Ummm. This is not O.K. This is not a “lituation.” This is a disaster.
According to Comedy Central… Jon Stewart is leaving The Daily Show.

More details below…

Michele Ganeless, President of Comedy Central:

For the better part of the last two decades, I have had the incredible honor and privilege of working with Jon Stewart. His comedic brilliance is second to none. Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera. Through his unique voice and vision, ‘The Daily Show’ has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come. Jon will remain at the helm of ‘The Daily Show’ until later this year. He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family.

But…there’s no detail on why he would leave his Emmy-dominating show? Is it FOMO after seeing Stephen Colbert step off to fill Dave Letterman’s shoes? Or the uncensored freedom and the once-a-week schedule that John Oliver is enjoying with Last Night Tonight on HBO?

Is it to make more movies? (I didn’t see his recent movie but come on, son!) Time and time again, Stewart has been the voice of cynical, fed-up, hilarious, enlightened, fair, empathetic reason throughout racial tensions, political scandals, and Fox News shxtshows. We still need him.

Thank you Jon. pic.twitter.com/yPdxjnkuLw

— Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) February 10, 2015

UPDATE (2/11): Watch Jon Stewart’s touching farewell statement on last night’s episode of The Daily Show. Get the tissues ready.

Transcript (via Mashable):

Now I would imagine that as this show is airing, there is information out there that the audience isn’t aware of.

So I will just tell you — Doug Herzog and Michele Ganeless of Comedy Central gave me an incredible opportunity 17 years ago to pilot this wonderful franchise. Seventeen years is the longest I have, in my life, held a job by 16 years and five months [applause]. Thank you.

The upshot there being, I am a terrible employee. But in my heat I know it is time for someone else to have that opportunity [audience is freaking out]. Zub-bup-bup-bup! I told you they didn’t know!

Not right away – we’re all still working out the details, might be when I’m up [for a contract] in September, might be December, might be July. And I don’t have a specific plan — I have a lot of ideas in my head.

I’m going to have dinner — on a school night — with my family, who I have heard, from multiple sources, are lovely people.

Now I’m not going to be here and try to sum up what this place has meant to me over the years… but this show doesn’t deserve an even slightly restless host, and neither do you.

I don’t think I’m gonna miss being on television every day, but I’m going to miss coming here every day [praises staff]. I love them and respect them so much [getting emotional]. Gahhhhh!

Anyway.

It’s been an absolute privilege. The home of my professional life. And I thank you for watching it, or hate-watching it — whatever reason you were tuning in for. You get into this business with the idea that you might have a point of view or have something to express. And to receive feedback for that is the greatest thing you can ask for. And I thank you for that. Here it is… your moment of Zen.

He then cut away to that familiar clip of a monkey washing a cat.

Just a few epic Jon Stewart x The Daily Show moments:
Jon Stewart Goes In On Fox News For Calling Jay Z a “Former Crack Dealer”
Jon Stewart On Eric Garner Decision: “We Are Definitely Not Living In a Post-Racial Society”
‘The Daily Show’ Sounds Off on Donald Sterling (Video)
The Daily Show’s Baracknophobia and Funny-or-Die’s Bonnareezy Debacle
Obama ripple effect on the Daily Show/Colbert Report
The Daily Show and Slim Thug break down the Hip Hop Recession