The Daily Show (TDS) is an American late-night talk and satirical news television program. It airs each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central with release shortly after on Paramount+ of extended episodes. The Daily Show draws its comedy and satire from recent news stories as well as political figures, media organizations, and often uses self-referential humor.
The half-hour-long show premiered on July 22, 1996, and was first hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 17, 1998. Jon Stewart then took over as the host from January 11, 1999, until August 6, 2015, making the show more strongly focused on political satire and news satire, in contrast with the pop culture focus during Kilborn's tenure. Stewart was succeeded by Trevor Noah, whose tenure began on September 28, 2015. Under the different hosts, the show has been formally known as The Daily Show with Craig Kilborn from 1996 to 1998, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from 1999 until 2015, and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah from 2015 to 2022. The Daily Show is the longest-running program on Comedy Central (counting all three tenures), and has won 25 Primetime Emmy Awards.
The program has been popular among young audiences. The Pew Research Center suggested in 2010 that 74% of regular viewers were between 18 and 49, and that 10% of the audience watched the show for its news headlines, 2% for in-depth reporting, and 43% for entertainment; compared with respectively 64%, 10% and 4%, who said the same of CNN. In 2015 The Daily Show's median age of viewership is 36 years old. In 2023 the viewership for age range of 25-54 year olds is 158k and the age range for 18-34 year olds is 30k.
Critics chastised Stewart for not conducting sufficiently hard-hitting interviews with his political guests, some of whom he may have lampooned in previous segments. Stewart and other Daily Show writers responded to such criticism by saying that they do not have any journalistic responsibility and that as comedians, their only duty is to provide entertainment. Stewart's appearance on the CNN show Crossfire picked up this debate, where he chastised the CNN production and hosts for not conducting informative and current interviews on a news network.
In September 2022, Noah announced he would step down as the host of The Daily Show. His last episode as host was on December 8, 2022. As a new permanent host has not been chosen, the show has featured a rotating cast of guest hosts, with Jon Stewart returning to host Monday night shows starting February 12, 2024 and through the fall elections.
Cast[]
Current[]
| Name | Debut | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Host | ||
| Vacant. Currently hosted by Jon Stewart on Mondays and by correspondents from Tuesdays to Thursdays as of 2024. | ||
| Correspondents | ||
| Desi Lydic | September 29, 2015 | New Senior Geopolitical Correspondent, Senior Antiquities Correspondent, Senior Campaign Correspondent, Segment Host: "What The Actual Fact?", Weatherperson |
| Ronny Chieng | October 7, 2015 | Senior Technology Correspondent, Senior Climatology Correspondent, Senior Basketball Correspondent, Segment Host: "Everything is Stupid" |
| Michael Kosta | July 11, 2017 | Senior Constitutional Correspondent, Senior American Correspondent, Segment Co-Host: "I Apologize for Talking While You Were Talking", Stock reporter. |
| Dulcé Sloan | September 9, 2017 | Senior Fashion Correspondent, Lottery announcer. |
| Troy Iwata | October 19, 2023 | |
| Grace Kuhlenschmidt | October 25, 2023 | |
| Josh Johnson | February 20, 2024 | |
| Contributors | ||
| Lewis Black | July 31, 1996 | "Back in Black", he is the longest-running contributor to work on The Daily Show, having served on the show since the first month it was on the air. |
| Jordan Klepper | December 16, 2019 | After his show Klepper ended in 2019, he returned to the show to cover the 2020 election, and do "Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse" segments. |
Former[]
| Name | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hosts | ||
| Craig Kilborn | 1996–1998 | Left the show after being chosen to host The Late Late Show following Tom Snyder's departure. Kilborn appeared on the show 16 years later on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
| Jon Stewart | 1999–2015,2024 | Succeeded Kilborn as the new host of The Daily Show and is the most prolific host of the show. Stewart's final show was an hour long special on August 6, 2015. He returned to the show on December 7, 2015, to urge the U.S. Congress to permanently extend a health care law for 9/11 first responders. Returned to host on a weekly basis on February 12, 2024. |
