Updated

Jon Stewart is back, and the shaggy beard he grew over the summer is gone.

"The Daily Show" host returned Tuesday night to the Comedy Central show. He'd been off since June 6, directing and producing a movie in the Middle East. John Oliver subbed to strong reviews.

Stewart quickly referenced some of the stories he missed — hitting upon Paula Deen, Anthony Weiner's alter ego "Carlos Danger" and Miley Cyrus' sultry MTV dance before the first commercial message.

He beckoned the camera close to whisper to his audience: "I've missed you so much. You don't know what it's like in the real world. Nobody applauds every stupid (expletive) thing that you do."