Trevor Noah nears his last laugh on “The daily show.”
the comedian, which came from almost anonymity to take over the program from Jon Stewart in 2015, plans to leave the flagship series Comedy Central after a seven-year tenure in which he transformed the program for a new generation of viewers more at home on social media than cable channels and broadcast networks.
Posted in a video on the show’s Twitter on Thursday night, Noah thanked viewers and people who worked on the show, saying he was “full of gratitude for the journey.”
“I have enjoyed hosting this show. It has been one of my greatest challenges. It has been one of my greatest joys,” said Noah. “We’ve laughed together, we’ve cried together. But after seven years, I feel like it’s… time.”
Noah said that after spending two years in his apartment during the pandemic, he realized he was missing out on the road.
“And when I went out again, I realized there’s another part of my life that I want to keep exploring,” he said in the video. “I miss learning other languages. I miss going to other countries and doing shows. I miss being everywhere and doing everything.”
It wasn’t immediately clear when his actual exit would take place – in the video, Noah said they would “figure out the timing and the when”.
It was also unclear whether Paramount Global’s cable network had begun to consider a successor.
“We are grateful to Trevor for our amazing partnership over the past seven years. As there is no timetable for his departure, we are working together on next steps,” the network said in a statement. “As we look ahead, we look forward to the next chapter in ‘The Daily Show”s more than 25-year history as it continues to redefine culture through sharp and hilarious social commentary, and audiences help the world understand them. to understand.”
Jill Fritzo, a representative for Noah, could not be reached for immediate comment.
Noah said that after spending two years in his apartment, he discovered that he missed being out and about.
“And when I went out again, I realized there’s another part of my life that I want to keep exploring,” he said in the video. “I miss learning other languages. I miss going to other countries and doing shows. I miss being everywhere and doing everything.”
Noah’s plans to leave surface when… TV’s late-night selection is beginning to shrink. Yes, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel still show up every weeknight around 11:30pm to make fun of the daily headlines and do celebrity impressions and stunts, but they have fewer rivals.
At Warner Bros. discovery, executives have nightly shows headed by both Samantha Bee and Conan O’Brien. sunk, nor have they attempted to replace them. Comedy Central once had three different programs, led by Stewart, Colbert and Chris Hardwick. Now the cable network is just one. Showtime’s “Desus & Mero” recently stopped production. James Corden has already indicated that he plans to retire from CBS’ “The Late Late Show” next year, and NBC is no longer broadcasting 1:30 a.m. comedy shows. after the retirement of Lilly Singh in 2021.
Noah’s departure also means the late night will be less diverse, especially after the departures of Bee and Singh and the end of the “Desus & Mero” program on Showtime. Those dynamics could play a role in how executives at Comedy Central choose to move forward.
Noah took over the program under close supervision. Stewart, who inherited Craig Kilborn’s ‘Daily Show’ in 1999, made it an institution with his research into how the news media presented stories. When Noah took his seat, he faced a difficult transition.
“I’ll say the first two years were terrible – and it was terrible because I took over one of America’s most beloved institutions,” he told Variety in 2020. “And even though Jon Stewart had handed over the reins to me, it was essentially a year where people told me not to do the job and I wasn’t worthy to sit in that chair. And I kept believing that.”
Noah has worked diligently to master the program, courting various media influencers after office hours and devising new “Daily” formats. His chat with the public during commercial breaks became fodder for social media clips.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Noah hosted the show from his apartment, focusing on more serious topics and interviews in the belief that his audience — younger than those watching his competitors on broadcast networks — was interested in a more serious discussion. The show went on hiatus in the summer of 2021 to return to a more normal mode of production.
Comedy Central has several potential replacements for Noah on its roster. The host works with a wide circle of fake correspondents, including mainstays like Desi Lydic, Roy Wood Jr., Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta and Dulcé Sloan. Jordan Klepper, who once hosted ‘The Opposition’, a show that followed ‘Daily’, is a regular contributor and has gained online traction for segments where he visits conservatives at rallies and asks them questions about the state of the country. Comedy Central also has worked with Charlamagne Tha God at a weekly showcase that combines comedy, commentary and news.