It’s been about a month and a half since Jon Stewart announced his retirement from “The Daily Show.” The time between then and now was spent frantically wondering who was going to replace the beloved comedian’s seat at Comedy Central’s World News Headquarters in New York. Fans mourned the end of Stewart’s 16-year tenure as the show’s host, and some offered up their own opinions as to who should succeed the comedian who has become one of the most trusted men in America. Some hoped “Daily Show” correspondent Jessica Williams would replace Stewart, but she dispelled the rumors in a tweet saying she was “extremely under-qualified” for the position. That was Feb. 15; since then, most of us decided to sit tight and try to ignore the inevitable.
On Monday, the blissful hiatus from thinking about Stewart’s departure was broken. Comedy Central has picked the show’s newest host: 31-year-old South-African comedian Trevor Noah.
Noah is already one of the correspondents for “The Daily Show,” first appearing on set last December. Beyond that, he’s largely unknown in America: Before yesterday’s announcement, he was merely a stand-up comedian better known by international audiences. His routine deals with growing up as a mixed-race child under Apartheid and the experience of being an African abroad.
He’s no Jon Stewart. His humor is more subtle, falsely lulling you with its lightheartedness until the moment he drops caustic social criticism directly on your head. But, like Stewart, Noah is beautiful and charming as all hell — plus, the South-African accent is really soothing.
It will definitely take some getting used to, but we think the change is going to be well-received. We’re glad Comedy Central went with Noah over a cheap imitation of Stewart. As Comedy Central President Michele Ganeless said about the decision: “You don’t hope to find the next Jon Stewart — there is no next Jon Stewart. So, our goal was to find someone who brings something really exciting and new and different.”
Still, it’s tough not to feel a bit apprehensive about the change. Many of us regardless of ideology grew up watching Stewart, who started hosting the show when most of us were between the ages of 2 and 6. Letting go of him won’t be easy; neither will filling the Jon Stewart-shaped hole in our screens and hearts with someone so different and unfamiliar.
It’s difficult to imagine, actually, that Stewart was once in the same position Noah’s in today — in 1999, he replaced the show’s first host, Craig Kilborn. The impact of “The Daily Show” doesn’t just belong to Stewart; it’s the sum of the effort of its writers and correspondents, like Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and John Oliver, who have gone on to become stars in their own rights.
And, it’s not like Stewart is dead — he’ll still be around, just not where we’re used to him being. Noah might have large shoes to fill, but we’re confident he’ll do it well and wish him the best of luck.
[A version of this story ran on page 6 on 3/31/2015 under the headline “New ‘Daily Show’ host unexpected, but Noah-brainer”]
