A little over a year ago as I was in the midst of beginning my first year of college, I was stressed about moving away from home and my family for the first time. I found a sort of solace in a television show, and admittedly, as a disclaimer, I have always been a fan of politics, current events, and voicing and debating my convictions. So, naturally, when I watched my first episode of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” just a few days before I left for my first day of college, I was immediately hooked. The show, rounding out on its 18th season this year, had everything I could’ve hoped for in a program: a connection for my political and social opinions to be recognized and shared, as well as a place to relieve my inner tensions and stress with lighthearted comedy, as I faced my first adventure on my own.
It wasn’t long before Jon Stewart and his show had become something like a comforting friend to me. I eagerly made time for the show and looked forward to being able to take a break and unwind from the stresses of class and piles of homework, even if it's only for a half hour. I depended on him to keep me updated on current events saturated with his own usually exaggerated opinions and biases (fortunately, these convictions often fundamentally mirrored my own).
Nonetheless, faithful viewers, myself included, received shocking news in early February this year, when Stewart announced just a few short weeks after Stephen Colbert left his spin-off political satire show, “The Colbert Report," that he, too, would be leaving his show, after nearly 15 years on the comedy. My heart, naturally, was broken and my initial reaction was a wry, “where will I get my news, now?”
However, it turns out that Jon Stewart leaving "The Daily Show" is not only a crushing blow to me, an avid fan. According to polls, I’m not the only young American that’s hooked to Jon Stewart’s witty, often borderline-offensive but brutally honest sense of humor and antics. In 2012, "The Daily Show" was rated the second show on cable with the youngest majority of viewers (ages 18 to 29), surpassed only by "The Colbert Report."
On top of that, sources say an overwhelming amount of the population in general list “The Daily Show” as their primary news source. With these findings, it is clear that young Americans, thus, depend a great deal on "The Daily Show" and its reliably risible host, Stewart, to lead them (and make them laugh) through all things political and social, both serious and hilarious. The topics range from racism and sexism to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, Fox News, the Ebola crisis, ISIS, and one of my personal favorites, the turtle impressions of Senator Mitch McConnell. You can also find him interviewing a wide range of guests including activist Malala Yousafzai, President Barack Obama, actress Angelina Jolie, athlete Lebron James and author John Green.
While Stewart’s show isn’t going completely off the air (comedian Trevor Noah, who has appeared a few times on the show as a guest, will take Stewart’s place as host after Aug. 6), Stewart’s absence is one that will be felt heavily and widely by viewers of the show and throughout this generation. Stewart’s lovable, real, and usually dry perspective, as well as his uncanny ability to make light of almost any situation, all while still being able to get across important topics to an audience that, without this channel, may not know or care about these issues, is something that simply cannot be replaced. This generation and many millennials have tuned in Monday through Friday to not only be entertained but also to remain informed on significant events and aspects of politics usually made mundane by high school government classes.
Jon Stewart, make no mistake -- you will be greatly missed. While your leaving remains a painstaking reality, we will all have to come to accept that there is simply no denying the impact and impression you have made on nearly two decades of potentially otherwise politically uninvolved youths. I can say with confidence that you have given us all enough laughter, knowledge, and moments of Zen, to last a lifetime.
