# Jon Stewart to step down from The Daily Show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345 "2015-02-10T23:49:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/421 "2015-04-03T20:24:47Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > As I’ve said, I hope I am wrong. But we won’t have to guess about that. The guy has the gig now, so we’ll see how he does. If I am mistaken about his talents, I will happily eat crow. And I’ll hedge my bets. I find his act hilarious, although his Twitter account leaves a lot to be desired. But my tastes don’t have a 100% track record for predicting commercial success :). ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/422 "2015-04-03T20:24:59Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > And since you asked, **Exapno Mapcase** , here’s a description of a [test show run by Comedy Central for Larry Wilmore](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/19/arts/television/larry-wilmore-prepares-for-his-nightly-show.html?_r=0): Test shows are done \*\*after \*\*hiring and before broadcast. They are testing to see how the format works in practice. They are \*\*not \*\*testing the host. They host has been \*\*already \*\*picked out. You’re confusing apples and orangutans. > [@CarnalK](#): > > They have not already getting his input on correspondents or creative direction like you assumed, Exapno. From that link you put up a couple pages ago: “Way too early” is standard business-speak to reporters. It means “we’re not putting out any information ahead of time” not “we haven’t done our jobs yet.” > [@CarnalK](#): > > You have been acting like you’re more knowledgeable than most of us about the hiring process, Exapno Mapcase. Why is that? Because apparently I am. All you keep saying, other than getting facts wrong, is that you don’t like the choice. And yet you’ve posted more than anybody else in this thread. Why is that? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/423 "2015-04-03T20:26:36Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > I’m with you here. Noah killed it in this sketch. I was laughing throughout. Did not think he killed it. It felt pretty uneven to me. I give the new host a chance but I would have been happier with a choice from within the Daily Show itself. The best choice was Oliver but of course that ship sailed. I think bringing back Wyatt Cenac would have been a better choice than Noah. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/424 "2015-04-03T20:44:12Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > All you keep saying, other than getting facts wrong, is that you don’t like the choice. And yet you’ve posted more than anybody else in this thread. Why is that? Because I was answering 4 different people who were addressing me. Mystery solved. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/425 "2015-04-03T21:59:46Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Test shows are done \*\*after \*\*hiring and before broadcast. They are testing to see how the format works in practice. They are \*\*not \*\*testing the host. They host has been \*\*already \*\*picked out. You’re confusing apples and orangutans. Go watch the Louie episode. Louie was trying to get hired, and had to do a test show. I’m pretty sure Louis CK has a better idea of how talk show hiring works than you do. Also, why have news stories made a point of noting that Trevor Noah had not been put through a test show before hiring, unless it were standard practice to do so? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/426 "2015-04-03T22:07:08Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I think bringing back Wyatt Cenac would have been a better choice than Noah. Agree. Wyatt has the chops. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/427 "2015-04-04T12:32:17Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Did not think he killed it. It felt pretty uneven to me. Fair enough–different tastes and all. All I know is that usually when I watch correspondents on the Daily Show, especially new ones, I’m ready to cringe at how they have one goofy schtick for the bit that they run into the ground. I watched Noah during his first appearance and was delighted. His stuff hits me the right way. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/428 "2015-04-04T14:54:13Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Don’t think even the most liberal TDS viewer likes America being unfavorably compared to Apartheid South Africa. My facebook feed would like to have a word with you. There are at least some liberals who _eat that up_. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/429 "2015-04-04T17:11:30Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > My facebook feed would like to have a word with you. > > There are at least some liberals who _eat that up_. I guess my overestimating of the viewing public continues. Lol. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised some people would indeed eat that up. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/430 "2015-04-04T17:25:59Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > My facebook feed would like to have a word with you. > > There are at least some liberals who _eat that up_. Funny–my reaction is, how could you possibly find that offensive? It was pretty obvious hyperbole in a comedic setting, intended to satirize bad race relations in the US. His schtick in that set was that, as much as American likes to pity poor Africa and think of Africa as backwards and awful, we need to take the beam out of our own eye. If it were a serious, sober argument being made about the superiority of Apartheid SA to the US, I’d take issue. But as satire? C’mon, it was funny. