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Jon Leibowitz, Stop Hiding Your Real Name

Daily Show host Stewart a proud Jew ... just not proud enough

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 24, 2009 12:44 PM CDT

(Newser) – Michael Jackson’s transformation from black to white makes Ron Rosenbaum of Slate think of Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz—the guy you may know as Jon Stewart. Just as Jackson was probably responding to racism that’s now much less prevalent, the Daily Show host’s stage name “is just so 20th-century, a relic of that dark age” when quiet anti-Semitism moved Jews in show biz to change their names.

That's why Stewart ought to change his name back, Rosenbaum argues. It’s not as though Stewart’s shy about his background—he once called himself “Jewy Von Jewstein.” By changing it, he could empower a new generation of Hollywood Jews. The Daily Show is all about mocking pretension and hypocrisy. Politicians come on to brave the "Jon Stewart authenticity test." Right now, Stewart's own name doesn't completely pass that test.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Jon Stewart is seen in this 1999 photo after being hired as host of "The Daily Show." (AP Photo)

Jon Stewart accepts the award for the outstanding variety, music or comedy series for "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" at the Emmy Awards, Sept. 21, 2008, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo)

Jon Stewart is seen during a taping of "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Oct. 8, 2008, in New York. (AP Photo)

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At this point, it wouldn't hurt you. It would only help you: Most of your fans would see it as a touching gesture. And you'd no doubt get lots of comedic mileage out of it. - Ron Rosenbaum, to Jon Stewart,
born Jon Leibowitz

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 31 comments

carbonatedturtle

Jul 30, 2009 5:00 AM CDT

Really?? You've never seen someone change their name to something more TV friendly? Don't you think maybe his agent said to him "Hey Jon, Liebowitz may be difficult to spell or pronounce for some people, I think you should go with the simple spelling of your middle name instead". I would guess there are more people on tv using stage names than there are using their real names. Why was this right-wingnut article even published, Newser? You might as well have tacked on to the end of that "and Obama is a racist Muslim from Kenya!"

sache

Jul 27, 2009 6:37 AM CDT

What business is it of Rosenbaum what name Jon Stewart uses? Rosenbaum sounds likes one of those irritating people who nitpick everything to death.

OriginalHippie

Jul 26, 2009 8:27 AM CDT

GEEJENNIE: Many's the time an actor has needed to change her name. One tiny "for instance": In Screen Actors Guild, there is a member whose name is Michael Fox. So when then-young Michael Fox began his career, and had to join SAG, he needed to put the letter "J" between his first and last names -- hence, Michael J Fox. But that's really not the issue here. Someone is butting in on Jon Stewart's life, and one of his choices, and that really is no one's business.

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Jon Leibowitz, Stop Hiding Your Real Name