November 28 – Happy Birthday, Jon Stewart

Posted on November 28, 2017

His parents divorced when he was just 11. His relationship with his dad was...well, shall we say "not good"? He even changed his last name, going by his first and middle name, to distance himself from his father.

He was bullied, to some extent, in school. Mostly because he was Jewish.

He didn't work all that hard in college, he claims (although his soccer coach reports that he had a lot of energy on the playing field). And after college, he had a ton of different jobs that don't require college degrees. From busboy to puppeteer, from caterer to bartender, from shelf-stocker to soccer coach...

None of that sets us up for the fact that Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz, aka Jon Stewart, would become an American icon, one of the most trusted people on television, a big-time award winner, and someone who could retire in his early 50s with a net worth of 80 million dollars!

But that's what happened.

Mostly known for hosting The Daily Show with John Stewart, on Comedy Central, Stewart is a comedian, writer, producer, actor, political commentator, and TV host. 

Wow!

Stewart has published two books, fathered two kids, and hosted two Academy Awards shows. 

(I bet the "two kids" part is by far-far-far-far most important to Stewart!)

I find it difficult to deal with the frustrations and agonies of the news without filtering it through someone like Jon Stewart, who reported and responded to news with humor and a sort of skeptical idealism.

Humor, satire, and informed skepticism are important for society, and it's wonderful that we reward comedians - especially intelligent comedians who binge-watch news - for their take on events and trends.

Check out some of the wit and wisdom of today's birthday celebrity:










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