Jon Stewart is returning to The Daily Show as a once-a-week host through the presidential election cycle – as the search for Trevor Noah’s replacement continues
Comedy Central said Stewart will host every Monday night starting February 12, with a rotating line-up of show regulars covering the rest of the week, and serve as an executive producer.
The comedian made the masses laugh for 16 years as host of The Daily Show with his impersonations of George W. Bush and comedic exchanges with correspondents Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and Samantha Bee.
His satiric take on the day’s events often provided more insight into reality than some mainstream news stations. He left the show in 2015, handing it over to Noah. The Daily Show has not had a permanent host since Noah left last year.
‘Jon Stewart is the voice of our generation, and we are honored to have him return to Comedy Central´s The Daily Show to help us all make sense of the insanity and division roiling the country as we enter the election season,’ said president and CEO of Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios Chris McCarthy.
Jon Stewart is returning to The Daily Show as a weekly host and executive producer through the presidential election cycle
The comedian made the masses laugh for 16 years as host of The Daily Show with his impersonations of George W. Bush and comedic exchanges with correspondents Stephen Colbert , John Oliver and Samantha Bee
Stewart hosted The Daily Show for 16 years then handed it over to Trevor Noah in 2015
The Daily Show has not had a permanent host since Trevor Noah left last year
‘In our age of staggering hypocrisy and performative politics, Jon is the perfect person to puncture the empty rhetoric and provide much-needed clarity with his brilliant wit.’
Under Stewart’s leadership, The Daily Show won more than 20 Primetime Emmy awards.
Stewart posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, ‘Friends. After much reflection I have decided to enter the transfer portal for my last year of eligibility. Excited for the future!’
Noah left The Daily Show after seven years at the helm during which the late-night infotainment show’s viewership declined dramatically.
Since his departure comedians such as Kal Penn, Charlamagne Tha God, Leslie Jones, Sarah Silverman and Marlon Wayans have rotated hosting the show.
Longtime The Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. departed the show in October because he wasn’t considered for the full-time hosting job.
During the Emmy awards last week Wood was caught mouthing a subtle message as Noah accepted an award.
Lip-readers realized that as Wood stood next to South Africa-born Noah accepting the Emmy, he was mouthing the phrase: ‘Please hire a host.’
Wood confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter: ‘I was saying, “Please hire a host.” I probably shouldn’t have done it, but this has been going on too long. Get it together!…But I’m so happy that [Noah] won.’
He first took over the show in 1999 and under his leadership The Daily Show won more than 20 Primetime Emmy awards
Apple has cancelled Stewart ‘s follow-up to The Daily Show, The Problem with Jon Stewart
Stewart apologized for openly mocked transgender Caitlyn Jenner after she publicly transitioned into her new self when he hosted the show
Hasan Minhaj was reportedly a top contender to replace Noah, but was taken out of the running when the New Yorker published an interview where he admitted to fabricating many of his stories.
Minhaj hit back and said the claims were ‘needlessly misleading’ and promised he is ‘not a psycho.’
In October, Apple cancelled Stewart’s follow-up to The Daily Show, The Problem with Jon Stewart.
The weekly series touted itself on taking a deep dive into important issues through interviews and discussion.
However, the show was blasted as dull and stuck in the past by critics who said it didn’t make them laugh once, and that it harks back too much to his old Daily Show.
The show only briefly made headlines for an episode where Stewart issued a formal apology for old jokes of his that mocked transgender people.