41. JON STEWART
When he became the anchor of The Daily Show in 1999, Stewart was a comedian with two MTV shows on his résumé, and TDS wasn't much more than Weekend Update for people with longer attention spans. Eight years later, the ''fake news'' show has won both Emmys and Peabodys, and Stewart has now been asked to host the Oscars twice. Appearing on CNN's Crossfire in 2004, he accused the hosts of ''hurting America.'' Crossfire has since been canceled — but Stewart's skeptical brand of political humor happily endures.

Get This! The Daily Show With Jon Stewart: Indecision 2004