| Trevor Noah | September 28, 2015 | Originally debuted as the Senior International Correspondent and as a contributor on December 4, 2014. In March 2015, Comedy Central revealed that he would be hosting the show. Noah’s final show was an hour long special on December 8, 2022. |
| Correspondents | ||
| Jeff Ross | 1996–1997 | Contributing correspondent |
| Brian Unger | 1996–1998 | "Backfire", was one of The Daily Show's original correspondents. |
| Lizz Winstead | 1996–1997 | Original correspondent and co-creator of The Daily Show. |
| A. Whitney Brown | 1996–1998 | "Backfire"; was one of The Daily Show's original correspondents. Had his own The Daily Show special in 1998 called "Weirder Than Whitney". |
| David Wain | 1996 | Contributing correspondent |
| Beth Littleford | 1996–2000 | "The Beth Littleford Interview", "bETh". In 1999, she had her own The Daily Show special called "The Beth Littleford Interview Special", highlighting her popular celebrity interviews. She was the only original correspondent to stay with the show after Jon Stewart took over as host, leaving the show in 2000. |
| Stephen Colbert | 1997–2005 | "Even Stephven", "This Week in God", "The Jobbing of America". Stephen Colbert guest hosted The Daily Show six times. Although Colbert left The Daily Show team in mid-2005, through 2010 Stewart frequently "tossed" to him at The Colbert Report at the end of a show. Colbert has also made a number of Daily Show cameos since 2005, particularly in reference to his mock "presidential campaigns" in 2007/08 and 2011/12, and Stewart's stewardship of Colbert SuperPAC in 2011. With a nearly nine-year tenure, Colbert was the longest serving correspondent on The Daily Show until his record was broken by Samantha Bee in 2011. Before taking over as new host of The Late Show on CBS. |
| Stacey Grenrock-Woods | 1998–2003 | Contributing correspondent |
| Jeff Stilson | 1998–1999 | Contributing correspondent |
| Mo Rocca | 1998–2003 | "Dollars and "Cents"", "Mark Your Calendar", "Mopinion". Rocca went on to parlay his Daily Show correspondent persona in numerous other cable appearances, such as several VH1 "talking head" shows and at the 2004 political conventions for Larry King Live. |
| Vance DeGeneres | 1999–2001 | "Dollars and "Cents"", "A Tale of Survival", had his own The Daily Show special in 2000 highlighting his popular "Tales of Survival" segments. |
| Denny Siegel | 1999 | Contributing correspondent |
| Steve Carell | 1999–2005 | "Even Stephven", "Produce Pete", "Dollars and "Cents"", "We Love Showbiz", "Slimmin' Down With Steve", "Ad Nauseam". Carell had his own The Daily Show special in May 2001 called "Steve Carell Salutes Steve Carell" highlighting his most popular field assignments on the show. Carell is the first correspondent to become a major movie and television star, and the only correspondent to receive an Academy Award nomination since leaving The Daily Show in early 2005. Carell has since returned numerous times as a featured guest. He is married to fellow former correspondent Nancy (Walls) Carell. |
| Nancy Carell | 1999–2002 | "We Love Showbiz", "Popular Music Omnibus", "Dollars and "Cents"". Was credited under maiden name, Nancy Walls, and has been married to fellow former correspondent Steve Carell since 1995. |
| Miriam Tolan | 2000–2002 | Contributing correspondent. Also occasionally filled in for Nancy Walls on "Dollars and "Cents"" |
| Matt Walsh | 2001–2002 | News You Can Utilize, "Dollars and "Cents"", had his own The Daily Show special in May 2002 called "Matt Walsh Goes to Hawaii". |
| Lauren Weedman | 2001–2002 | "Dollars and "Cents"", "We Love Showbiz" |
| Mary Birdsong | 2002 | Contributing correspondent |
| Rob Corddry | 2002–2006 | "This Week in God", "Come On!", "Popular Music Omnibus", and as he liked to call them, "Poop jokes". Corddry filled in for Stewart (on paternity leave) on February 9, 2006. He left the show in August 2006 to start a film career and to star in The Winner, a Fox comedy that ran from March 4 to March 18, 2007. He has also returned as a special guest correspondent several times since. |
| Ed Helms | 2002–2006 | "Digital Watch", "Ad Nauseam", "Mark Your Calendar", "We Love Showbiz", "This Week in God". Helms and fellow correspondent Rob Corddry had their own The Daily Show special in 2003 called "I'm a Correspondent: Please Don't Fire Me". Helms made an appearance on July 21, 2008 as a special guest correspondent. Helms was one of the stars of the 2009 comedy The Hangover and was a regular cast member on NBC's The Office, beginning with its third season. |
