In the episode of the Daily Show that aired last night, February 10th, in the US (and tonight here in South Africa, Jon Stewart announced to his studio audience that he plans on retiring from The Daily Show, one of Comedy Central's biggest brands.
He has hosted the show for the past sixteen years.
His announcement about his departure follows just a few months after Stephen Colbert signed off from the Colbert Report, a show that was spun off from The Daily Show, so that Stephen could get ready to replace David Letterman on the CBS network's The Late Show.
Though The Daily Show satirises news, Jon is often referred to as one of the best media critics of our time and has even been named one of the most trusted news anchorsbin polls conducted in the US.
It is unclear when exactly he will be signing off from The Daily Show, but CNN's Brian Stelter reports that Jon wants to leave as early as July, though Comedy Central wants him to stay until as late as November.
What is also unclear at the moment is what, or who, will replace Stewart as thebonly thing we know for certain is that Comedy Central has said that it would like the franchise to live on.
Here is Comedy Central's statement on the departure:
"For the better part of the last two decades, he have had the incredible honor and privilege of working with Jon Stewart. His comedic brilliance is second to none. Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera. Through his unique voice and vision, The Daily Show has become a vultural touchstone for millions of fans, and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come. Jon will remain at the helm of The Daily Show until later this year. He is a comedic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family."
