How it unfolded: 'Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear'

Please note: The live video stream of the rally has concluded.

An overhead view of the rally. (Reuters)

COVERING THE COVERAGE: WE WATCH SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO

3:12 p.m. update: Stewart: "You want to know why I am here -- what I want from you? You have already given it to me. Your presence was what I wanted. Sanity will always be...in the eyes of the beholder. To see you here today and the kind of people you are, has restored mine. Thank you."



Stewart addresses the crowd. (Astrid Riecken for The Washington Post)

End of speech

Stewart introduces the great Tony Bennett, who sings "America" a cappella, which is pretty extraordinary, gotta say.

Crowd begins to chant: "U-S-A!"

Stewart brings everyone back out onstage and Mavis Staples sings "I Know a Place" and while she sings, the credits roll over shots of the crowd, showing one sign that says "I Believe in a Sanity Clause" -- a great old Marx Brothers gag.

THE END

3:08 p.m. update: Stewart: "We hear every damn day about how fragile our country is -- on the brink of catastrophe, torn by polarizing hate. The truth is, we work together to get things done, every damn day. The only place we don't is here [he points to the city] or on cable TV. But Americans don't live here, or on cable TV."

* The after-parties: Level-headed fun for rallygoers *

3:03 p.m. update: Stewart: "There are terrorists and racists and Stalinists and theocrats, but those are titles that must be earned. You must have the resume. Not being able to distinguish between a real bigot and ... Rick Sanchez is an insult not only to [Sanchez] but to racists who have put in the exhausting effort it takes to hate."

3 p.m. update: Stewart: "Unfortunately, one of our main tools in delineating the two is broke. ... The country's 24-hour Political Pundit ... Panic Conflictionator did not cause our problems, but its existence makes solving them that much harder. ... The press can hold its magnifying glass up to our problems and bring them into focus to illuminate the issues -- or they can use that glass to light ants on fire and host a week of shows on the Dangerous Flaming Ant Epidemic. If we amplify everything, we hear nothing."

As rally winds down, most cable news networks have moved on; CNN wraps up its rally coverage with correspondent/comic Pete Dominick, reminding viewers for the bajillionth time that he used to be the warm-up act for Stewart and Colbert's shows.

"We saw part rock concert...part comedy" and some politics, anchor Dana Bash interjects, and asks Dominick what point Stewart and Colbert are trying to make.

"These guys are two of the smartest, funniest people in the world...But I'm biased...I worked with both of them for five years," Dominick says -- again.

2:58 p.m. update: Stewart: "We are all extremely honored to have had a chance to perform for you on this beautiful space, on the Mall in Washington, D.C. So uh, what exactly was this? I can't control what people think this was. I can only tell you my intentions: This was not a rally to ridicule people ... or look down at them or to suggest times are not difficult and we have nothing to fear. They are and we do. We live now in hard times but these are not End Times. We can have animus and not be enemies."



Colbert runs across the stage. (Reuters)

2:38 p.m. update: Stephen Colbert has killed Jon Stewart with his video montage.

Out comes "The Daily Show's" John Oliver, dressed as Peter Pan.

"Maybe the boys and girls out there can help him. Everyone there! Jon Stewart needs your help! Clap for him! Clap for him! Clap for him!"

"You're very kind, but I'm not dead," Stewart says.

"I'm melting!" Colbert cries, now doing "The Wizard of Oz." He falls to the ground. Oliver drags him offstage.

Time to get serious. Jon Stewart is about to Give A Speech:

"I know there are boundaries for a comedian pundit talker guy. I'm really happy you guys are here. Even if none of us are really quite sure why we are here. Some of you see this a a clarion call. Some of you just wanted to see the Air and Space Museum and got royally screwed. A lot of you are here to have a nice time and I hope you did."

2:30 p.m. update: CNN shows Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Banner across the bottom of the screen reads -- "Stewart: 'There are plenty of Muslim people who are not bad.'"

