Comedy Central announced that Jon Stewart will be returning to The Daily Show host chair through the 2024 elections. The man who built the show into a media and show business institution will now help forge its next chapter. Stewart, who hosted the program for 16 years before leaving in 2015, will return as a part-time host and executive producer through the 2024 presidential election cycle. He’ll lead the program on Monday nights beginning February 12, leaving hosting on Tuesdays through Thursdays to the show’s correspondents. Stewart and his manager James Dixon will also serve as executive producers for all episodes through 2025.
Stewart’s return comes after a lengthy search for a new host, with many guest hosts and potential successors in the mix. The show’s turn towards a younger voice may have put The Daily Show in a difficult position, as younger viewers turn away from watching traditional TV platforms. Stewart’s return to the show recalls a time when the program had much more viewership and impact. The announcement instantly reinvigorates the show and marks an exciting new chapter for The Daily Show as Stewart helps to find its next iteration. Watching him tackle this task is bound to make for fascinating television.