Top 20 memories as Jon Stewart exits ‘Daily Show’

Introduction Jon Stewart hosts his final “Daily Show” Thursday night on Comedy Central, and be sure to set your DVRs with extended time — the network promises the show will run long. As he hangs it up, we’re examining Stewart’s legacy, from the stars he launched (Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert), to the cable news shows he shamed into oblivion (FOX NEWS’ “Glenn Beck Show,” CNN’s “Crossfire”), from the laughs he mined (New York style pizza!), to the words of healing in times of trouble (9/11). Many would call him the Johnny Carson of this generation. Listen below for audio highlights, watch the video above for our reflections with WTOP and NBC-4, then click through the gallery for his most memorable moments.

12. ‘Back in Black’ with Lewis Black “When a news story slips through the cracks, Lewis Black strings them together for a segment we call ‘Back in Black.'” With an AC/DC riff, contributor Lewis Black took the “Daily Show” stage to unleash his rage in hilarious monologues that gave us all high blood pressure. Thanks to Stewart’s platform, Black saw wide success as a stand-up comedian and voice actor in films like Pixar’s “Inside Out” — voicing, of course, Anger.

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8. Dogging Democrats Republicans weren’t the only politicians under under Stewart’s watchful eye. Democrats got their fair share of mockery. Just this week, after taking right-wing heat for White House meetings with President Obama, Stewart compiled a mash-up of all the times he ripped into Democrats, including this memorable slam of Healthcare.gov during an interview with Kathleen Sebelius: “Let’s do a challenge. I’m gonna try and download every movie ever made, and you try to sign up for Obamacare, and we’ll see which happens first.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8SJSeHE2ew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buidiVDCcqo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zJQXQwPZcc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbo08GDTR8M

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2. Passing the 9/11 First Responders Bill It wasn’t all funny business. Stewart got serious when the stakes were high, turning his show into an avenue for advocacy. Most memorably, he got Congress to pass the 9/11 Health & Compensation Act after shaming lawmakers in the final months of 2010. Shortly after the bill passed, The New York Times asked: “Did the bill pledging federal funds for the health care of 9/11 responders become law in the waning hours of the 111th Congress only because a comedian took it up as a personal cause?” The ordeal began in August 2010, when Stewart exposed the injustice during a rant on his show. It continued in December 2010, when he invited 9/11 first responders onto his show as guests. “It’s an absolute travesty. I appreciate your service,” Stewart told the first responders. Their response? “God bless you.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXcmc2AZ6ZE