Jon Stewart to leave ‘The Daily Show’
Jon Stewart, who turned his biting and free-wheeling humor into an unlikely source of news and analysis for viewers of “The Daily Show,” will leave as host this year, Comedy Central said Tuesday.
His departure was announced by Comedy Central President Michele Ganeless after Stewart, host of the show since 1999, broke the news to the audience at Tuesday’s taping in New York.
Ganeless called Stewart, 52, a “comic genius.” He will remain as host until later this year, she said, but did not specify his exit date or what led to his decision.
Stewart’s influence is seen in the work of Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and Larry Wilmore, who went on to earn shows of their own. Other “Daily Show” alumni include Steve Carell, Ed Helms, Josh Gad and new “Saturday Night Live” Weekend Update anchor Michael Che.
Stewart leaves a substantial void for Comedy Central, which has no heir apparent to replace him – unless Oliver bolts his HBO show to return to the fold.
For political junkies who depended on Stewart for his acumen as well as comic relief, the 2016 presidential election may be looking bleak.
Reaction was swift from Stewart’s past targets as well as admirers.
“Just had the honor of being the great Jon Stewart’s guest (on ‘The Daily Show’), where he announced he’s leaving. Emotional night,” David Axelrod, former adviser to President Barack Obama, posted on Twitter.
Stewart’s departure represents a second big blow for Comedy Central: Colbert left “The Colbert Report” last year to take over for CBS late-night host David Letterman when he retires in May.
Wilmore’s “The Nightly Show” replaced Colbert’s show.
The Stewart and Colbert shows created templates for a comedic form that offered laughs along with trenchant political and social satire. Authors and politicians were as common as Hollywood celebrities on the self-described “fake news” programs.
Stewart took a several-months-long hiatus in 2013 to direct “Rosewater,” a well-reviewed film about an Iranian-born journalist who was imprisoned for 118 days in Tehran and accused of being a spy. The Comedy Central statement did not indicate what his plans are after leaving.
In a November interview with the Associated Press for “Rosewater,” Stewart was asked about his future with the Comedy Central show. He replied that the format he works in doesn’t matter.
“It’s a journey. It’s a conversation,” he said. “One thing I won’t do is write music or sing.”
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