- You know, this might become a surprise to many of you. I didn't prepare a speech. (audience laughing) but that's not because I didn't care.
In fact, it's because I cared so much. If you could imagine sitting down and trying to write something about someone, that you feel so much about, the way I feel about Jon is very difficult. I won this prize two years ago, and I've imagined Jon that this is a surreal experience.
I imagine you probably didn't even give a **** 'till last night. (audience laughing) And then last night you saw all your friends gathering. You saw everyone dressed nice, and you realized you were still alive to see this.
It's like getting a preview to your funeral. (audience laughing) In our line of work, context is everything. And me and Jon have a very unlikely friendship.
The context of that friendship happened in a comedy club in New York city. Jon being 10 years, my senior, I was 17. The first time I saw Jon Stewart right before he walked in the door, I heard two waitresses at the club talking about how handsome he was.
And then they go, oh my God, there he goes. And I looked over and I said, he's all right. (audience laughing) - [Jon] So what happened was at night, I would go to the comedy cellar, and they'd put me on as the last guy, every night.
There's 6 billion people in the world. You can't make 6 billion, anything without some of them being very ******* up, open up a bag of potato chips. What are there 40 in there at least five of them are ******* burnt and bent over and.
. . ******* - [Jon] It's the slot that they give someone that for some reason they think, let's just see what happens to this guy.
- The thing I remember being 17 in an adult world trying to make something to myself is how kind he was. People like Jon made me feel safer. He's a friendly guy.
Now the early part of any comedian's career is embarrassing in hindsight, because so many of us imitate our influences or try on different personalities to see what works. But Jon has been been the same since the very first time I met him. Nice and present.
In 1999, he got The Daily Show, that show languished for three years before he got it. No disrespect to Craig Kilborn, but you know what I mean? Yuck.
(audience laughing) It was like the body of the show was there. But when Jon got the show, it had a soul. It made people take notice.
And in 2002, suddenly, somehow he became the most popular news show on television. Actually, I know how he had a good lead in, Chappelle's Show. (audience clapping) In that context, it was post 9/11.
My career was the first time that I can really remember that there was a stove too hot to touch. No comedian was allowed to talk about the war, or Janet Jackson's titty coming out the super bowl. You remember that you remember that memo that went around.
(audience laughing) As we've all learned in our lives. Wartime is crazy in America. They do what Noam Chomsky called manufacture consent.
And the news was off the chain. And Jon was the only voice that helped people decipher that madness. It was a really remarkable thing to watch.
- We told you that it wasn't gonna go so well. Yes, we called it shock and awe, but we meant that in the way of you'll be shocked at how it doesn't go so well. And that will make you say, oh.
- He's been a great friend to me. I'm not here because I love Jon Stewart. I'm here because he loves me.
(audience laughing) Because there's never been a time that I called on him and asked him for his help that he wasn't the first responder when it was half baked. And I was doing my first movie and I needed a celebrity lift Jon was the first one to say Well **** it, I'll do it. (audience laughing) I didn't even know if you smoke weed.
You seem like a coke guy. (audience laughing) The city close to where I lived Dayton, Ohio had a terrible mass shooting. Nine people were killed and I called my friends and they all pulled up.
But Jon, you were the first one that said, oh I'll be there. And just days after that massacre, we took that neighborhood and made a much better memory for them. They saw love and support from voices that they trust.
When we were on Comedy Central, I picked the brand of irreverence I said, I'll touch everything they say I can't touch. But Jon's voice became one that was synonymous with trust. And he left right before the Trump administration, the most cynical time in American politics.
The time when nobody trusts our media, where a guy like Donald Trump can just say fake news. And you say, **** it, I just believe this orange head guy. And we missed you very much.
(audience clapping) During the pandemic. When my town was dying and I needed to help raise money to get the economy of the town straight, Jon was the first responder. He was terrified of COVID and he got on a plane anyway after his friends had died and he lost loved ones he had the courage to get on a plane.
He came out and met me and we did shows that whole weekend and every comic who came out there had been off for at least a hundred nights. They were all nervous. And they were all scared.
Except for Jon. Jon did 25 minutes off the rip because he had something to say, because he actually means what he says, because he actually thinks about what he says. A lot of comics will take this genre for granted the younger comics.
They do what I call wokes. They're not jokes. They don't know the difference between a good point and a good joke.
Jon is very true to the muse. He takes a good point and he makes a good joke of it. Jon it is a miracle to watch you work.
You are a cure to what ails our culture. You are a voice that people consistently trust. I wish that you'd run for president.
(audience clapping) But I imagine that would be hard for a coke guy to do. (audience laughing) When you started your career, you never imagined that you would reach a point like this. And the Mark Twain prize might feel like a finish line or an end to a movie.
It is not. It is a starter gun. You are still young.
You are still strong. You are still funny. And I do not have the words to say in front of these people how much I love you and how much I respect you, but just know whenever you call on me, I will come because you have been one of the greatest friends that I've made in 35 years.
Congratulations. I'm honored that you got this award. (audience clapping) I'm sorry, I got it before you, (audience laughing) but I'm your lucky lead in.
Jon Stewart, ladies and gentlemen. (audience clapping) - Thank you baby. I can't thank you enough.
- I love you man. - Thank you - I love you.
