# 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:** 6
**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, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/101 "2015-02-12T15:49:55Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Good lord how much does he make?!?! [Around $25mil a year](http://www.businessinsider.com/jon-stewart-the-daily-show-show-salary-2015-2) ---
**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, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/102 "2015-02-12T16:21:15Z")
Fuck me. Maybe he should tell his kids they can keep eating dinner without him. > [@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 he’s not funny, and hasn’t been since the early days of his HBO show. If you want someone a bit more conservative I would be okay with PJ O’Rourke but he’s eleventy billion years old. ---
**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, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/103 "2015-02-12T16:36:44Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Because he’s not funny, and hasn’t been since the early days of his HBO show. If you want someone a bit more conservative I would be okay with PJ O’Rourke but he’s eleventy billion years old. O’Rourke is a funny writer, but at least judging by his appearances on Wait Wait, that doesn’t translate to being funny live. Even if he weren’t a bajillion years old, he wouldn’t work as a show host. He doesn’t even do a good job as a panelist. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/104 "2015-02-12T17:27:19Z")
I’d be pretty happy with Patton Oswalt, but I think John Hodgeman could do it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/105 "2015-02-12T19:41:33Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > Plot twist: Stephen Colbert takes it. Bigger plot twist: _Letterman_ takes it. …I started wondering if anyone is asking the co-creators of _The Daily Show_ for their own picks, and found this article. Winstead doesn’t give her choice, but the page may be of interest anyway: [http://www.inc.com/zoe-henry/the-daily-show-co-creator-bids-farewell-to-Jon-Stewart.html](http://www.inc.com/zoe-henry/the-daily-show-co-creator-bids-farewell-to-Jon-Stewart.html) ---
**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, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/106 "2015-02-12T19:57:27Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > O’Rourke is a funny writer, but at least judging by his appearances on Wait Wait, that doesn’t translate to being funny live. Even if he weren’t a bajillion years old, he wouldn’t work as a show host. He doesn’t even do a good job as a panelist. That’s probably fair. It occurred to me after I posted that that I haven’t seen O’Rourke on TV since about 1995. > [@Indyellen](#): > > I’d be pretty happy with Patton Oswalt, but I think John Hodgeman could do it, too. Hodgman would have been a better replacement for Colbert than Stewart; he’s much better at playing a character. I actively dislike him when he plays himself. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/107 "2015-02-12T20:11:28Z")
The Daily Show is his baby and he’s extremely proud of it and if he’s an egomaniac he’s more of the kind who wants it to last forever than the kind who wants it to go down in flames without him. For these reasons I have faith he will leave it in very capable hands, as he did when he made John Oliver regent during the filming of _Rosewater_. That’s not to say Oliver is necessarily the best choice for his replacement, but I think he’ll find the best. Unfortunately the combination of brilliance, extremely well-read wit, humor, and quick-thinking is going to be hard to find even for megabucks. ---
**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, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/108 "2015-02-12T21:12:34Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Cenk Uygur does not have the talent or skills for this. He’s basically an amateur. > [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > 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. Cenk and Ana basically do The Daily Show on TYT now, but without the comedy bits. I say let Cenk and Ana be free to do what they do now on the Daily Show. There’s no reason they have to try to be Jon Stewart clones. Let the show evolve a bit. ---
**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, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/109 "2015-02-12T21:19:01Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > Cenk and Ana basically do The Daily Show on TYT now, but without the comedy bits. > > I say let Cenk and Ana be free to do what they do now on the Daily Show. There’s no reason they have to try to be Jon Stewart clones. Let the show evolve a bit. Thinking about it, you know who could REALLY knock it out of the park, the person best suited to be Stewart’s successor? Smart, well-read, politically astute and funny? Ben Mankiewicz! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/110 "2015-02-12T21:27:47Z")
> [@Indyellen](#): > > I’d be pretty happy with Patton Oswalt, but I think John Hodgeman could do it, too. If it’s Hodgeman, I will lose TDS forever. He was always my least favorite. How about Anthony Jeselnik? I know his own show crashed and burned, but I think he may do well. It would definitely be darker… ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/111 "2015-02-12T21:33:52Z")
Nick Kroll should be available too… ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/112 "2015-02-12T21:39:59Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > How about Anthony Jeselnik? I know his own show crashed and burned, but I think he may do well. It would definitely be darker… I wondered what happened to him – I liked his show. And yet that stupid “At Midnight” stays on. I guess I’m just not plugged into the zeitgeist. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/113 "2015-02-12T21:45:07Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > O’Rourke is a funny writer, but at least judging by his appearances on Wait Wait, that doesn’t translate to being funny live. Even if he weren’t a bajillion years old, he wouldn’t work as a show host. He doesn’t even do a good job as a panelist. Agree with you on his appearance on WWDTM - very disappointing. He’s not even a funny writer any more. I loved his first bunch of books, but I’ve pretty much given up on him. ---
**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, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/114 "2015-02-12T21:50:49Z")
None of us will be deciding this (probably). ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/115 "2015-02-12T23:23:17Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Thinking about it, you know who could REALLY knock it out of the park, the person best suited to be Stewart’s successor? Smart, well-read, politically astute and funny? > > Ben Mankiewicz! I guess that would give us scope for another fast-moving thread, debating who should be Robert Osborne’s new heir apparent. _Anyone_ but Drew Barrymore! ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/116 "2015-02-13T00:46:06Z")
Great op-ed from Paul Begala about the day Jon Stewart blew up Crossfire: > **[Begala: The day Jon Stewart blew up my show | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2015/02/12/opinion/begala-stewart-blew-up-crossfire/index.html)** > > A former “Crossfire” co-host recalls how Jon Stewart’s on-air critique proved effective. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/117 "2015-02-13T00:47:44Z")
I think Chris Rock, Louis C.K. and Tina Fey are the three best suggestions I’ve heard in terms of agile, clever minds. Though it could be the second is just too morose at times to pull off a daily show. But I’d kinda doubt any of them would step up to the plate, even for $25 million/year. The time committment alone must be staggering and they are all already rich enough to say no. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/118 "2015-02-13T23:21:21Z")
CC needs to view the next host as sacrificial. Add some backup people to the show and if the new person doesn’t gel fairly soon, pull 'em. Their chances of stumbling on a new Jon Stewart are low. And avoid Joel McHale. He’s just Kilborn 2.0. I dream of Lewis Black having his own show, but he’d probably croak if he had to run at full angry 4 days a week. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/119 "2015-02-13T23:56:57Z")
Demetri Martin has a connection because of his show, but I don’t think his style fits. Dave Chapelle is more of a Larry Wilmore panelist type than hosting a comedy news show. Jimmy Carr would be a good idea, though he is committed to 8 out of 10 cats and other gigs. Dara O’brien or Charlie Brooker would also work, but both are committed to other shows. **Charlie Brooker** might be my top pick if I had my way. Getting Brooker to focus on American news might be hard, but he could probably do it. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345/120 "2015-02-14T00:01:24Z")
Guess I am the only liberal who never understood the big deal about that show. But I suppose most liberals love to bash Fox news so that’s why they love him. BTW, I don’t like Fox. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jon-stewart-to-step-down-from-the-daily-show/712345.md?page=7)