Stewart’s ‘Daily Show’ Back on Comedy Central

Calling his opening comments “another entertainment show beginning with an overwrought speech of a shaken host,” an emotional Jon Stewart brought back his satirical Comedy Central series “The Daily Show” on Thursday night.

“They said to get back to work. There were no jobs available for a man in the fetal position under his desk crying, which I would have gladly taken. So I came back here,” Stewart said.

Noting that the freedom to “sit in the back of the country and make wisecracks” about the news was not a freedom his show took for granted, Stewart indicated “The Daily Show” would try to get back to the business of comedy, though how pointed this comedy would be he didn’t say. After his remarks, Stewart played three filmed bits from previous “Daily Show” episodes.

“The Daily Show,” which lampoons daily news events, had been in reruns since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The show hadn’t been expected to return until Monday. “Jon made the decision to go on the air this week so that he could address the situation openly,” Comedy Central spokesman Steve Albani said. The show tapes Monday through Thursday.