'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart' is back, baby as comedian plans to return as host

Jon Stewart is going home again.

The comedian will return to host Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" every Monday beginning Feb. 12, through the 2024 presidential election, the network announced Wednesday.

Stewart will also return as executive producer of "The Daily Show," the Emmy-winning satirical take on the news that airs Monday through Thursday (11 p.m. EST/PST). For the rest of each week's episodes, a rotating line-up of the show's correspondents will share hosting duties.

"Jon Stewart is the voice of our generation, and we are honored to have him return to Comedy Central's 'The Daily Show' to help us all make sense of the insanity and division roiling the country as we enter the election season," Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios CEO and President Chris McCarthy said in a statement. "In our age of staggering hypocrisy and performative politics, Jon is the perfect person to puncture the empty rhetoric and provide much-needed clarity with his brilliant wit."

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Stewart's shock return comes more than a year after Trevor Noah ended his seven-year run on "The Daily Show," leaving the program in need of a new host. The show utilized a rotating series of guest hosts since then, including Leslie Jones and Sarah Silverman, but had yet to choose a permanent replacement after Hasan Minhaj, reportedly a leading candidate, faced unfavorable coverage in a New Yorker article of his truthfulness in his standup comedy.

After "The Daily Show" won an Emmy Award for outstanding talk series last week, former correspondent Roy Wood Jr. was spotted mouthing the words "hire a host" during Noah's acceptance speech. Wood had exited the show amid its host search but told NPR he would "consider" the permanent hosting job if it was offered. Under Stewart, "The Daily Show" won 24 Emmys.

Jon Stewart's history with 'The Daily Show'

Stewart first took over as host of "The Daily Show" in 1999, succeeding Craig Kilborn. After leaving in 2015, he hosted the Apple TV+ show "The Problem with Jon Stewart." It was canceled in 2023 after two seasons. The New York Times reported the comedian clashed with Apple executives over potential topics, including China and artificial intelligence.

Stewart has also remained in the public eye since leaving "The Daily Show" as an advocate for 9/11 first responders. He received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2022.

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Several comedians who served as correspondents during Stewart's original 16-year "Daily Show" run have gone on to host their own late-night shows that similarly emphasize political satire, including "The Late Show" host Stephen Colbert and "Last Week Tonight" host John Oliver.

Starting in February, Stewart will be producing "The Daily Show" alongside showrunner and executive producer Jen Flanz. The comedian's long-time manager, James Dixon, will also serve as executive producer.

Comedy Central's part-time arrangement with Stewart calls to mind Rachel Maddow returning to her former daily MSNBC show on Mondays in 2022 following a hiatus.

Stewart will be returning behind the desk in time for a presidential election that may be a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. He signed off "The Daily Show" in 2015 less than two months after Trump announced his 2016 presidential campaign.

Stewart's first episode back as "Daily Show" host will air the day after CBS's Super Bowl, where it will likely be heavily promoted on Comedy Central's sibling network.