Jon Stewart Just Turned 51. Let’s Celebrate!

Overnight, Jon Stewart — the universally beloved host of the satirical news program, The Daily Show — officially celebrated 51 years of life on earth. 51! In that time, he’s epically debated Fox News blowhard, Bill O’Reilly; won $125,000 for the Alzheimers Association on ‘Celebrity Millionaire’; and, almost single-handedly brought down CNN’s ‘Crossfire’ after a particularly awesome appearance on the debate show in 2004, in which he bluntly told the hosts, “Stop… You have a responsibility to the public discourse, and you fail miserably.” (somehow, the show returned earlier this year). Also, this is not so much an achievement as an irrelevant comment, but he and Stephen Colbert make the bestest of buds.

With so many great moments, where do we begin in celebrating the existence of Jon Stewart? Maybe by revisiting his ’90s stand-up, where he wore office suits and told early jokes about politicians? Or maybe his grungier days on MTV, where he hosted The Jon Stewart Show, perennially clad in faded denim, old man jumpers and, at one point, a terrible goatee?

Nah, let’s just focus on random bits from the show that won him a bunch of Emmys and made him an international superstar: The Daily Show.

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1. That time a younger Jon Stewart interviewed a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Why it’s so great: That hair. Just look at that head of hair. It has not changed a bit.

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2. That time they had ‘Too Many Dicks’

Why it’s so great: This famous skit, a response to criticisms that The Daily Show was a boy’s club and hampered by “institutionalised sexism”, proved that the show wasn’t afraid to face its faults and be self-mocking, and captures the satirical spirit that’s made it such a success.

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3. That time he passionately argued on behalf of NY pizza

Why it’s so great: Dude has a point: the deep-dish pizza = not a pizza. “This is an above-ground marinara swimming pool for rats. Let me tell you something else… I wanna know that when I pass out on my pizza, I’m not gonna drown.”

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4. That time he returned to The Daily Show after a three-month absence to direct a film

Why it’s so great: He came back, that’s why it’s so great.

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5. That time he made gun control make so much sense

Why it’s so great: Alongside its critically acclaimed ‘Indecision’ coverage from the last US election, this clip (and the rest of the year’s gun control series) explains why people turn to The Daily Show for news, and why Jon Stewart’s been named ‘America’s most trusted news person‘.

And now, for your moment of zen:

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Andy is Junkee’s intern. She is mostly harmless, moderately cheerful and recently discovered she can justify her “drinking” and “drug” problem by telling people she’s a writer. She takes her cafe noir, no sugar thanks.