Dear Mr. Stewart,

As I am writing this letter I am listening to your stand-up special: Unleavened. I was going to have some profound sentimental statement about watching it and writing to you but I couldn’t think of one (and on top of that I didn’t know how to start out this letter).

As the Daily Show came to a close I found myself needing to write you and inform you how much of an influence your show has had on my life. The first time I was introduced to The Daily Show was one day when my dad was watching it. I walked into the room and he told me to sit down and shut up. I asked him what the show was about and he retorted: “Just shut up and sit down will you?!” Sitting on the couch, confused and not knowing what to make of this new show I began to watch, and I as I watched this man named Jon scream, joke, and criticize the government, republican party, and hypocrisy of political affairs; I became infatuated. Every day after that first encounter I began to watch The Daily Show every day at seven o’clock and the following day, sometimes even watching the same show twice. Because this was during dinner time I pleaded with my parents to let me watch the show and eat dinner at the same time. This eventually led to a family affair with the whole family watching the show and eating dinner at the same time.

While we watched your show I would laugh, and regale in the subjects and events occurring  not only in the United States but around the world. Jokes would be made, political thoughts thrown around, and on commercial breaks my family and I would then discuss what had just happened on your show. It was during these commercial breaks where I found my voice in terms of political affairs. My dad would argue one point, and I another, and we would continue talking about it until the show came back on the air. Once the show was over my family would disperse, and I would go do my homework still pondering what had just occured on your show.

But you aren’t reading this to figure out my watching habits of your show, nor am I writing this to tell you about my watching habits. I’m writing this to tell you how much your show has meant to me over these years. Because of your show I found my passion for politics, and arguing about issues that seem idiotic and otherwise hypocritical. I am currently pursuing a major in Social Relations and Policy at James Madison college at Michigan State University, and  have taken the passion, humor, and commitment that I have witnessed on your show in order to make this world a better place.

Mr. Stewart,  I want you to know that your show has aided in the molding and shaping of an adolescent mind and helped influence my decision to major in public affairs. Watching you joke and laugh everyday about problems that were otherwise depressing, and upsetting, made me realize that if he can do it maybe I can dedicate my life to help solve these problems. You have been a beacon of hope when I get angry and think: “Fuck it I don’t care anymore, fuck it all.” But whenever I think these thoughts I watch your show and say to myself: “Damn, if he can do this for a living and go on the air everyday and make me laugh about issues I would otherwise yell and scream about, then maybe I can continue to go down this road.”

Mr. Stewart  I know you probably won’t even read this letter, but I had to let you and the world know that you and your show have meant something to me. While we haven’t met I feel like I owe you a thank you, you have been a mentor and a friend when everything else seemed hopeless. I miss gathering around the T.V. with my family to watch your show, and I  miss the humor, and release from the mountain of bullshit you provided.

That is it for this letter, and I hope Mr. Stewart you have finally had your moment of Zen.

With the utmost amount of gratitude,

Mitchell Timmerman

P.S

We, your viewership, miss you more than ever now that the orange one is winning in the republican race for the presidential nominee.