Jon Stewart, the beloved former host of The Daily Show, is making a game-changing comeback to the show’s desk. The news took everyone by surprise, including former Daily Show correspondent turned HBO Last Week Tonight host, John Oliver. In an interview with NBC’s Willie Geist, Oliver compared Stewart’s return to NBA legend Michael Jordan’s comeback to the Chicago Bulls in 1995 after retiring from the game.
Oliver expressed his excitement about Stewart’s return, acknowledging that The Daily Show needs a host and Stewart is undeniably a very good one. He also suggested that the show should appoint a permanent host after Stewart’s run, mentioning former Peacock host Amber Ruffin and former Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. as strong contenders.
Trevor Noah, who succeeded Stewart as the host of The Daily Show, shared his excitement on X (formerly Twitter), posting “Yessssssss he’s back” along with five “raising hands” emojis. Other Daily Show alumni also expressed their joy at Stewart’s return. Jordan Klepper, a former correspondent, shared a picture of Stewart back at his desk on Instagram with the caption “welcome home, JS.” Troy Iwata posted a picture of a surprised Minion reacting to Stewart’s return, while Grace Kuhlenschmidt shared the song “Stuck Like Glue” from Sugarland with an image of Stewart, expressing her anticipation for what’s to come.
Stewart’s return to The Daily Show desk is significant because of the close relationship he had with the team of correspondents during his run. The show served as a springboard to stardom for many, including Oliver, Samantha Bee, Hasan Minhaj, and Stephen Colbert, who all went on to have their own successful late-night shows. Stewart also serves as an executive producer for Colbert’s Late Show on CBS.
The list of Daily Show veterans goes on, including Steve Carell, Ed Helms, Rob Riggle, Jason Jones, Josh Gad, Al Madrigal, Larry Wilmore, and Wyatt Cenac. Even Michael Che, the current host of Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update, had a brief stint as a correspondent on The Daily Show before joining SNL.
In Stewart’s final show as host in August 2015, Comedy Central brought together almost all of the show’s correspondents and contributors in the program’s cramped studio on the west side of Manhattan. During a commercial break, Stewart, with tears in his eyes, handed out hugs to the crowd of correspondents. Noah could be heard telling Stewart, “You’re the best,” as they gathered around him.
Now, after nearly a decade away from The Daily Show desk, Stewart is set to make his highly anticipated return. The response to his comeback next month is sure to be overwhelming, as fans eagerly await his unique brand of political satire and commentary.