| Rachael Harris | 2002–2003 | "Mark Your Calendar", "We Love Showbiz" |
| Samantha Bee | 2003–2015 | "This Week in God", "Are You Prepared?!?"; The Daily Show's first non-US citizen correspondent; all-time longest-serving regular correspondent after passing Stephen Colbert in 2011; filled in for a sick Jon Stewart on October 7, 2014. Bee departed the show on April 30, 2015, to host Full Frontal with Samantha Bee on TBS. She is married to fellow former correspondent Jason Jones. |
| Bob Wiltfong | 2004–2005 | Contributing correspondent |
| Dan Bakkedahl | 2005–2007 | Hired to replace departing correspondent Stephen Colbert on September 25, 2005. Filed his final report on September 25, 2007. |
| Jason Jones | 2005–2015 | "Are You Prepared?!?", "Jason Jones 180"; Filled in for a sick Jon Stewart on October 7, 2014. Departed the show on March 26, 2015. He is married to fellow former correspondent Samantha Bee. |
| Nate Corddry | 2005–2006 | The younger brother of correspondent Rob Corddry. As a running joke on the show, older brother Rob would often appear in Nate's segments usually picking on him. This eventually led to the two brothers having their own "Even Stephven"-style debate segment called "Brother vs. Brother". |
| John Oliver | 2006–2013 | Senior British Person; "Wilmore-Oliver Investigates"; on writing staff from 2007 to 2013. Interim host during the summer of 2013. He departed the show on December 19, 2013 to prepare hosting his own late night show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on HBO which premiered on April 27, 2014. Returned to host the show on November 13, 2014 to promote Jon Stewart's film, Rosewater. |
| Aasif Mandvi | 2006–2015 | Senior Middle East Correspondent; started as a contributor; but made correspondent in March 2007. Senior Campaign Correspondent. |
| Rob Riggle | 2006–2008 | Senior Military Affairs Correspondent; Some of his most memorable work on the show included his overseas special assignments. His week-long reports from Iraq in 2007 titled "Operation: Silent Thunder" brought much attention to the show. After the success of "Silent Thunder", he traveled to China for his second overseas four-part series during the 2008 Olympics, titled "Rob Riggle: Chasing the Dragon". Shortly after announcing he would be leaving the show, he made his farewell appearance on December 10, 2008. Riggle made a surprise appearance on the August 3, 2010 show, during an interview with Will Ferrell and again on August 15, 2013 for the last show of guest host John Oliver. Made a cameo the week of November 17th in a correspondent report. |
| Wyatt Cenac | 2008–2012 | Senior Correspondent; also provides voice for Michael Steele puppet. Filed his final report on December 13, 2012, but also made cameo guest appearances on August 15, 2013 for the last show of guest host John Oliver. |
| Josh Gad | 2009–2011 | Contributing Correspondent. Made his last appearance on June 27, 2011. |
| Olivia Munn | 2010–2011 | Senior Asian Correspondent. Made her final appearance on September 12, 2011. |
| Al Madrigal | 2011–2016 | Senior Latino Correspondent. California correspondent. |
| Jessica Williams | 2012–2016 | Senior Youth Correspondent. Senior Beyoncé Correspondent. Senior Congressional Correspondent. Senior Campaign Correspondent. Senior Political Correspondent. |
| Jordan Klepper | 2014–2017 | New Senior Caucasian Correspondent. Senior Congressional Correspondent. Senior Campaign Correspondent. Senior Technology Correspondent. Senior Fantasy Culture Correspondent. Senior Fantasy Sports Correspondent. Senior Iowan Correspondent. Senior U.K. Correspondent. "Jordan Fingers the Pulse". Filled in for a sick Trevor Noah on October 20, 2016. Left the show so he can begin hosting his own spin-off The Opposition w/ Jordan Klepper on September 25, 2017. After the show got cancelled in 2018, he hosted a docuseries titled Klepper in 2019. |
| Michael Che | 2014 | Left to co-anchor "Weekend Update" on Saturday Night Live. Shortest correspondent tenure as of 2015. Was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
| Hasan Minhaj | 2014–2018 | Senior Indian Correspondent. Senior Political Correspondent. Senior Congressional Correspondent. Departed to host his own show Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj on Netflix. Minhaj was the last remaining correspondent from the Jon Stewart era. |
