#JonVoyage: How correspondents, celebs, critics bid farewell to Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart spent 16 years eviscerating politicians, media bias and sheer stupidity on "The Daily Show," all the while cracking jokes and racking up a wide breadth of viewers, who bid farewell to the Comedy Central star when he stepped down on Thursday.

The multiple Emmy Award winner assembled several of his noted former correspondents, including Stephen Colbert, Ed Helms and Steve Carell, and successor Trevor Noah for special coverage of the GOP presidential debate, which landed on the same night. There, "The Daily Show" grads said their emotional and humorous good-byes to Stewart in person -- Colbert even went off script and got his former mentor teary-eyed. Meanwhile, several politicos and journalists, many of whom have found themselves on the receiving end of a Stewart scolding over the years, sent their regards in a video montage. (More on that here).

FULL COVERAGE: Jon Stewart's legacy and the future of 'The Daily Show'

Around the Web, the hashtag #JonVoyage served as a catch-all for tributes toasting to Stewart's legacy and memories about the satirical late-night comic. The fact that the finale's air date coincided with the first Republican presidential debate inevitably led to a Twitter showdown between debate viewers and "Daily Show" fans -- and the hashtogs #JonVoyage and #GOPdebate competing for the top U.S. trend for much of Thursday.

Comedians waxed nostalgic about the Stewart's point of view, mourning losing him as their daily news source. Pundits weighed in on Stewart's impact on the political landscape, and even noted historian Doris Kearns Goodwin chimed in about the comedian's place in history.

Here's a round-up of the night's notable tweets and tributes.

Best group hug ever. #JonVoyage pic.twitter.com/gU4vdkFm1H
— Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) August 7, 2015

Backstage at @TheDailyShow #JonVoyage @robcorddry @RobRiggle @mrmattwalsh #DailyShow pic.twitter.com/zvaJ3ilqJD
— Ed Helms (@edhelms) August 7, 2015

Congratulations to Jon Stewart & @TheDailyShow on 16 outstanding years! Thank you! #jonvoyage
— Rob Riggle (@RobRiggle) August 6, 2015

Should've found someone else to take this picture! #TheDailyShow #JonVoyage #CORRESPONDENTS pic.twitter.com/JGHATlhp9X
— Al Madrigal (@almadrigal) August 7, 2015

Honored to have been one of Jon Stewart's original correspondents. Great boss, great guy. Sad to see u go. Too soon! #JonVoyage
— Vance DeGeneres (@vancedegeneres) August 5, 2015

Thank you Jon Stewart.
— Steve Carell (@SteveCarell) August 7, 2015

The Handoff pic.twitter.com/jiY2Ne2wbm
— Mo Rocca (@MoRocca) August 7, 2015

My all time favorite TDS bit. And it's also a testament to why I love Jon Stewart. Without him this doesn't exist! https://t.co/iStIMST1uJ
— Larry Wilmore (@larrywilmore) August 6, 2015

Oh and #JonVoyage
— Larry Wilmore (@larrywilmore) August 6, 2015

View from the greenroom. #JonVoyage pic.twitter.com/gtneOwVAtP
— nate corddry (@imnatecorddry) August 7, 2015

Can't believe it's #JonStewart's last @TheDailyShow today. That's so stupid. #JonVoyage ¿¿¿¿
— oliviamunn (@oliviamunn) August 6, 2015

What a night. #History #JonVoyage #GOAT
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) August 7, 2015

"This is by request from the man himself..." #JonVoyage pic.twitter.com/RDqOFpfUkZ
— Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) August 7, 2015

Wish you all best, dude. Keep taking those fantastic pauses, inhales, slow squint then drop funny line... Love you, man. #jonvoyage
— Jerry Seinfeld (@JerrySeinfeld) August 7, 2015

Dear Jon Stewart (@TheDailyShow), What are @carlreiner and I supposed to do every night now?! Well, I guess it's back to McHale's Navy.
— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) August 6, 2015

Am I going to have to start actually reading the paper? #jonvoyage
— Natasha Leggero (@natashaleggero) August 7, 2015

