Countdown is on for Jon Stewart’s return to ‘The Daily Show’

The clock is ticking for Jon Stewart’s return to “The Daily Show” desk on Sept. 3.

The longtime fake news anchor has been overseas in Jordan for the summer, directing his first film, “Rosewater.” But unless you get your news from sources other than “The Daily Show,” you wouldn’t know that.

Fill-in anchor John Oliver, who occupied the seat from June 10 until Aug. 15, kicked off every show with a different explanation of where Stewart was, everything from cobbling shoes in a small Italian village to teaching the squares how to dance sexy in upstate New York. But before he ended his two-month run as anchor, Oliver finally let viewers know what Stewart had actually been doing, complete with a shot of a bearded Stewart on the set of his film.

PHOTOS: Classic ‘Tonight Show’ moments

The film, telling the true story of an Iran-born journalist who was detained by Iranian officials and held as a suspected spy in solitary confinement for three months, holds a special connection to Stewart and “The Daily Show.” The real-life journalist, Maziar Bahari, appeared on the show alongside correspondent Jason Jones dressed in a very obvious spy outfit. Footage of that interview was used against Bahari as supposed proof that he was a spy.

While Stewart’s return to the show will no doubt be welcomed warmly by many “Daily Show” fans, Oliver’s performance in the interim was surprisingly strong and earned praise from everyone from newsman Charlie Rose to comedy director Judd Apatow.

How long before Oliver lands his own series a la Stephen Colbert?

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