Jon Stewart and "Daily Show" Cohorts at The New York Public Library October 20

Young Lions Membership Group Kicks Off New Season of Programs with Private Reading and Conversation about America (the Book)

New York, NY, September 29 -- The nation's leading purveyors of admittedly fake news will join The New York Public Library's Young Lions membership group for a free-wheeling reading and panel discussion on Wednesday, October 20, at 8:00 p.m. in the Celeste Bartos Forum of The New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central's multiple Emmy-winning "The Daily Show," along with correspondents Samantha Bee, Rob Corddry, and Ed Helms, and writer/producer David Javerbaum, will regale the Young Lions with selections from their just-published America (the Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction , and engage the audience in a discussion of the issues and inanities that inspired the book. The event is free for members of the Young Lions, a group of under-40 Library donors. Those who become members of the Young Lions prior to October 20 will be able to attend the "Daily Show" event and a host of other exciting programs throughout the year. A cocktail reception at 7:30 p.m. will precede the event. For Young Lions membership information call 212.930.0887.

About the Young Lions
The Young Lions program is a special membership group for Library supporters in their 20s and 30s who make a yearly donation of $300 or more. Members are invited to a series of events created exclusively for the group and featuring young leaders in literature, art, film, music, media, business, politics, and culture. Annual events include the Young Lions Fiction Award to an American writer age 35 or under, presented this year by steering committee members Ethan Hawke, Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, and Rick Moody to Monique Truong for The Book of Salt. Members meet regularly for cocktails and unique programs, such as a reading of love letters from the Library's collections last February that featured Kristin Davis, Julie Bowen, and others. Scheduled or in the works for later this season are an intimate discussion with Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman about their recent work on the film The Interpreter, and The Tipping Point author Malcolm Gladwell on "The Science of Cool." Other benefits of Young Lions membership include an invitation to the Young Lions Benefit Party to raise support for a specially designated book fund; after-hours behind-the-scenes tours with curators of the Library's collections; invitations to special lectures and tours for members of the Library's Friends Program; invitations to special VIP exhibition openings; a 10% discount at The Library Shops; and special savings on Public Program tickets. Young Lions Conservators -- those making an annual donation of $700 or more -- enjoy additional benefits throughout the year. Young Lions Conservators will join Jon Stewart and company for a private reception in the Library's Astor Hall following the October 20 program.

"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" won the 2003 and 2004 Emmy Awards for outstanding variety, music or comedy series and for outstanding writing in the same category, the Peabody award for its "Indecision 2000" coverage of the last presidential election, and recently upset the status quo by receiving the Television Critics Association's award for outstanding news and public affairs series. According to Bill Moyers, "You simply can't understand American politics in the new millennium without "The Daily Show," . . . a compendium of news, interviews and features, held up to a fractured mirror to reveal a greater truth." The show's ratings have frequently exceeded those of the network evening news shows for the 18 to 34-year-old demographic, and Stewart has been cited as the most influential media personality in the current presidential campaign.

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Contact: Herb Scher or Lindy Regan, 212.704.8600.