Jon Stewart says goodbye with help from his friends
Jon Stewart said goodbye to The Daily Show on Thursday. America’s foremost satirist of politicians and the media was ushered out by Bruce Springsteen and a reunion of the many colleagues that he worked with during 16 years as host.
“Guess what? Stewart said. “I’ve got big news. This is it.”
For his finale, he pretended to report on Thursday’s Republican presidential debate — which actually happened after the taping — but said he didn’t have enough remaining correspondents to talk about all the candidates. That proved to be the vehicle to bring in a long succession of personalities whose careers were jump-started by Stewart when they were on the show, like Aasif Mandvi, Lewis Black, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Rob Corddry, Samantha Bee and Wyatt Cenac.
He’d been away from the show for more than a decade, but Carell said that “becoming an international superstar is just something I did while awaiting my next assignment.”
Colbert, who begins in September as David Letterman’s replacement on CBS’ Late Show, offered the most heartfelt tribute, saying the accomplishments of Stewart’s troupe members through the years was a testament to the example he set.
“You were infuriatingly good at your job,” Colbert said.
Fellow New Jersey resident Springsteen provided Stewart’s last “moment of Zen.” He performed Land of Hope and Dreams at the host’s request, and then Born to Run, with guests clustered around like it was the band at a high school dance.
All together now
Now this is some kind of honeymoon. Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux are spending their special time at the Four Seasons five-star luxury resort in Bora Bora, according to Us Weekly — but they won’t be alone.
Along for the vacation are friends and family, including Courteney Cox, Johnny McDaid, Jason Bateman and his wife Amanda Anka and Chelsea Handler.
Giving back
Dr. Dre says he will donate royalties from his new album to the city of Compton for a new performing arts facility.
In an interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1 Radio, Dre said he spoke to Compton Mayor Aja Brown about ways to give back to the city with the release of his first album in 16 years.
The rapper, whose real name is Andre Young, said Thursday he “decided to donate all of my artist royalties from the sale of this album to help fund a new performing arts and entertainment facility for the kids in Compton.”
Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre, inspired by the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton which opens Aug. 14, was released Friday.
Accident updates
A problem with a carburetor part led to engine failure and the crash of a vintage airplane piloted by actor Harrison Ford in California earlier this year, federal investigators said Thursday.
The part known as a main metering jet likely came loose over the years since the World War II-era craft was restored, the National Transportation Safety Board said. The problem allowed too much fuel to flow, resulting in a loss of engine power.
Meanwhile, federal investigators have scheduled a hearing Tuesday to determine the probable cause of the highway accident that injured actor-comedian Tracy Morgan and killed one of his friends.
This story was originally published August 7, 2015 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Jon Stewart says goodbye with help from his friends."