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/431 "2015-04-04T17:35:18Z")
Well, I certainly wasn’t offended. As I mentioned earlier, I’m not American. Just thought the hyperbole of it was a little much for many to laugh at. Felt the audience gave that bit more nervous laughter than haha you got us there laughter. To me the jokes just seemed a little obvious and therefore not very funny. As you said, matter of taste. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/432 "2015-04-07T14:43:20Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I’m not saying Trevor Noah isn’t funny, or that he hasn’t been funny. I’m saying that he sounds like an asshole. A mean-spirited, petty, misogynistic, racist asshole. > > Those tweets weren’t written by a gaggle of writers. Noah wrote them. That is his idea of funny. I’m worried about him as host, but I also think these conclusions may be too hasty. This is not necessarily “his idea of funny” in any way we can hold him too–it may be, instead “what he momentarily thought might be funny at one point a few years ago.” As has been remarked in several articles on the topic of these tweets, lots of comedians put out stuff on twitter that’s just kind of them trying out stuff. Some of it works, some of it doesn’t, and not all of it is stuff the guy definitely thought was totally hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/433 "2015-04-07T15:46:33Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I’m worried about him as host, but I also think these conclusions may be too hasty. This is not necessarily “his idea of funny” in any way we can hold him too–it may be, instead “what he momentarily thought might be funny at one point a few years ago.” As has been remarked in several articles on the topic of these tweets, lots of comedians put out stuff on twitter that’s just kind of them trying out stuff. Some of it works, some of it doesn’t, and not all of it is stuff the guy definitely thought was totally hilarious. “The Daily show with Jon Stewart” was a similar format to the “Daily Show” hosted by Craig Kilborn, and the new “Daily Show” hosted by Trevor Noah will, I assume, be similar to the Stewart show. Each host eventually makes the show their own. It remains to be seen if Noah can draw the audience numbers that Stewart did. If not, the decision-makers can hire another host, or revamp the format to best suit Noah’s talents. I believe John Oliver is closest to the political satirist Stewart is, but Oliver has his own show. Stewart, the comedian and entertainer, has his pros and cons. I think he’s funny, and smart, but he’s still a comedian and can’t be held legally responsible for his heavily-edited-for-laughs shtick on a self-described fake news program. I find Stewart entertaining, and I don’t think Jon Stewart is an asshole. I don’t like Noah’s mean, racist, and degrading, humor. Humor meaning the stuff that he actually writes, not what writers provide him. The writers can clean up Noah’s act, but I think Trevor Noah is an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/434 "2015-04-07T15:55:59Z")
I would imagine for a black man - and a black outsider - the issue of race in the USA in particular is probably the most fertile ground imaginable for satirists. It is just an utterley, profoundly fucked up mess like no other country - except his own - has ever seen. If he’s genuinely grasping that nettle then I wish him well. He will fail of course, and I’m sure he’s prepared for that. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/435 "2015-04-07T16:16:41Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I don’t like Noah’s mean, racist, and degrading, humor. Humor meaning the stuff that he actually writes, not what writers provide him. The writers can clean up Noah’s act, but I think Trevor Noah is an asshole. I halfway agree with you. Those tweets? Some of them not cool. But I watched a bunch of his standup when the announcement was made, and nothing in there struck me as especially mean, nasty, or degrading. He should recognize that some of those jokes were lousy and mean, and then move on. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/436 "2015-04-07T18:47:25Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I don’t like Noah’s mean, racist, and degrading, humor. Humor meaning the stuff that he actually writes, not what writers provide him. The writers can clean up Noah’s act, but I think Trevor Noah is an asshole. As I’ve said, I’ve seen Noah in person and his set was the antithesis of mean, racist, and degrading humor. > [@](#): > > an·tith·e·sis > anˈtiTHəsəs/ > noun > noun: antithesis; plural noun: antitheses > > ``` > a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else. > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/437 "2015-04-07T18:54:13Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > As I’ve said, I’ve seen Noah in person and his set was the antithesis of mean, racist, and degrading humor. As I wrote, it is hilarious that people feel they can sum up someone’s entire life and career based a half dozen Tweets a person wrote years earlier. What if their life was defined by their worst effort? It is nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/438 "2015-04-07T19:01:46Z")
Last week, Showtime ran a comedy special featuring Trevor Noah in a stand-up performance from 2013. I thought it was very funny and didn’t hear anything offensive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345.md?page=21)