On “The Daily Show,” Trevor Noah is on the verge of losing his humor.
The comic, who emerged from virtual obscurity to succeed Jon Stewart in 2015, plans to leave the flagship Comedy Central series following a seven-year run in which he transformed it for a new audience that prefers social media to cable and broadcast networks.
Noah revealed his plans to an audience at Thursday evening’s taping of the program in New York, saying that “I’ve loved hosting this show. It’s been one of my greatest challenges. It’s been one of my greatest joys. I’ve loved trying to figure out how to make people laugh even when the stories are particularly shitty on the worst days.”
It was unclear when he would actually step down or whether the Paramount Global cable network had started looking for a replacement. A spokesperson for Noah named Jill Fritzo could not be reached right away for comment.
“We are grateful to Trevor for our amazing partnership over the past seven years. With no timetable for his departure, we’re working together on next steps,” the network said in a statement. “As we look ahead, we’re excited for the next chapter in the 25+ year history of ‘The Daily Show’ as it continues to redefine culture through sharp and hilarious social commentary, helping audiences make sense of the world around them.”
As TV’s late-night lineup has started to dwindle, Noah’s plans to leave have come to light. There are fewer competitors for Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Jimmy Kimmel, who continue to show every evening at roughly 11:30 p.m. to make light of the news and perform celebrity impressions and stunts.
Executives at Warner Bros. Discovery have canceled the late-night programs hosted by Samantha Bee and Conan O’Brien and have not tried to find a replacement for either. Three distinct programs, hosted by Stewart, Colbert, and Chris Hardwick, were originally available on Comedy Central.
The cable network now only has one channel. “Desus & Mero” on Showtime just ceased production. After parting ways with Lilly Singh in 2021, NBC no longer broadcasts comedy shows at 1:30 a.m. James Corden has already said he plans to leave CBS’ “The Late Late Show” next year.
There are some exclusions. Jimmy Kimmel and ABC just reached an agreement that will put him in charge of his “Jimmy Kimmel Live” show for a number of more years. Additionally, the Fox News Channel program “Gutfeld,” whose host Greg Gutfeld moderates a roundtable discussion of the day’s news and competes with “Daily Show” for the same time slot, has witnessed growth.
There are a number of Noah’s replacements on Comedy Central’s lineup. A sizable group of fictitious “correspondents” that the presenter works with includes stalwarts like Desi Lydic, Roy Wood Jr., Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta, and Dulcé Sloan.
Jordan Klepper, a regular contributor who formerly hosted “The Opposition,” a program that followed “Daily,” has earned popularity online for segments in which he visits conservatives at rallies and inquires about the state of the country. Charlamagne Tha God and Comedy Central have also started collaborating on a weekly presentation that combines humor, commentary, and news.
Noah has put a lot of effort into personalizing the show by meeting with other media influencers after hours and coming up with fresh “Daily” formats. During commercial breaks, his banter with the audience served as material for social media clips.
Since his viewership was younger than that of his rivals on broadcast networks and he was hosting the show from his apartment during the coronavirus outbreak, Noah leaned toward more serious subjects and interviews. To resume a more routine style of production, the show took a break over the summer of 2021.
However, the comic took control of the show while being closely watched. Stewart, who took over the “Daily Show” from Craig Kilborn in 1999, transformed it into an institution with his investigations into the reporting practices of the mainstream media.
A challenging transition awaited Noah as soon as he assumed the seat. He admitted to Variety in 2020 that the first two years were “awful,” and they were particularly bad because he had taken over one of America’s most cherished organizations. It was essentially a year of me hearing that I shouldn’t be doing the job and that I’m undeserving of being in that position, even though Jon Stewart had handed me the reins. And I persisted in holding that view.
The majority of the first year was spent trying to remain afloat, trying not to get fired, and attempting to establish my footing after stepping into this new role and doing a new job. The analogy I use is learning to fly an airplane while it is in flight. It felt just like that every single day.
Because of Noah’s departure, late-night programming will be less diverse, especially in light of the departures of Bee and Singh and the cancellation of the Showtime comedy “Desus & Mero.” The way Comedy Central management decides to move forward may be influenced by this dynamic.
