#JonVoyage For Jon Stewart: Celebrities, Politicians Bid Farewell To 'The Daily Show' Host

Jon Stewart bid farewell to “The Daily Show” Thursday evening, marking an end to an era defined for viewers by his biting satire and intense skepticism for politics and mainstream media. Trevor Noah, the next host of the Comedy Central show, actor Ed Helms, and Stewart’s longtime friend Stephen Colbert, were present during Stewart's farewell appearance.

Thursday's show began with a traditional opening act, where Stewart poked fun at the Republican presidential debates in Cleveland. Stewart was close to tears when Colbert gave an emotional speech thanking him for providing opportunities that launched many comic careers. The show ended with a performance by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

"You said to me and to many other people here years ago, never to thank you because we owe you nothing. It is one of the few times I've known you to be dead wrong," Colbert said. "We owe you, and not just for what you did for our careers … We owe you because we learned from you.

"You were infuriatingly good at your job, OK? 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 -- and we are better people for having known you,” Colbert added.

Stewart said Wednesday while interviewing fellow comedian Denis Leary that he was comfortable with his decision to step down. According to fans, the 52-year-old’s sense of humor and personality were the show's biggest draw and that it would make things hard for his successor, Noah. The South African comedian is slated to take over the show Sept. 28.

Several celebrities and politicians took to Twitter to bid "#JonVoyage" to the Comedy Central show host.