Jon Stewart performed at the tenth annual Stand Up for Heroes event in New York City this past Tuesday. Stewart -- alongside comedy peers Louis C.K., Jerry Seinfeld, and Jim Gaffigan — performed a killer set full of the infamous incisive wit that late night has been missing since he left The Daily Show. Stewart, who opened the performance, offered plenty political commentary on the current election, beginning his set by saying “To be here tonight with you guys, my heroes, on the eve of the last American election is so exciting...240 years”, he added, “…we gave it a shot.” Stewart pointed out the comic irony of Clinton, the prospective first female president, being undone “by a Bush and a Weiner.”
Perhaps the highlight of Stewart’s set, however, was when he recalled an instance from 2013 in which Donald Trump tweeted at the then-Daily Show host. Stewart introduced the bit by addressing the audience, saying “You might be asking yourself, Jon, have you had any experiences with either candidate that might be relevant?’ And I’m glad you brought that up.” Stewart then told a story in which Trump tweeted at him, calling him overrated, and then (in a moment dramatically relayed to Stewart via an employee running into his office), said “If Jon Stewart is so above it all & legit, why did he change his name from Jonathan Leibowitz? He should be proud of his heritage!” This tweet smacks of antisemitism, something which was not lost on Stewart. The comedian said, “This guy’s trying to let people know I’m a Jew...doesn’t my face do that?” Stewart then added, “Where have you seen this face other than a poster for Yentl?”
The two men had an escalating back-and-forth, including Stewart tweeting, “Many people don’t know this, but Donald Trump’s real name is Fuckface von Clownstick. I wish you would embrace the von Clownstick heritage.” ‘von Clownstick’ then picked up on social media, with many calling Trump by that name. Trump, in a display of the utmost maturity and level-headedness, tweeted, “Amazing how the haters and loser keep tweeting the name Fuckface von Clownstick. Like they are so original, and like no one else is doing it.” Then, as Steward tells (at the climax of the bit), “Perhaps the next president of the greatest country in the world, at 1:30 in the morning, tweeted ‘Little Jon Stewart(?) Is a pussy, he would be hopeless in a debate with me!’”
Steward closed out his set by with words that we should all take to heart: “Vote wisely this November 8th.”
Video Source: YouTube
Photo Source: Comedy Central
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I'm a recent Bard grad livin large and in charge! I write and perform comedy (articles, standup, all that jazz). I'm writing a tv pilot right now about a cardiologist who is unlucky in affairs of the heart it's called "How to Get Away with Murmur."
