A disappointing turn by Jon Stewart

Yeah, count me as disappointed that Jon Stewart should have turned up on Colbert's show to do a silly bit about it's obvious that the Wuhan virus lab must have been the source of the COVID virus.

His delivery was funny enough that the audience laughed, but Stephen Colbert's pointing out that he wasn't being all that logical - he should consider that maybe scientists do research at labs near where the viruses they are interested in occur naturally - was the bit of reasoning that needed to be said and the Right will ignore.

Stewart's bit has made him a hero to the wingnut right.  (Oh, now he's funny, that he's said something they can agree with.  Note that the Lefty Colbert audience still was laughing - showing perhaps that the reason Right wing comedians don't get laughs is because they are just not good at humour delivery, regardless of content.)

As Allahpundit tweeted:

And someone had a theory that, in retrospect, made some sense:

In expert commentary:

American neurophysiologist and radio host Dr. Kiki Sanford tweeted: “I saw the clip and am concerned to see Stewart promoting the conspiracy... even if it's just for laughs.” Sanford noted that she sees the joke Stewart was trying to make but said “it is at the expense of people who know a LOT about this kind of thing working really hard to figure out where the virus DID come from. The ‘well it must be’ narrative isn't science.” Others responded to Sanford’s tweet noting that Stewart’s segment was both “disappointing and tragic.”

I wouldn't be surprised if Stewart ends up doing a "it was just a bit, sorry" appearance about it, actually.  

Update:  the Washington Post's The Fix column has a good look at this, including noting journals and papers which had already detailed the Colbert retort.