With a new book,

roles in two

star-studded films

and as the new host

of Comedy Central's

"The Daily Show,"

comedian

Jon Stewart finally

hits his stride.

CURT SCHLEIER

Special to The Jewish News

hen Jon Stewart made his break-
through on MTV, he quickly
was dubbed comedian du lour by
and for the youth of America.
Within what seemed like minutes, he was
signed to host a talk show, to become the
Jewish Arsenio Hall. Studio suits were con-
vinced they'd landed a funny Capt. Kirk
whose edgy humor would take the talk show
concept to new dimensions where no one had
ever laughed before.
Where the "The Jon Stewart Show" went,
instead, was down the tubes. After six months
in 1993-94 as MTV's first talk show, the
weeknight program left the air and then strug-
gled for a while in syndication. It was funny,
very often inventive, and had everything going
for it but ratings.
Stewart didn't exactly flame out. There was
an HBO comedy special. But truth be told,
for the last couple of years, the name Jon
Stewart was mostly heard in connection with
the word "gonna."
He signed a development deal with David
Letterman's company and was gonna develop ',,__‘
program to follow the "Late Late Show with
Tom Snyder" on CBS. Then there were
reports that Letterman was unhappy with
Snyder's ratings, and Stewart was gonna
replace Snyder.
Stewart's appearances on HBO's "The Larry

WI

The

Comeback
1{1

Jon Stewart on his childhood: "We were
Jewish, living in the suburbs, so there
was a slightly neurotic bent to it."

12/25
1998

64 Detroit Jewish News

Curt Schleier is a New Jersey-based freelance writer.