Television viewers got a much-anticipated Dear Jon letter from The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart last night. His departure from the show will be the end of an era for a telecast that heralded the beginning of one. As WaPo’s Ryan McCarthy points out, “He was the first true star of the Internet journalism era.”

+ Sarah Larson in The New Yorker: “Humor is a form of relief. That relief restores us, and becomes a form of strength. Stewart’s work on the show has been so central, so essential, that it’s hard to imagine American political and comedic culture without it.” It’s also worth noting that when we refer to Stewart, we’re really referring to a team of writers and producers who have been remarkably productive over nearly 17 years.

+ In other much-anticipated media news, NBC dropped the hammer on Brian Williams with a six-month suspension and some tough talk from NBC Universal’s Stephen Burke: “His actions are inexcusable and this suspension is severe and appropriate.” (I wish Brian Williams told the truth and Jon Stewart was lying.)