The man who brought the anchor desk to a comedy set formally announced Tuesday night that he will sign off in the coming months. Jon Stewart, in his current role at Comedy Central for more than a decade and a half, told his studio audience that 2015 will be his last year as host of “The Daily Show.”
“17 years is the longest I have ever, in my life, held a job by 16 years and 5 months. The upshot there being I am a terrible employee. But in my heart I know it is time for someone else to have that opportunity,” Stewart said in his self-deprecating manner. The comedian emphasized that his departure won’t be immediate — he mentioned a range that spans from July to December.
Stewart said he didn’t have any specific career plans in mind, except dinner with family “on a school night.” He recently made his directorial debut with the film “Rosewater.”
He didn’t mention details about a replacement, either, other than to say that “this show doesn’t deserve an even slightly restless host, and neither do you.” Comedy Central, in a statement announcing Stewart’s retirement from the show prior to the airing of Tuesday’s episode, vowed that the program would continue. “The Daily Show” predates Stewart — former ESPN “SportsCenter” anchor Craig Kilborn was its first host, serving in that capacity from 1996 to 1999.
“It’s been an absolute privilege. It’s been the honor of my professional life. And I thank you for watching it, for hate-watching it, whatever reason you were tuning in for,” Stewart said. “You get in this business with the idea that maybe you have a point a view and something to express, and to receive feedback from that is the greatest feeling I could ask for.”
Stewart’s exit will be the second from Comedy Central’s satirical news lineup in as many years, after Stephen Colbert left in 2014 in advance of succeeding David Letterman on CBS’ “Late Show.”
