Jon Stewart Prepares to Sign Off from 'The Daily Show'

— -- Good day, sir!

Tonight, after 16 years, Jon Stewart will, for the last time, sit behind the desk of "The Daily Show" as host.

Stewart has been the face of "The Daily Show" since January 1999, when he succeeded Craig Kilborn. He took a hiatus from the program in the summer of 2013 to direct the film "Rosewater," which was released last fall. His version of the show is the currently the second-longest-running program on Comedy Central after "South Park," and has won 20 Primetime Emmy Awards and two George Foster Peabody Awards.

Under Stewart's leadership, "The Daily Show" launched the careers of many now-famous comedy stars who got their start as correspondents on the show, among them Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Ed Helms, John Oliver, Robb Cordry, Larry Wilmore, Kristen Schaal, Josh Gad, Rob Riggle, Mo Rocca, Samantha Bee and Jason Jones.

In addition, comedian Lewis Black saw his popularity rise thanks to his regular "Back in Black" segments on the show.

While Stewart has repeatedly described his Daily Show as a "fake news program," many viewers actually get their news from the show, and Stewart himself has become an influential contributor to the nation's political discussion.

For example, his on-air campaigning for health care and benefits for 9/11 emergency workers is credited with breaking Senate deadline over a bill which provided it.

Stewart will be replaced on" The Daily Show" by South African comedian Trevor Noah. He'll take over Sept. 28.