Los Angeles, Sep 21 (IANS): Former host of "The Daily Show" Jon Stewart gave a final goodbye speech to the show's team and audience while accepting an Emmy award at the Primetime Emmy Awards here, saying "Thank you so much. You will never have to see me again".

The show, which Stewart hosted for the last 16 years, emerged as a top winner in the Variety category of Emmy awards at the 67th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, held here on Sunday.

Stewart, who bid adieu to the show with an emotional episode that aired on August 6, returned to the stage to accept the award. And he made most of it.

"Thank you so very much, you will never have to see me again," he said.

Stewart also took a jibe at himself by saying applause is rare after you are off the small screen.

"To everybody on television, I just want to tell you: Cling to it, as long as you can. Like death, like in the Titanic', the guy - cling to it. I have been off television for six weeks, seven weeks - this is the first applause I've heard. It is a barren wasteland out there," joked Stewart, who looked dapper in black formals.

"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" took an Emmy in Variety Talk Series category, Directing for a Variety Series category and Writing for a Variety Series category.

The 52-year-old also heaped praise on the team behind the Comedy Central show for their work and dedication, saying they are the real heroes.

"These people, I love desperately. I will never work with a group of people like this; I will never have an experience like this again. Comedy Central blessed me with this and these people did all the work," Stewart said.