Why Jon Stewart Might Be Irreplaceable

Jon Stewart has sought to downplay the significance of his departure. Yet in considering the place he has come to occupy at the nexus of pop culture, politics and satire -- not to mention media literacy -- it’s fair to ask: Is Jon Stewart, as cast in his “Daily Show” role, irreplaceable?

Latenight producer Peter Lassally certainly thinks so, and elaborated about how Stewart’s mix of intelligence, quickness and comedic timing couldn’t be readily replicated. And while the format will remain largely the same -- and indeed, has already been cloned, essentially, by former correspondent John Oliver’s weekly HBO show -- it’s a persuasive argument, to the extent that Stewart arrived at a particularly seminal moment for such criticism, in a vehicle that perfectly meshed with his talents. So even with the latenight audience having splintered into smaller pieces, Stewart’s footprint was sizable -- rippling through the media, with his critiques of certain figures and coverage receiving next-day pickup that multiplied his reach and influence. In that regard, the comic’s decision to move on might be more impactful than any since Lassally’s former boss, Johnny Carson, hung up his spurs in 1992, despite the fact Stewart attracts a smaller audience than David Letterman or Jay Leno.