On Monday, Feb. 12, comedian Jon Stewart returned to “The Daily Show” after more than an eight-year hiatus.
Stewart, a comedian known for his work on “The Problem with Jon Stewart” and more, hosted the show from 1999 until he stepped down in 2015. During his tenure, the show increased in popularity and garnered praise from critics.
However, in 2015, Stewart decided to leave, saying, “It’s not like I thought the show wasn’t working any more, or that I didn’t know how to do it. It was more, ‘Yup, it’s working. But I’m not getting the same satisfaction.’”
After his exit in 2015, comedian Trevor Noah took over hosting. Since Noah’s departure in 2022, the show has struggled to find its footing, spending over a year with no new permanent host and relying on a myriad of guest hosts instead.
Stewart’s return to “The Daily Show” provides new stability and “confidence the program sorely needs,” in the words of critic Eric Deggans.
So far, Stewart’s return to the show has been a success, drawing in 930,000 total viewers his first night, the highest ratings the show has seen in six years.
His return was also well-received by critics, with critic Eric Deggans remarking that “Stewart eased back into the host’s chair without missing a beat, firing off jokes with a familiar style that felt like he had left just a few weeks ago, rather than in 2015.”
Stewart will continue to host “The Daily Show” on Mondays, with correspondents filling in the other days of the week.
Catch Jon Stewart and “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central at 11:00 p.m. EST.
