Jon Stewart returns (!), slamming Trump, Fox News

Arriving like Superman, just in time to snatch a crashing plane out of the sky before it hit the ground, Jon Stewart appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Thursday night, doing what he used to do on “The Daily Show” — offered a funny, bracing dose of truth at a time when no one else seems inclined to do so.

Appearing as a “surprise” guest (from underneath Colbert’s desk), Stewart immediately fell back into prime form, celebrating with Colbert the exit of Roger Ailes from Fox News, the network Ailes created, and then excoriating Fox News talk-show host Sean Hannity, who he called “Lumpy.”

Most of the segment, seen below, is devoted to what Stewart and his staff did so magnificently for years over on Comedy Central (and did to both parties, by the way): Using clips of what media people say to show the hypocrisy at work when they change their tune to suit their talking points.

I’m not going to rehash what he said; you’re better off discovering it for yourself. But pay special attention around the 11-minute-mark, when Stewart drops the smarmy facade and speaks from what sounds like his heart. And think about how the campaign season might have been different on both sides of the aisle if he’d been around to “cover” it.

Here's hoping he's back next week when Democrats take the stage.

Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. Twitter: twitter.com/goodyk.