# 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:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/81 "2015-02-12T04:04:00Z")
I recall that the first time I heard Craig Kilborne was leaving The Daily Show, I had suggested Jon Stewart, because some MTV show I had seen him on made him seem like a good fit. When he got on The Daily Show, it turned into a very different show and for that he was a better fit than I could have guessed. Well, for whatever my first instincts are worth, Joel McHale is what my gut tells me now. He’s got the comedy, and the making fun of media. But… I think that underlying the success of Stewart and Colbert was that they both gave a shit about politics. And even before getting his own show in Colbert’s slot, I saw him in a comedy special which was political in nature. I have not seen any evidence that Joel McHale brings that to the table. Jon Stewart made an effort to read his guests’ books. Who else on the list of maybes would do that? I could believe Amy Poehler or Tina Fey, but I don’t really know. In many ways, the choice is who to get if you can’t get Poehler or Fey. I will raise no objection to this being Brian Williams’ next career move. It would boost his credibility. I’m not so sure about those other Daily Show correspondents whose role in the show is usually to show up and be nutty in contrast to Stewart’s playing the straight man. But Colbert and Oliver did manage to transcend that kind of role. Right now, I’d hate to be one of the people the internet is buzzing about rejecting. Damn, you **Exapno Mapcase** for beating me to mentioning Joel McHale by 5 minutes! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/82 "2015-02-12T04:31:48Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > I’m OK with it. TDS used to be one of my favorite shows, but he’s gotten more and more ranty over time. Probably a good time to hang up the mic. I saw his episode of “Comedians getting Coffee…” or whatever that Seinfeld online thing is, and Stewart seemed to kinda hint he was winding down. > > John Oliver might be kinda pissed he didn’t decide to do this a year ago though. Though I guess Oliver’s new show is panning out alright, and he only has to put pants on once a week over there. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Huh. I’ve got a related reaction: more and more, I find the only times he’s funny is when he’s losing his temper. When he’s not upset, he relies too much on mugging, bad accents, squeaky voices, and making fun of his lame attempts at humor, none of which I find very funny–but when he’s really pissed off about something, he gives excellent rant. I agree. His rantiness represents his getting even better. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2015, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/83 "2015-02-12T04:40:06Z")
> [@Johnny\_Angel](#): > > I will raise no objection to this being Brian Williams’ next career move. It would boost his credibility. It would be a good career move. He gets $10 million/yr from NBC. Stewart makes a lot more than that. > [@](#): > > Damn, you **Exapno Mapcase** for beating me to mentioning Joel McHale by 5 minutes! Whew! So close! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/84 "2015-02-12T07:19:07Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > It would be a good career move. He gets $10 million/yr from NBC. Stewart makes a lot more than that. > Whew! So close! I had the post sitting there unsent while I discussed it candidates with my wife. But, really, I was surprised he didn’t come to mind for a lot of people immediately. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lurker\_Above](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Lurker\_Above](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lurker_Above)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/85 "2015-02-12T12:01:30Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Holy cow. He doesn’t look that old. Yeah, I always had him mentally pegged as “30’s”. Still, of all the current correspondents he’d be my first choice as new host. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/86 "2015-02-12T13:07:22Z")
From the lists posted so far, I like Oswalt and Burress the best. Tina Fey or Chris Rock would of course be a dream, but I can’t imagine they’d do the show for very long. I don’t know if he’d be interested, but if you want to go in a right-ward direction, why not Dennis Miller? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/87 "2015-02-12T13:11:43Z")
Because Dennis Miller hasn’t been funny since 1988. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/88 "2015-02-12T13:12:28Z")
We don’t want to go in a rightward direction. Let Fox give the 62 year old has-been a show… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/89 "2015-02-12T13:35:01Z")
Here’s [Jon’s Replacement.](http://www.launchpaddigitalmedia.com/images/podcast/300x300/MillerTime_2.jpg) /s ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/90 "2015-02-12T13:45:33Z")
Remember, unlike most current Daily Show correspondents, Aasif Mandvi is primarily an actor, not a comedian. I don’t know whether that would make a difference. Of course, that was also originally true of Stephen Colbert, and I think Steve Carrell as well. (I already knew of Aasif long before he joined the Daily Show, seeing as how I make it a point to watch movies centering on Indian-Americans. I mean, come on, he was in a Merchant-Ivory movie!) A big NO to Brian Unger or anyone else from the pre-Jon Stewart days. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/91 "2015-02-12T13:58:28Z")
Why not shake up the format entirely and have two hosts? I am thinking Cenk Uyger and Ana Kasparian could be really good. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/92 "2015-02-12T14:24:52Z")
Cenk Uygur does not have the talent or skills for this. He’s basically an amateur. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/93 "2015-02-12T14:37:11Z")
Damn. I’m not happy about Stewart leaving. The regular monitoring of “Bullshit Mountain” was a valuable social service. Showing a montage of a dozen heads mouthing the same talking points, and then showing the same actors mouthing contradictory talking points at an earlier date – it helped keep thinking people from taking right wing media seriously. (There can be a tendency to forget and forgive.) OTOH, maybe the next host can retain that feature, while mugging just a little bit less. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2015, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/94 "2015-02-12T14:45:05Z")
I’ve heard that The Daily Show has a system of multiple DVRs and massive amounts of storage to record Fox News, CNN and the other channels. Supposedly they have some easy way to find a segment later when they want to use it and they keep years of recordings available. Presumably that infrastructure will remain in place, so if the next host wants to do the media criticism that Jon does, he/she will be able to. ---
**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:** [February 12, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/95 "2015-02-12T14:52:43Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > But it will wind be being Joel McHale. I like the idea of Joel McHale, but I also enjoy The Soup, and I’d miss seeing him on that show. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/96 "2015-02-12T15:06:50Z")
I suggested on Facebook that Comedy Central give everyone on the shortlist a week to host the show. Best ratings win. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/97 "2015-02-12T15:33:37Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Remember, unlike most current Daily Show correspondents, Aasif Mandvi is primarily an actor, not a comedian. I don’t know whether that would make a difference. Of course, that was also originally true of Stephen Colbert, and I think Steve Carrell as well. Both the Steves were togeather at Second City before the Daily Show. I think Mandvi is close to unique on the show in not having a comedy background (and I suspect that will rule him out of being host). ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/98 "2015-02-12T15:35:15Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I don’t know if he’d be interested, but if you want to go in a right-ward direction, why not Dennis Miller? Because his radio program sucks. I’m not saying that because of his politics – I listen to Limbaugh over lunch if I want talk. I’m saying that I’ve tried listening to Miller’s radio program and it’s just terrible. He’s not funny and not engaging. He’s also not a very good interviewer (his manic rapid-fire esoteric references schtick is largely rehearsed). ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/99 "2015-02-12T15:40:42Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > It would be a good career move. He gets $10 million/yr from NBC. Stewart makes a lot more than that. …Wait what? You’re saying that Stewart makes not only $10 Million a year, bu he makes “a lot more” than that? Good lord how much does he make?!?! ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/100 "2015-02-12T15:45:28Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Cenk Uygur does not have the talent or skills for this. He’s basically an amateur. Cenk’s no amateur, he’s just not a comedian. And he’s a little too much who he is to play “straight man.” Ana could play “straight man” but she’s not a comedian either. Ana however, is charming and fun … which might make up for the lack of comedy chops if the show’s format were changed to her playing “straight man” to the show’s actual comedians. It’s an interesting concept. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345.md?page=6)