Jon Stewart Gets an Oscars Encore in 2008

In 2006, Jon Stewart hosted the Academy Awards, and despite mixed reviews, the comic turned satirical “Daily Show” news anchor was on his game that night. Known for his political comedy and commentary and revered by a generation of youth through their 20s and 30s who are jaded by the partisan and filtered nature of modern news, Stewart took a simple comedy half hour news mockery show (that used to feature Craig Kilborn as its host) into the hottest and harshest news show of them all, putting some of the biggest pundits and platforms in their place as well as keeping the mainstream media in check through criticism disguised as comedic ridicule.

Stewart and his “Daily Show” team have shown contempt for modern media and it should have been no surprise when Stewart put Hollywood in the hotseat at the Oscars last year, but still, some seemed shocked. Did Stewart deviate from his usual degree of roasting the big shots and telling it like he sees it (and indeed like many might see it, even if they inexplicably lose their sense of humor when sitting at the biggest awards show in town)? No, in fact, Stewart was right on par for his course, and even after bringing Ellen DeGeneres in this year as host, the Academy has seen fit to bring Stewart back for an encore to host the 2008 Oscars in February. Since Stewart brought down the gleeful axe of his wit at the Kodak Theater, it’s only taken a year and a half, but finally, it seems, the Academy gets it.