Rocker Bruce Springsteen gave Stewart an ideal send-off by taking to the stage to perform on “Land of Hope and Dreams” and “Born to Run” with the E Street Band.

Naturally, the show was filled with cameos from past correspondents including Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Rob Riggle, previous host Craig Kilborn, Olivia Munn, Steve Carrell and numerous others. “All of us who were lucky enough to work with you for 16 years are better at our jobs because we got to watch you do yours”, Colbert said.

It probably meant much more to Stewart and his gang than it did to viewers.

Hillary Rodham Clinton bemoaned Stewart leaving “just when I’m running for president”. The Comedy Central political satire show will soon be handed over to up-and-comer comedian Trevor Noah, and Stewart will presumably take some well-deserved time off before figuring out what, if anything, he wants to do next. We owe you, and not just what you did for our careers by employing us to come on this tremendous show that you made, we owe you because we learned from you.

He says he feels his main job as host was to find hypocrisy in public life and expose it and Stewart urged viewers to be watchful for such hypocrisy, although he used a more profane term for it. “You good?” Stewart responded, “Yeah, I’m good”.

Pergament says Colbert’s appearance, in particular, was a standout. “The best defense against bullshit is vigilance, so if you smell something, say something“.

In the second segment, Stewart’s enemies, including his sparring partners, Bill O’Reilly and Sen.

The debate had enormous ratings locally, but somehow I doubt many Stewart fans missed the start of his show for the final speeches by the Republicans Stewart normally would have blasted on Monday, if he still had a show.