There’s a lot to appreciate about Noah’s approach to his show. “I love the brilliance and smarts of Stephen Colbert“. “The Daily Show” should have ended when Stewart quit, just like “The Office” should have wrapped a few episodes after main character Michael Scott (Steve Carell) left.
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He also hosted several TV programs, including his own late-night talk show, and was briefly a contributor to The Daily Show. But it’s also extremely exciting. As host, Stewart didn’t play the role of an outsider, pointing fingers at young people and acting confused about the internet. It seems the people – or the media, rather – are concerned for their safety. Its sharp, unforgiving perspective is deeply needed, especially in the lead up to the 2016 election.
And New Jersey governor and presidential candidate Chris Christie, because, “The show is still going to be political, still going to be about American politics”, said Noah. He noted the discussion following Stewart’s decision to step down that the show should be turned over to a woman, but those who were offered the job turned it down.
That instant judging has bitten him before: Noah’s years-old tweets of what some considered offensive jokes resurfaced shortly after his hiring, sparking an online outcry. That means Comedy Central’s fat cats could never let “The Daily Show” die with dignity and end its 16-year run on a high note, right?
Speaking of: “There’s so many things. everything from the Syrian refugee crisis to Donald Trump to the republican debates and Hillary’s email scandal”. Then he bumblingly interviewed a super-famous black dude (a half-as-manic-as-usual-but-that’s-still-pretty-manic Kevin Hart, who bragged about his trousers and established that the interviews won’t be the highlight of Noah’s tenure, either). When I asked Noah how often he’ll be poking fun of CNN, he answered slyly, “How many things are you going to be doing that you consider joke-worthy?”
Monday’s “Daily Show” arrived looking more or less (and reassuringly) like itself: Same theme song, same desk arrangement; some light housekeeping, such as sprucing up of fonts and colors that make the show look a tad more Indecision 2016 instead of Indecision 2004. As a host, Stewart didn’t shy away from those moments, and used his opening monologue segment as an opportunity to make a statement.
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“No-one can replace Jon Stewart”. I think we also sometimes need to take a beat to realize the progress that is being made. At 31, his generation grew up as the internet took form, and has been more aware of problems like climate change.