2:12 p.m. update: Kid Rock comes out and sings with Sheryl Crow.

Colbert is back onstage, now in a business suit. Introduces keynote speaker: Jon Stewart.

Stewart begins to bloviate, in a business suit.

Colbert interrupts. Of course he does. This is getting old.

Colbert challenges Stewart to a debate.

They begin to debate. Blah, blah, blah. It's very patronizing. Boring. They trot out Kareem Abdul-Jabbar by way of demonstrating there are non-scary Muslims. They bring out R2D2 by way of demonstrating robots aren't scary.

Then begins the Parade of Scary Media Clips. The Devil's Sound Bites.

"I win!" Colbert rants. "There is nothing you can do to defeat my video montage!"

* Share your Stewart-Colbert rally photos *

2:05 p.m. update: The audience erupts into chants of "U-S-A."

The next Medal of Reasonableness goes to wrestler Mick Foley, for his charity work.



Colbert, left, and Stewart trade barbs. (Getty)

"This historic day, this incredible medal around my neck, I have my eyes and one remaining ear open, watching and listening, and if I see or hear anybody acting in an unreasonable manner I will not hesitate, like a righteous bolt of thunder, to ask you to be polite to each other. Civility is cool!" he shouts.

The final Fear-y goes to Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg, because, thanks to Zuckerberg, people no longer say you're crazy when you think someone is tracking your every move. They just say "Oh, you're on Facebook," Colbert explained.

"He values his privacy a lot more than he values yours, so I will be accepting this medal on his behalf and will post a picture of me wearing it on my Facebook wall. Mark: Friend me!" Colbert jokes.

Stewart, not wanting the trophy-dispensing to end on "fear," hands out one more Medal of Reasonableness, to Jacob Isom -- the guy who in September, at a rally, grabbed a Koran from an evangelist who was talking about burning it.

Stewart hands the medal to Isom. Colbert grabs it out of Isom's hand. Stewart takes it back and hands it to Isom. All scripted. So far so good. But then Isom throws it out into the audience, shouting, "Thank you!"

"Well, ebay just got a surprise!" Stewart joked.

* Photos: Costumes and commentary on the Mall *

2 p.m. update: CNN correspondent Kate Bolduan returns to say this is one of the hardest rallies she's ever had to cover. "At any moment, you don't know what's going on...but I think that's the point." Notes she has seen no politicians in the crowd.

1:58 p.m. update: Stewart and Colbert are now wearing competing flashy stars-and-stripes pullovers.

"You can't wear that!" Colbert tells Stewart.

"Everybody has the right to be patriotic," Stewart responds.

They erupt into some tune about this being the greatest, strongest country in the world.

1:51 p.m. update: Jon Stewart brings out Velma Hart, the second winner of his Medal of Reasonableness. She's the woman who asked President Obama very tough but respectful questions at a CNBC forum.

Stewart asks her if she has her own daytime talk show yet. She doesn't. Joke dies.



Michelle McAuliffe of D.C. (Michael Williamson/The Washington Post)

Stephen Colbert hands out his next Fear-y: "Whenever you see Anderson Cooper on your front yard or rubble pile" in his tight black T-shirt, you feel the urge to stock up on water, duct tape, "toilet paper and ammunition," Voiceover Guy says.

"So true. Which is why today we are proud to give the next Fear Medal to Anderson Cooper's Tight Black T-Shirt!

T-shirt is brought out.

"It is an honor to meet you," Colbert says, shaking hands with the sleeve.

1:42 p.m. update: Stewart hands out the first Medal of Reasonableness, which will go to "individuals who demonstrated rationality," he says.

First winner is: Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga, who got a bad call from an umpire that stopped him from achieving a perfect game, but he remained calm even as the public erupted in anger. The next day Galarraga came out on the field and shook the umpire's hand and said "kind words," Stewart explained. Galarraga accepted the award from Venezuela.

Then Colbert hands out his first Stephen Colbert Fear Award. Each recipient gets a handsome bronze medal depicting a naked man running with scissors.

