Jon Stewart's Jokes on Politics' Biggest Scandals and Moments Then and Now
Jokes from his first years and recent ones as 'Daily Show' host.
— -- Late night TV will miss its greatest and most trusted phony newsman.
Jon Stewart became a must-see for political interviews over his 16-year career as host of Comedy Central’s "The Daily Show." Every night, he poked fun at politicians and media pundits and the latest headlines, offering his comical spin on sometimes very serious issues.
But after hosting the satirical show through three presidencies, Jon Stewart announced on Tuesday that later this year he would be stepping down from the job he called "the honor of my professional life."
Stewart shared his take on political scandals, gaffes and biggest political moments from 1999, when he first took over as host, up until now:
BACK THEN:
1999: "Impeach Impediment '99"
Stewart joined "The Daily Show" late in the impeachment process for President Bill Clinton after his affair with then-White House intern Monica Lewinsky. His first coverage of the process was in January 1999 after Clinton gave the State of the Union address.
"A glimpse of what he might have accomplished, if only he had been born without testicles,” Stewart jabbed.
2000: "Indecision 2000 -- The Good, The Chad and The Ugly"
In an episode the following year, Stewart took on the Florida recount in the 2000 election with a segment called “The Good, The Chad and The Ugly.”
2000: "Foley Reaction"
The scandal about former Republican Congressman Mark Foley garnered almost a whole episode in 2006. Foley resigned shortly after accusations surfaced that he sent sexually explicit messages to young men working as congressional pages.
2006: "Cheney’s Got a Gun"
Then-Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot 78-year-old Harry Whittington during a quail hunt on a Texas ranch. Stewart pointed out that Whittington was the first person shot by a sitting Vice President since Alexander Hamilton.
"Hamilton, of course, was shot in a duel with Aaron Burr over issues of honor, integrity and political maneuvering. Whittington was mistaken for a bird," Stewart said. “I’m not just Jon Stewart...I’m also a concerned parent,” Stewart joked. “So moms and dads who are watching this right now...don’t let your kids go hunting with the Vice President."
2007: “Trapped in the Men’s Room”
Stewart had some fun with another Congressional sex scandal the next year when former Republican Sen. Larry Craig was arrested in the Minneapolis St-Paul airport for “lewd conduct,” reportedly soliciting sex in a men’s restroom.
NOW:
2010: “Governor Slumdog Million-Hairs”
Stewart joked about coverage of the scandal surrounding then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and accusations that he tried to sell the state senate seat vacated by Barack Obama when he was elected president. He showed a montage of news anchors struggling to pronounce the governor’s name and nicknaming Blagojevich “Governor Slumdog Million-Hairs.”
2013: “Jon Stewart’s Rockin’ Shutdown Eve”
The night before the government couldn’t reach a budget deal for the new year and shut down for 16 days beginning October 1, 2013, Stewart took aim at Republicans in Congress. As Republican lawmakers fought for defunding Obamacare arguing it was unconstitutional, Stewart compared the situation to a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Giants, where the Giants lost 31-7.
“You know what the Giants didn't say after that game? 'If you don’t give us 25 more points by midnight on Monday, we will shut down the..NFL.’ What I’m saying is, wouldn’t it be nice if the United States Congress aspired to the maturity of the problem solving capacity of football players?” Stewart said.
The Daily Show also produced a highlight reel in 2013 that shows some of the best moments from Stewart’s interviews with politicians such as President Barack Obama, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
2014: “Never Ending Sorry”
Chris Christie’s administration was infamously accused of purposefully closing lanes at the George Washington bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey as an alleged payback against Fort Lee’s democratic mayor. Jon Stewart teased Christie as he “took the the stage at the New Jersey State House for a sold out two hour marathon show,” and Stewart proceeded to bring back some of Christie’s not-so-graceful moments.
2015: “Barack Obama vs. Jon Stewart”
Stewart makes fun of Obama’s second to last State of the Union Address, taking a stab at his anticlimactic proposals of tax reforms and at his naive remarks about being “one people” while being in perhaps one of the most bipartisan administrations. Stewart illustrates his point by showing the Republicans not react to what "under normal human circumstances, would be unanimous applause lines.”