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OPINION

Jon Leibowitz, Stop Hiding Your Real Name

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

By Kevin Spak| Posted Jul 24, 09 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)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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35 comments

VIEWING:

Fondue
Jul 24, 09 12:53 PM CDT

Rosenbaum, why do you care? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

TerrifiedCitizen
Jul 24, 09 12:56 PM CDT

Entertainers choose stage names because another performer is already using that name. Guilds and associations that represent actors, such as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in the United States and British Actors' Equity Association in the United Kingdom, stipulate that no two members may have identical working names. An entertainer whose name has already been taken must choose a new name. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

polstroad
Jul 24, 09 12:58 PM CDT

Guy changes name, for whatever reason. Mind your own business and stop telling him what he should do. Reply

+15

| 0 minutes ago

Newser001
Jul 24, 09 1:25 PM CDT

Stewart moved to New York City in 1986 to try his hand at the comedy club circuit, but he could not muster the courage to get on stage until the following year. He made his stand-up debut at The Bitter End, the same place where his comedic idol, Woody Allen, began. He began using the stage name "Jon Stewart" by dropping his last name and changing the spelling of his middle name "Stuart" to "Stewart." He often jokes about this because he claimed people had difficulty with the pronunciation of Leibowitz or it 'sounded too Hollywood' (like Rosenbaum). On June 19, 2001, Stewart and his wife filed a joint name-change application and legally changed both of their surnames to "Stewart." Personalities can use what ever (stage)name that suits them and anybody can change their name; women do it much of the time when the take on their husband's surname. Rosenbaum, I couldn't give a sh!t what you have to say about anything, anybody. You just professionally shot your foot off. You sound like an annoying Jewish Princes - Always bitching and whining about something. Get a life, shmendrik! Reply

+10

IN RESPONSE:

cognitivefilter
Jul 24, 09 6:36 PM CDT

mmhm, its always the jewish princesses who whine and bitch, not anybody else

| 0 minutes ago

ruserious
Jul 24, 09 1:38 PM CDT

I just can't figure out how he's trying to hide his last name, considering I already knew that Leibowitz was his last name. If that's his idea of hiding, I bet Christmas is a bust at this guy's house. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Jul 24, 09 2:34 PM CDT

puke

-1

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Jul 24, 09 2:40 PM CDT

That was for C-k, not ruserious, of course. I thought Newser001 had a great post, and I'm not sure what to make of yours. Didn't you see the Stewart/Colbert Xmas Special? As for "empowering a new generation of Hollywood Jews?" How about "Power to the People?"

-1

IN RESPONSE:

steveo47829
Jul 24, 09 3:14 PM CDT

you are a dumbass ruserious. he's openly jewish

IN RESPONSE:

Newser001
Jul 24, 09 8:26 PM CDT

Ruserious, Why do you think Stewart doesn't do Friday's...? A: Shabbos - He's Jewish to the bone.

IN RESPONSE:

BlahBlahBlah
Jul 24, 09 4:10 PM CDT

DO YOU EVER SHUT UP?! You bigoted a!@hole.

IN RESPONSE:

Newser001
Jul 24, 09 8:35 PM CDT

K_c, Your were pulled from Newser previously for verbal abuses... Do you have a short term memory issues...? My guess, you've learned nothing from the first banishment. You begged your way back in. Now, you're so damn close to being banned again, but this time, you won't be allowed back, as you've broken you promises to Newser and its community.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Jul 25, 09 12:38 AM CDT

So what's the story on the banning, Newser001? Why don't you go over to the Facebook discussion and tell us about it?

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Cat-Lover
Jul 24, 09 2:22 PM CDT

How many of you remember the radio-TV talk show comedian, Henry Morgan? I never liked him, but he was on par with all those early day entertainers. How many of you remember Harry Morgan, of "December Bride," "Pete and Gladys," and M*A*S*H?" Well, the reason I ask is because Harry Morgan, the latter's, real name was Henry but because it was already "taken," chose Harry instead. Well, Liebowitz has already been taken by the Connecticut Senator, and before becoming a turn-coat, one time Vice-Presidential candidate. So, it seems logical to me for Jon to change his name so as not to confuse the intelligencia. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