The winners: ABC, CBS AP, NYT and especially NPR for not letting their employees attend the rally. "Since they wouldn't allow any employees to attend, we were forced to [give the award] to someone with more courage -- a 7-year-old girl. Come on out, darling."

"Are you scared to be here?" Colbert asked.

"No, this is fun!" she responded.

* Full coverage: Live tweets, photos, videos and more *

1:37 p.m. update: "Obviously sanity does not mean never having an unreasonable moment," Stewart says. "Here are some of the most notorious" people who represent our "temporarily less reasonable brethren."

Steven Slater, the infamous JetBlue flight attendant: "I could have written a book on ... etiquette. Next time I will try working things through."

Real Housewife of New Jersey Teresa Giudice: "There was no need to shout ... and overturn a table ... and it is not my place to judge."



Musicians Ozzy Osborne, left, and Yusuf (also known as Cat Stevens) perform. (Getty)

1:36 p.m. update: Yusuf and Ozzie have had enough -- they put their arms around each other's shoulder and leave.

"We're here and we got all these people and we got no train" cries Stewart.

The sound of soul song "Love Train" is heard.

"What's that?" Stewart says. Colbert says he's not going to get on any love train. Then Stewart asks him: "STDs?" To which Colbert responds: "STDs, heartbreak -- that is scary. I'll get on the Love Train!"

Out come the O'Jays, who sing "Love Train."

1:28 p.m. update: Ozzie Osbourne is Stephen Colbert's train conductor. He sings "Crazy Train."

"I'm not comfortable on that train," says Stewart. " He says it was going off the rails!"

1:24 p.m. update: Jon Stewart introduces Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens. He begins to sing "Peace Train."

Stephen Colbert interrupts him. "Yusuf -- Joe if I may -- I respect you. I love you, But I am not getting on that train. I'm not getting on some international peace train that probably needs a Europass to get on it. I have a better train and the conductor has an important announcement to make."

1:15 p.m. update: Father Guido Sarducci (Don Novello) delivers the Benediction:

"Dear God, all of us down here on the Mall -- hope you can see us, we're having a wonderful time. ... We want to thank you for getting all of us here safely and for making it possible to find parking spaces."

Video: Stewart and Colbert compete for audience support:



1:11 p.m. update: Colbert directs the crowd:

If you're here to restore sanity, say, "I'm concerned with the direction of the country, but am open to hearing a variety of ideas. 1, 2, 3!"

If you're here to keep fear alive, let me hear you say, "Whoooo!"

1:10 p.m. update: Luke Russert's back! MSNBC's Overeager Correspondent tells anchor Tamron Hall that there are some "really funny things" being said, and that Jon Stewart claims there are 10 million people here, but Russert maintains it's about 100,000.

1:07 p.m. update: Stephen Colbert joins Jon Stewart onstage, comes up from his underground Fear Bunker like a Chilean miner, only he's dressed like Evel Knievel, and waving a Chilean flag. He pretends to release bees to send the crowd into a panic.

* Intersect project: Post reporters on the scene *

1 p.m. update: "We have over 10 million people!" Stewart says. "It is a perfect demographic sampling of the American people because we know if you have too many white people at a rally, then your cause is racist but if you have too many people of color at a rally, well then you must be just asking for something -- like eating in a restaurant."

12:56 p.m. update: Jon Stewart finally takes the stage. He introduces four soldiers, who sing the national anthem. "This is what it's all about!" one of the soldiers shouts to the crowd.



Thousands turned out for the rally. (Getty)

12:39 p.m. update: Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman from Discovery Channel's "Mythbusters" have the crowd do "the wave." It takes under a minute. Then only women do "the wave." Then just the guys. Guys get through it faster than chicks -- duh.

Then the crowd makes noises as instructed on the jumbotron:



Laugh Politely -- like at a cocktail party



Cheek Pop



Silent



Laugh Like a Mad Scientist

