Jon Stewart signs off from 'The Daily Show' with a look back

Jon Stewart wrapped up his long-running "The Daily Show" on Aug. 6 with effusive tributes to his show's staff, many on hand to see him off while political and media luminaries who served as some of the satirist's favorite targets, from Bill O'Reilly to Hillary Clinton, appeared on tape.

Stewart, whose Comedy Central show racked up 18 prime-time Emmy awards over 16 years spent satirizing the eccentricities of American politics, TV news and culture, opted for a relatively straight-forward finale of filmed bits, one-liners from famous names and a soupcon of political satire. 

The requisite musical sendoff came courtesy of Bruce  Springsteen and the E Street Band. 

Stewart opened the show at his desk to wild cheers, stating  simply "Welcome to 'The Daily Show,' my name is Jon Stewart," adding "I've got big news. This is it, this is the final episode." 

An extended segment featured a bevy of the show's storied correspondents who served up commentary on Thursday night's crowded Republican presidential debate. 

Steve and Nancy Carell, John Hodgman, Lewis Black, Wyatt Cenac, Kristen Schaal, Mo Rocca, Jason Jones and brothers Rob and Nate Corddry were but a few who showed up to deliver quips aimed at both the politicians and Stewart himself. 

"You're still here?" cracked Schaal. "I thought Trevor had started by now," a reference to Stewart's replacement Trevor Noah, who takes over in late September. 

During the bit, Noah popped up behind Stewart measuring the set and desk, at which point the outgoing host asked "Could you give me like, 20 more minutes?" 

Stephen Colbert, who went on to his own "Colbert Report" before nabbing the plum job replacing David Letterman on CBS "Late Show," got the last word -...