#JonStewart Thank you for changing the game! What will our lives be like without you every night? @TheDailyShow pic.twitter.com/XaiHQXZemr
— Kate Flannery (@KateFlannery) August 7, 2015

No one has made news so funny, or made comedy such big news. #JonStewart #JonVoyage pic.twitter.com/JNgSLE9pAs
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 7, 2015

To the guy @TheDailyShow who taught me to get news from comedy networks and comedy from news networks: #JonVoyage.
— Scott Jones (@ThinksHesPeople) August 6, 2015

"You've been a great gift to the country." —President Obama to Jon Stewart on @TheDailyShow #JonVoyage pic.twitter.com/ku6QZx2nE1
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 6, 2015

Missing Jon Stewart already. #GOPdebate #JonVoyage -H
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 7, 2015

Thank you Jon Stewart & @TheDailyShow for making us laugh but more importantly for making us all think about the world around us.
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) August 6, 2015

You used outrageousness to aim outrage where it needed to go. So #JonVoyage, and thank you.
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) August 6, 2015

here's a #throwbackthursday in honor of The Daily Show's last episode today. #jonvoyage. We'll miss you, bud! https://t.co/CgO3xs7iTF
— Mario Batali (@Mariobatali) August 6, 2015

Even though I don't know Jon Stewart,my ¿¿¿¿is breaking. Can't wrap my brain around fact,That I WONT b seeing him Scribble on his papers again
— Cher (@cher) August 6, 2015

But we still need you Jon Stewart. #JonVoyage #ThankYouThursday
— mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) August 6, 2015

#JonStewart leaving while Trump is still out there is the equivalent of Superman leaving behind his powers as Zod looms large. #JonVoyage
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) August 6, 2015

Wow. #JonVoyage indeed. I held it together pretty good up until Max gave him the drumsticks. Then I started bawling. #DailyShow
— Colin Hanks (@ColinHanks) August 7, 2015

#JonVoyage Never cynical, always idealistic @TheDailyShow. History will show that you made politics fun once again for an entire generation!
— Doris Kearns Goodwin (@DorisKGoodwin) August 6, 2015

Congrats to Jon Stewart as he ends 16yrs anchoring @TheDailyShow. Not only is he a great host, he's also a great guest. Salud! #JonVoyage
— Larry King (@kingsthings) August 7, 2015

Here's to your own moment of zen, jon stewart. We’ll miss u #JonVoyage
— Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest) August 7, 2015

In the history of people at desks talking to cameras, no one has shown a greater range of wisdom and humor than Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow
— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) August 7, 2015

Now we've invoked God. Time to watch Jon Stewart.
— Will Chase (@WillChaseMe) August 7, 2015

"(A) career is a long conversation with the audience, a dialogue." -Jon Stewart Thanks for 16+ years. #JonVoyage
— Jared Padalecki (@jarpad) August 7, 2015

You knew it was gonna be a good Gov class when the teacher pulled up a @TheDailyShow clip. Thanks for making class fun, Jon. #jonvoyage
— SMT (@Spencermtackett) July 28, 2015

He could make anyone a mensch, even Bill O'Reilly. That is the legacy of Jon Stewart on @TheDailyShow. He will be missed. #JonVoyage
— Mister Mister (@Intelligence404) July 28, 2015

Farewell to my Jewish TV bubbe. Whose unfiltered news reports delivered with deadly accuracy filled my heart with joy. #JonVoyage
— Sarah Stanley (@SarahStanleyLA) July 28, 2015

The Daily Show helped shape me into who I am today; a liberal, pot smoking, pin head, comedy addict. Stay in touch with us, Jon. #JonVoyage
— Ryan Bourassa (@RyanBComedy) July 28, 2015

I enjoyed you as much as Trump loved his hair. Thanks for all the laughs #jonvoyage
— Kyle (@kvgkyleg) July 28, 2015

#JonVoyage Never cynical, always idealistic @TheDailyShow. History will show that you made politics fun once again for an entire generation!
— Doris Kearns Goodwin (@DorisKGoodwin) August 6, 2015