| Roy Wood Jr. | 2015–2023 | Senior Mars Correspondent, Senior Wall Street Correspondent, Senior Campaign Correspondent, Senior Immigration Correspondent, Senior Hollywood Correspondent, Steve Harvey impersonator, Segment Host: "CP Time", Segment Co-Host: "I Apologize for Talking While You Were Talking", Traffic reporter. |
| Jaboukie Young-White | 2018–2021 | Senior Youth Correspondent |
| Contributors | ||
| Molly Pesce | 1996–1998 | Originally co-hosted The Daily Show's movie review segments with Frank DeCaro. Eventually, DeCaro would go solo with his own segment "Out at the Movies" in 1997. |
| John Bloom | 1996–2000 | Contributor, "God Stuff". |
| Michael Blieden | 1996–2000 | Contributor, original host of "Ad Nauseam". |
| Ed Lover | 1996 | Contributor, "Ed Lover's America". |
| Frank DeCaro | 1996–2003 | Contributor, "Out at the Movies"; he hosted his own program on Sirius Satellite Radio and was a celebrity panelist on GSN's revival of I've Got a Secret. |
| Robert Knight | 1997 | Contributor |
| Sameer Butt | 1997–1998 | Contributor |
| Amy Atkins | 1998 | Contributor |
| Al Greenwood | 1998–2000 | Contributor, "Al Up in That". Greenwood (known for his local "Bedspread King" commercials) appeared as the show's "elderly consumer advocate". In 2000, he hosted The Daily Show special "Al Greenwood's Wrinkled Nuts", a best-of collection of the correspondent's field interviews with elderly residents. Greenwood died on June 6, 2001, at age 93. An "in memoriam" clip for Greenwood was shown as the "Moment of Zen" on the show that week. |
| Paul F. Tompkins | 1998 | Contributor, "Us People's Weekly Entertainment". |
| Tom Shillue | 1998–2000 | Contributor, "This Week in Hate". Become a correspondent in 2000 before leaving. |
| Rich Brown | 1998–2000 | Contributor, "Public Excess". Also a one-time correspondent. |
| Dave Attell | 1999–2002 | Contributor, "The Ugly American". |
| William Stephenson | 1999 | Contributor, "What I'm Sayin". Stephenson died on January 14, 2019 at age 61. |
| Tom Johnson | 2000–2001 | Contributor, "Lord Viper Scorpion". |
| Andy Kindler | 2000–2001 | Contributor, "TV Guy". |
| Campbell Smith | 2001–2002 | Contributor, "Dollars and "Cents"". |
| Demetri Martin | 2005–2008 | Contributor, "Trendspotting". Left to star in his own Comedy Central show, Important Things with Demetri Martin. |
| John Hodgman | 2006–2015 | Resident Expert, Deranged Millionaire, "You're Welcome", "Exper-teasers"; "Money Talks"; appeared on the show once as a guest in November 2005 to promote The Areas of My Expertise. |
| Dave Gorman | 2006 | Contributor, "Poll Smoking"; appeared on the show once as a guest in 2001 to promote Are You Dave Gorman?. |
| Larry Wilmore | 2006–2014 | Senior Black Correspondent, "Wilmore-Oliver Investigates". Left to host The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. |
| Buck Henry | 2007 | Contributor, "The Henry Stops Here", Senior Historical Perspectivist. |
| Kristen Schaal | 2008–2015 | Women's Issues Correspondent; married to long-time Daily Show writer Rich Blomquist. |
| Mick Foley | 2009–2013 | Contributor, "Senior Ass Kicker". |
| Bassem Youssef | 2015 | Senior Middle East Correspondent. The host of Al-Bernameg (The Program), a satirical news program broadcast in Egypt from 2011 to 2014. The press has compared Youssef with Stewart, who served as an inspiration for Youssef to begin his career. |
| Adam Lowitt | 2015–2017 | Senior Jewish Correspondent |
| Neal Brennan | 2016–2020 | Contributor, Trevor's friend. |
| Michelle Wolf | 2016–2017 | Senior Women's Issues Correspondent. Previously a writer on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Wolf went on to host her own show, The Break with Michelle Wolf on Netflix, which ran for ten episodes. |
| Eliza Cossio | 2016–2017 | Newest Contributor; Senior Latina Contributor |
| Gina Yashere | 2017–2018 | Senior British Correspondent |
International broadcast[]
| Country | Network(s) |
|---|---|
| United States | Comedy Central, Westwood One BET, Centric/BET Her, CMT, Logo TV, MTV, MTV2, mtvU, Nick at Nite, Pop TV, Spike, TV Land, VH1, VH1 Classic (select episode simulcasts) |
| International | CNN International |
| Australia | The Comedy Channel, ABC2, SBS, Network Ten, 10 Shake |
| Canada | CTV, The Comedy Network/CTV Comedy Channel |
| Finland | Canal+, Paramount Network |
| France | Canal+ Décalé, Comedy Central |
| Germany | Comedy Central |
| India | Comedy Central |
| Middle East and North Africa | Showtime Arabia, Comedy Central |
| Norway | NRK, Comedy Central, Canal+ |
| Poland | Comedy Central, Player.pl |
| Portugal | SIC Radical, SIC Notícias |
| United Kingdom Ireland |
More4, Comedy Central, Comedy Central Extra |