Which comedians could replace Trevor Noah as host of The Daily Show?
With Trevor Noah announcing his departure as host of The Daily Show, many are wondering who could take his place in the big seat.
“We have laughed together, we have cried together. But after seven years, I feel like it’s time,” said Trevor Noah to a live studio audience while announcing his departure as host of The Daily Show.
After seven years as host, the exit of the South African comedian is unexpected, and more details as to when exactly he will leave have yet to be confirmed.
It is clear that pandemic isolation from crowds took a toll on Noah, and as the comedy scene begins to grow again, it is clear that he wants to be at the center of the action.
As the host of a show that films four times a week in New York City, being able to move around to pursue other professional opportunities is not easy. To the live, audience Noah explained that he wants to return to his previous life where he was more adventerious, living in different places, learning new languages, and meeting new people.
Who could replace Trevor Noah?
When Jon Steward left The Daily Show after fifteen years, many thought it would be impossible to find someone to fill the enormous shoes he left. Trevor Noah did not try to be Jon Stewart, and in taking that approach, he made the show his own.
After taking over from Stewart, ratings and viewership declined, but over the years, Noah and his team were able to rebuild and rebrand the show, which attracted more eyes and positive attention. However, since the pandemic, viewership has begun to slide, an indicator to the host that perhaps new blood could help the show find new life once again.
From a representational perspective, selecting a woman host seems like an obvious choice. Over the years, many hilarious and talented women have served as correspondents on The Daily Show, including Jessica Williams, Samantha Bee, Dulcé Sloan, and Desi Lydic.
Sam Bee has just left her show on TBS, which opens her up as a possible replacement.
A comedy centered around political satire shrinks the pool of candidates significantly. In this vein, possible replacements could include previous correspondents like Jordan Klepper or Hasan Minhaj, who have both hosted shows of their own in the past.
Klepper’s show was reminiscent of The Colbert Report, while Minhaj’s was a more updated version of John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight, which airs on Sunday on HBO.
Another strong option would be Ronny Chieng, a current correspondent on the show who has kept audiences laughing both on the show and through his stand-up routines.
Could Jon Stewart make a return?
It is improbable that Stewart would make a return as host. The former host of The Daily Show is the current star of The Problem with Jon Stewart, produced by Apple TV. Stewart left the show after feeling like the audience needed a new voice, and after fifteen years at the helm, he was ready to spend more time with his family.
If the departure of Stewart is any indication, the most obvious choice is unlikely to be the candidate that is ultimately chosen.
When will Trevor Noah leave the show?
When making the announcement, no firm timeline as to when Trevor Noah would make his final departure. When Jon Stewert left the show, his replacement by Trevor Noah was made public around two months after his initial statement. This could mean that the fans may have a better idea of who will be taking center stage as the fourth host of The Daily Show by the end of the year.