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On last night's Daily Show, Jon Stewart took on the Duck Dynasty scandal that has sent tremors into the media culture wars. "I think what the guy said is ignorant," Stewart admitted. "But I also have an inclination to support a world where saying ignorant shit on television doesn't get you kicked off that medium."

In typical form, the show highlighted right-wing media hypocrisy: Fox News personalities have breathlessly supported Phil Robertson's right to "free speech" while blasting any public figure who has the gall to utter "happy holidays" in lieu of "Christmas."

But the episode's genuinely stirring emotional peak came when Jon Stewart bid an alternately funny and moving goodbye to loyal correspondent John Oliver, who's headed to newer pastures, on the occasion of his final night. This required a bit of a ruse: Stewart began with an introduction on England's royal phone-hacking scandal, invited his "senior royal correspondent" onstage for a segment, then abandoned the bit he had made Oliver rehearse all day and revealed his ploy. "There's only one British royal I care about tonight, and his name is Prince John Oliver," Stewart told his sheepish correspondent.