‘The Each day Present’ Might Have Simply Saved Itself

Lengthy earlier than “faux information” grew to become a phrase some folks used to dismiss something they disagreed with, faux information was what made The Daily Show so common. Though The Each day Present initially started in 1996 with Craig Kilborn within the host’s chair, it was when Jon Stewart took over in 1999 that the Comedy Central sequence actually took off. The Each day Present might have thought-about itself faux information, however it was the precise reverse. Below Stewart, the present gave us the true information in a comedic format whereas additionally severely holding the wealthy and highly effective accountable, regardless of their political get together.

Jon Stewart stepped away from The Each day Present in 2015 simply as U.S. politics bought much more wild with the Donald Trump period, however it saved shifting alongside due to its new host, Trevor Noah. He wasn’t as nice as Stewart, and rankings dipped a bit, however his youth and Black South African perspective gave The Each day Present a contemporary new voice. Sadly, although, Noah then stepped down in 2022. As correspondents and varied celebrities visitor hosted, fans wondered who would be Noah’s successor. Because it turned out, nobody was. The Each day Present grew to become a multitude that was shortly left behind, solely to return when Jon Stewart returned earlier this 12 months. He is now the host as soon as per week, however he isn’t the one factor that has made The Each day Present must-see TV as soon as extra.

‘The Each day Present’ Misplaced Its Voice After Trevor Noah’s Departure

Political comedy badly missed Jon Stewart when he left The Each day Present proper once we wanted him essentially the most, however fortunately, there have been others to select up his mantle. Late night TV has turned into clones of The Daily Show, from Jon Oliver‘s Emmy winning Last Week Tonight, to community requirements corresponding to The Late Present with Stephen Colbert and Late Night time with Seth Meyers. When you wanted the overwhelming information of the world filtered by means of laughs, you might discover it anyplace, however The Each day Present was nonetheless going sturdy with Trevor Noah. In contrast to Stewart, who may very well be extra indignant, Noah usually sought a extra optimistic strategy with a smile on his face. Hope was his message, however the message got here to an finish when Noah introduced his departure in 2022.

It damage to see such a proficient comic depart in his prime (Noah wasn’t even 40 but), however it arrange a change the place a brand new host could be introduced in to maintain The Each day Present going sturdy. Weirdly, that isn’t what occurred. Because the search started, there have been a sequence of weekly visitor hosts, from its correspondents, to outside celebrities like Leslie Jones, Sarah Silverman, and Charlamagne the God. Some had been good, some not a lot, however because the weeks went on with no bulletins, The Each day Present started to lose its voice. The visitor hosts usually felt like actors studying a teleprompter placing on a present quite than being some insightful look into the information.

Weeks was months, nonetheless with no new host. Correspondent Roy Wooden Jr., who had been with The Each day Present since 2015, decided to quit in 2023 as soon as he realized he was by no means getting the gig. For a time, it looked like former correspondent Hasan Minhaj was going to be hired for the coveted spot, till an article in The New Yorker accusing him of creating up tales for his comedy act took him down. The Each day Present had turn into an absolute mess with a voice so fractured that it was not being heard.

Jon Stewart Shockingly Returned to ‘The Each day Present’

After over a 12 months of this mess, then got here a shocker when it was revealed that Jon Stewart himself was returning to The Daily Show in February 2024. Nevertheless, he would not be the host each night time, however on Mondays, whereas the search continued for a full-time host for the longer term. With Stewart additionally being an government producer, his return introduced The Each day Present the eye it had misplaced. 1.9 million viewers tuned in on Paramount’s various platforms to observe his large comeback, with 930,000 of these views coming from Comedy Central. The week after, 1.3 million folks watched on Comedy Central, making it the most important viewers since Stewart’s closing present in 2015.

It was the perfect time for Jon Stewart’s voice to return to our TVs, because the 2024 election, then between President Joe Biden and former President Trump, was heating up. Stewart was there, like he had been for thus lengthy earlier than, to speak us by means of all of it, from Biden’s disastrous debate efficiency, his choice to not search re-election, Trump’s assassination try, and the controversy between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. One other host might have lined these moments too, however with how large they had been, Stewart’s historical past of masking politics for sixteen years in the course of the Bush and Obama eras added that gravitas that made folks need to watch. The Each day Present had its biggest ratings in seven years for the Trump and Harris debate, and its post-election particular garnered rankings that had been 275% more than an average episode. The Each day Present is again.

Focusing On Its Gifted Correspondents Has Saved ‘The Each day Present’

Rankings have continued to remain sturdy for The Each day Present, proof not solely that audiences weren’t solely tuning in out of curiosity, however that they appreciated what they had been seeing and needed extra. Lots of that credit score goes to Jon Stewart, who hasn’t misplaced a step, however he is solely the host someday per week. His success has led to a brand new contract that can see him continue as a once-a-week host through December 2025, however what about on the lookout for a brand new full-time host within the meantime? That is not taking place. As an alternative, The Each day Present, seeing that what they’re doing now is working, has determined to not mess with the components, and can proceed utilizing its correspondents as hosts on the remaining days of the week.

Being a correspondent for The Each day Present was as soon as a extremely coveted gig, on par with being a Saturday Night Live cast member. Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Jon Oliver, and Ed Helms, amongst others, have their days on The Each day Present to thank for the place they’re now. Their replacements may need been proficient, however they did not turn into family names. That’s altering. Jordan Klepper, Desi Lydic, Ronny Chieng, and Michael Kosta have all been with The Each day Present for years and are arguably as necessary to its success as Stewart. They had been what saved it afloat in the course of the tough days of inconsistent movie star visitor hosts, and they’re now what retains it going when Stewart’s not there.

The Each day Present is not nearly one voice, or a gaggle of disjointed ones. It does not must rely upon solely Stewart. What was its weak spot final 12 months has now turn into its greatest attribute. Having a number of voices all through the week has saved issues contemporary and intriguing. On Mondays, you may get the man who provides you the attitude of a Jewish man with extra expertise. With Desi Lydic, you get to listen to from a lady’s point-of-view. Ronnie Chieng brings the point-of-view of a man who grew up in Singapore. And yeah, the opposite white guys are there too, within the snarky Michael Kosta, and Jordan Klepper, who has usually gone viral for not being afraid to confront Trump supporters at his rallies. The voices are all completely different, however the message is obvious: The Each day Present is right here to remain. Hopefully all of them are too. The Each day Present airs weeknights on Comedy Central and is out there to observe on Paramount+.

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