John Oliver.
Conservative, liberal divide
Stewart paid tribute to them in his final show.
He offered viewers a behind-the-scenes tour of the show's rather cramped premises in the Hell's Kitchen district of Manhattan, and videoed introductions to seemingly all the backstage staff.
But the highlight was the closing set from Springsteen, a fellow New Jersey native, who blasted out renditions of his hit tracks "Land of Hope and Dreams" and "Born to Run."
Watched by a modest TV audience of 1.3 million a day, "The Daily Show" reached several million more online, in particular younger viewers.
But according to the Pew Research Center, less than one percent of conservatives said they trusted the show, while nearly half of liberals -- 45 percent -- do.
It was in times of crisis that those Americans looked to Stewart as a rock.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, he was there fighting back tears.
In June, after the racially motivated murders of black worshippers at a church in Charleston, he delivered a searing monologue about America's "gaping racial wound that will not heal, yet we pretend doesn't exist."
Comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld was one of those to pay their respects. "Wish you all best, dude," he wrote on twitter. "Love you, man."- AFP
April 11, 2025: Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 10, 2025: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025: Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025: The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025: Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.
April 03, 2025: Veteran journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah has joined Discover Pakistan Television as the Head of Programming. With 25 years of experience in leading news organizations, he looks forward to contributing to quality storytelling and content.
April 02, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the visit of a group of Pakistani journalists to Israel, calling it a violation of journalistic ethics and a betrayal of press freedom and human rights. PFUJ demands a transparent investigation into the matter.
March 30, 2025: Dawn criticizes Pakistan’s plan to use TV dramas against extremism, highlighting financial and digital challenges. Can media alone solve deep-rooted issues?
April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.
April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
April 01, 2025 Assam Police arrested digital journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder for covering a protest against alleged corruption at Assam Co-Operative Bank. Media organizations have condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom.
March 29, 2025 A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), ruling that the move likely violated legal procedures. The decision protects over 1,200 journalists and media staff.
March 28, 2025 Turkey deports BBC journalist Mark Lowen over 'public order' threat and fines opposition TV channels covering Istanbul Mayor's arrest. Critics condemn crackdown on press freedom amid rising political tensions.