Let's Take A Look At The Place Where Jon Stewart Got His Start: The Jon Stewart Show

by N/A, 10 years ago | 1 min read

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In light of Jon Stewart's recent announcement that he is leaving The Daily Show (wwwhyyyyyyyyyyy!?!??!!), we thought now might be a good time to reflect with fondness upon his earlier television venture: The Jon Stewart Show.

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The show was originally supposed to be "the next Arsenio Hall show."

The show's MTV success was pretty immediate.

The show was second only to Beavis and Butthead in ratings, and got all kinds of crazy guest stars. At one point Quentin Tarantino went on just a day after he did Letterman, and commented on how much more "casual" it was. "This wasn't like doing a talk show. It was like we were just bullsh*tting."

Jon Stewart was considered as a replacement when Letterman left his post in 1993.

The job ended up going to Conan O'Brian, and The Jon Stewart Show was born instead.

Stewart actually fought against publicity at the show's opening.

He felt making too big a deal about the start of a new show just wasn't necessary.

He was quoted as saying that his dream guest was Helena Bonham-Carter.

And can ya blame him!?

Stewart was not surprised when the show was cancelled.

He knew that the type of show he was doing, combined with the type of audience he was doing it for, was a risk. He wasn't at all shocked when the show had to go off the air.

The show brought on some SERIOUS musical guests.

Since Jon Stewart's show wasn't quite as "mainstream" as other late night shows, he had a lot more freedom of who he could bring on as a musical guest, and he got some seriously incredible people to perform. The list includes The Notorious B.I.G., Slayer, Naughty by Nature and Blind Melon, among many others.

Jon Stewart announced his show was ending on David Letterman.

He appeared on the show in 1997 and made the announcement. Shortly after, Letterman appeared as a gust on the final show of The Jon Stewart Show.

Many alumni of The Jon Stewart Show have gone on to successful careers elsewhere.

Staff members went on to Conan O'Brian, 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live, among other things. And of course, the illustrious host went on to host The Daily Show.