- He's my Knicks buddy,
we go to watch them lose at least, like,
you know, twice a month.
He's just such a good dude,
and you know, he's just, like, a comic icon.
So, like, never would I think in a million years
I'd be homies with him, you know, it's cool.
We met, like, maybe four years ago when he was touring
with Chappelle, and I would come and,
you know, bomb and open for them.
And we exchanged numbers and he always looks out for me.
I think people know how good of a guy he is.
I've been at The Garden tons of times.
I've never seen a reaction
bigger than when they throw Jon Stewart up on the screen.
It's like Nas,
Jay-Z, ******* this guy,
that guy, you know, big.
Jon Stewart goes up there,
it's, like, everybody loses their ******* mind.
And I think that speaks true to the person he is.
Let me just say how amazing it is
to be here tonight honoring Jon Stewart
in front of the largest audience he's had in years.
(crowd laughing)
I can't believe I'm here,
like, look at all these respected giants
of political satire and Ed Helms.
(crowd laughing)
Jon is the voice of reason for a generation,
and I'm the reason you stopped watching SNL.
(crowd laughing)
I think the only thing
we all have in common
is we all keep losing Emmys to Last Week Tonight.
(crowd laughing)
And don't worry, Trevor,
Jon can explain what a Emmy is after the show.
(crowd laughing)
(Pete laughs)
Come on,
(crowd laughing)
it's not the Oscars.
(crowd laughing)
Oh, all right.
There you go, there you go.
Thank you.
The reason we're all here to honor Jon Stewart
is because he's just so universally respected.
I mean, like, who couldn't love this guy, seriously?
I mean, the most controversial thing he's ever done
is, like, be friends with me,
(crowd laughing)
and that really means a lot to me, Jon,
'cause like, I have other famous friends
but they're, like,
kinda in the closet about our friendship.
(crowd laughing)
I'm kinda like Hollywood side-chick,
(crowd laughing)
and that's why I love Jon,
'cause Jon isn't afraid to **** me in public.
(crowd laughing)
Jon is loyal, you know,
friendship isn't something he half *****, like acting.
(crowd laughing)
Sorry.
You know, or gives up on quickly, like directing.
(crowd laughing)
I'm sorry, what?
(Jon laughing)
It is really crazy to me though that he's my buddy,
like, I seriously don't know if we're really friends
or this is, like, a Make-A-Wish type thing,
(crowd laughing)
you know?
Like, are you, like, my boy?
Or just, like, kinda concerned.
(crowd laughing)
Jon is really such an exceptional person that, you know,
he really could be President tomorrow,
and he's smart enough to not want the job.
Seriously.
But he is a leader.
In 2019, he testified before Congress
about our Government's shameful act of healthcare
for the men and women who responded
to the events of September 11th.
(crowd applauding)
Yeah, you know, people like my dad
who ran into the towers that day, but instead of, you know,
giving their lives in a moment
they walked away with a lifetime of illness and pain.
And Jon sat there with those responders behind him,
and Congress before him,
and gave the least funny speech he's ever made.
- They did their jobs
with courage, grace, tenacity, humility.
(pen tapping)
18 years later,
do yours.
- He got them to reauthorize
the 9/11 Victim Compensation Bill.
(crowd cheering)
Yeah,
and I know if my dad were here,
well let's face it,
I'd be working at a Denny's somewhere.
But if he was, I know he'd be happy
that you're looking out for him and his friends
after all these years.
So, thank you.
(crowd cheering)
Yeah,
Jon Stewart is a hero, and a true man of the people,
and I'm so blessed and lucky
to be able to call him my friend,
and I appreciate you as much as whoever
this ******* Mark Twain guy is.
(crowd laughing)
Thank you very much.
I love you so much, Jon.
Thanks for having me.
(crowd cheering)
- God bless,
that was fun.
(upbeat music)