QueenAlli
Jul 24, 09 2:27 PM CDT

The Daily Show with Jonathan Leibowitz? meh. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Shannonals
Jul 24, 09 2:32 PM CDT

Who the heck is Ron Rosenbaum? Reply

| 0 minutes ago

kokuaguy
Jul 24, 09 2:47 PM CDT

For better or worse he made the change and the entire world will never be the same. He's not the same man he was then, and for millions around the world he's as trusted as Cronkite. And if he isn't already he soon will be as rich as god. So, the old saying is ... if it's not broke, don't fix it. The Jon Stewart that I know and love is not interested in empowering Jews (in Hollywood or elsewhere.) He's interested in people power. I hope he runs for President after Obama. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

emptycalm
Jul 24, 09 3:01 PM CDT

"By changing it, he could empower a new generation of Hollywood Jews." I thought they already ran hollywood... Reply

| 0 minutes ago

BlahBlahBlah
Jul 24, 09 4:08 PM CDT

Almost every actor and comedian does that sort of thing. You can't even call them fake because no one wants to go see a comedian named Jon Leibowitz. Dumb story. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

kokuaguy
Jul 24, 09 5:03 PM CDT

I bet it won't be long before some gentile budding commedian changes his name to Jon Liebowitz........ ; ^) Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Newser001
Jul 26, 09 9:40 AM CDT

The Dude: Fuck sympathy! I don't need your fuckin' sympathy, man, I need my fucking johnson! Donny: What do you need that for, Dude? - 'The Big Lebowski

-1

| 0 minutes ago

DarkFrancis
Jul 24, 09 5:37 PM CDT

Gotta tell ya, Jon Stewart sounds a hell of a lot more punchy and showbiz than Jon Leibowitz...and given that we all know Jon is very open about his heritage, I can't see much of an issue here outside of keeping that 24/7 news cycle bubbling over with vomit. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reader71485694
Jul 24, 09 5:48 PM CDT

he is not the first. it's a common thing (Jason Alexander?) to use middle name as surname. Anything that makes an actor less pigeonholed is a good thing unless you only perform Fiddler. Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

SilenceDogood
Jul 24, 09 6:19 PM CDT

I do not agree, this is a valid point to make. Jon Stewart or whatever he likes to call himself is a hypocrite. He mocks people constantly for the temerity to “be less than honest and straightforward”. Steward is an English name, not a Jewish name. Be proud of your heritage and don’t change your name to be accepted! What a Putz, . Reply

-3

IN RESPONSE:

Newser001
Jul 24, 09 8:46 PM CDT

Hey shvanz - You appear to have a real mikki complex!!! I ask you - Who's calling a putz, a putz...?!!

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Jul 25, 09 12:41 AM CDT

I'm not Jewish and I would certainly have changed my name if I'd gone into showbiz. I was teased about its "strangeness" from the first grade on.

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Jul 25, 09 12:42 AM CDT

No, it's not kokuaguy. ; ^)

IN RESPONSE:

Cegorach
Aug 3, 09 3:34 PM CDT

Jon Stewart or whatever he likes to call himself is a hypocrite. - Because he has NEVER said he was a jew... nope... he always talks about how he loves jesus.... /sarcasm

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Alexandria
Jul 25, 09 1:00 AM CDT

People do this all the time, and it's not always to hide their religion or roots- it's because some times the names roll off the tongue better or are easier to spell or look better in lights. It's not because he's trying to hide his background. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

SilenceDogood
Jul 25, 09 3:53 AM CDT

Bullshit

-1

| 0 minutes ago

DeniseVB
Jul 25, 09 10:52 AM CDT

I knew Jewish families like this in 1950's Brooklyn. I thought they progressed....lol. Rent The Jazz Singer with Neil Diamond :) Reply

IN RESPONSE:

DeniseVB
Jul 25, 09 10:53 AM CDT

thought I'd ad.....could this attack on Stewart be related to his finding Obamahumor now?

| 0 minutes ago

OriginalHippie
Jul 26, 09 3:27 PM 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. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

sache
Jul 27, 09 1:37 PM 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. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

carbonated_turtle
Jul 30, 09 12:00 PM 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!" Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

View all 35 comments »

entertainment • Jon Stewart • The Daily Show • Jewish • anti-Semitism • Kirk Douglas

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Jon Leibowitz, Stop Hiding Your Real Name