Steve Carell on Jon Stewart | 2022 Mark Twain Prize

Summary

This transcript details a heartfelt and humorous tribute to Jon Stewart from a former correspondent on *The Daily Show*. The speaker recounts their experiences working with Jon, from outrageous field assignments involving snakes and alcohol to Jon's dedication and leadership. The tribute highlights Jon's humor, intelligence, and compassion, especially during tough moments like the aftermath of 9/11, when Jon helped bring a sense of hope and context to the nation. It celebrates Jon's creativity, his ability to bring joy amid darkness, and his lasting influence as a writer and performer.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jon Stewart is a renowned humorist and comedian, known for his leadership on 'The Daily Show'.
• 😀 The speaker first met Jon Stewart in 1999 when they became a correspondent on 'The Daily Show'.
• 😀 The speaker describes the job as a dream role, working with talented people like Stephen Colbert and traveling for field reports.
• 😀 Jon Stewart carried much of the physical and mental effort behind the scenes of 'The Daily Show'.
• 😀 The speaker's first assignment involved interviewing a venom researcher in Nebraska, highlighting Jon's excitement about potentially dangerous situations.
• 😀 Jon Stewart often expressed humor and excitement about pushing the correspondent's limits for comedy, even if it involved personal risk.
• 😀 Jon encouraged his team to go big or go home, as shown by his insistence on eating Crisco on camera to get the perfect comedic effect.
• 😀 Despite his tough exterior, Jon Stewart was deeply supportive, always cheering on his team from the safety of his office.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on Jon’s intellectual, articulate, and kind nature, emphasizing his leadership and dedication to comedy.
• 😀 After the 9/11 attacks, Jon Stewart took on the difficult task of bringing hope and context to a devastated nation, showing why 'The Daily Show' existed: to find joy in darkness.
• 😀 The speaker thanks Jon Stewart for his fearlessness, intellect, and humor, and expresses gratitude for his influence and leadership.

Q & A

How did the comedian describe Jon Stewart when they first met?

The comedian described Jon Stewart as 'bulldog,' which was a nickname used by his close friends. They first met in 1999 when the comedian became a correspondent on The Daily Show.

What was one of the comedian's early assignments on The Daily Show?

One of the comedian's early assignments was an interview with a man who ran a venom research facility in Nebraska, which turned out to be a mobile home full of snakes.

What was Jon Stewart's reaction to the comedian's snake interview?

Jon Stewart found the interview with the snakes amusing and repeatedly joked that it would have been great if the comedian had been bitten by one of the snakes during the interview.

What was the comedian's experience with alcohol for a segment on The Daily Show?

For a segment about the effects of alcohol on motor skills, the comedian drank six Long Island iced teas in about 45 minutes while Stephen Colbert tested their cognitive abilities. Later, the comedian threw up out of the car window, though the window was closed.

How did Jon Stewart feel about the comedian's risky behavior for the segment?

Jon Stewart appreciated the comedian's willingness to push the envelope and jeopardize their personal health for the sake of comedy. He asked if there was extended footage of the vomiting and also jokingly wished the comedian had been bitten by a snake at some point.

What did Jon Stewart once ask the comedian to do on camera?

Jon Stewart once asked the comedian to eat Crisco on camera, insisting it was important to go big or go home. The comedian suggested it could have been vanilla frosting, but Jon insisted on perfection.

What were some of Jon Stewart's favorite phrases?

Some of Jon Stewart's favorite phrases were 'Go big or go home,' 'I'm getting too old for this ****,' and 'Did I do that yet?'

What was the comedian's emotional tone towards Jon Stewart at the end of the speech?

At the end of the speech, the comedian became more earnest and expressed deep admiration for Jon Stewart, acknowledging his intelligence, thoughtfulness, humor, kindness, and leadership. They also highlighted Jon's efforts during challenging times, like after 9/11.

How did Jon Stewart handle the aftermath of 9/11 in relation to The Daily Show?

After 9/11, The Daily Show's production was shut down, but Jon Stewart resumed the show when the city was still struggling. He delivered a heartfelt commentary on the first night back, focusing on the hope and resilience displayed by the people rebuilding after the tragedy.

Why does the comedian consider Jon Stewart's work special and different from others?

The comedian considers Jon Stewart's work special because of his ability to find context and hope in the midst of difficult times, and his knack for making sense of the insane. Jon Stewart's intellect, humor, and fearlessness have had a lasting impact on the comedian and others.