The Daily Show

The Daily Show is an American late-night news-satire program launched by Comedy Central Comedy CentralComedy Central is an American comedy television and digital-entertainment brand covering news satire, stand-up, sketch comedy and adult animation. Known for programs including The Daily Show and South Park, it is part of Skydance Corporation’s media business.Open the full entry in 1996 and co-created by Lizz Winstead Lizz WinsteadLizz Winstead is an American comedian, author and media creator, co-creator and original head writer of The Daily Show, and co-founder of Air America Radio. She also leads the reproductive-rights advocacy organization Abortion Access Front.Open the full entry and Madeleine Smithberg Madeleine SmithbergMadeleine Smithberg is a television producer, writer and cooking-show creator who co-created The Daily Show with Lizz Winstead and served as its executive producer. She later developed cooking videos and instruction through Mad In The Kitchen.Open the full entry. It combines news commentary, field reports, comedy segments and interviews. Jon Stewart Jon StewartJon Stewart is an American comedian, television host, writer and producer associated with Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. His work spans political satire, media criticism and interviews on public issues. He returned to host the program on Mondays in 2024.Open the full entry hosts Mondays, with a rotating team on the other weekdays; distribution includes Paramount+Paramount+Paramount+ is a subscription streaming service expanded and rebranded from CBS All Access, offering films, series, originals, news and live sports. It launched under the new brand in March 2021 and is part of Skydance Corporation’s direct-to-consumer business.Open the full entry, online video and podcasts.

Contents8 sections

Key facts

July 22, 1996Premiere

Created by Lizz Winstead and Madeleine Smithberg, The Daily Show premiered on Comedy Central on July 22, 1996 with Craig Kilborn Craig KilbornCraig Kilborn is an American television host, comedy performer and podcaster who moved from sports broadcasting into late-night television. He was the first host of The Daily Show and later hosted CBS’s The Late Late Show.Open the full entry as its first host. Its early format parodied television news, celebrity coverage and entertainment culture, with interview features such as Five Questions.⁠[1]

1999–2015Jon Stewart’s first tenure

Jon Stewart became host in January 1999. During his tenure, the program developed political coverage and media criticism through correspondent roles, juxtaposed news clips and interviews. Madeleine Smithberg was involved in its early production, while Jen Flanz Jen FlanzJen Flanz is a television producer who rose from production assistant to executive producer and showrunner of The Daily Show, overseeing its creative work, staff coordination and overall presentation.Open the full entry rose from production assistant to executive producer.⁠[2][3]

2015–2022Trevor Noah’s tenure

Trevor Noah Trevor NoahTrevor Noah is a South African comedian, author, host and producer who hosted The Daily Show from 2015 to 2022. The author of Born a Crime, he also works through stand-up tours, podcasts, a production company and an education foundation.Open the full entry succeeded Stewart in 2015 and left in December 2022. Ronny Chieng Ronny ChiengRonny Chieng is a Malaysia-born comedian, writer and actor who developed his comedy career in Australia before joining The Daily Show. His work includes Ronny Chieng: International Student, Netflix stand-up specials and Crazy Rich Asians.Open the full entry, Desi Lydic Desi LydicDesi Lydic is an actor, comedian, and correspondent and rotating host of The Daily Show. Her work includes Awkward, Desi Lydic: Abroad and the digital satire series Desi Lydic Foxsplains.Open the full entry and Michael Kosta Michael KostaMichael Kosta is a comedian, television host and former professional tennis player known as a correspondent and rotating host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. His other work includes a tennis podcast and the memoir Lucky Loser.Open the full entry joined the correspondent team during this period, while Jordan Klepper Jordan KlepperJordan Klepper is a comedian, writer and television host known for political-rally field reports on The Daily Show, The Opposition with Jordan Klepper and the Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse series.Open the full entry continued contributing. The program also developed digital shorts, field specials and audio distribution.⁠[4][5][6][7][8][9]

2023–2024Guest hosts and a team format

After Noah’s departure, the program used a succession of guest hosts in 2023. Jon Stewart returned to host Mondays in February 2024. In April, Comedy Central formally added Josh Johnson (comedian)Josh Johnson (comedian)Josh Johnson is a Louisiana-born stand-up comedian and writer who wrote for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Daily Show before becoming a correspondent and rotating host of The Daily Show.Open the full entry, Troy Iwata Troy IwataTroy Iwata is a stage and screen actor, comedy performer and correspondent on The Daily Show. His credits include Broadway’s Be More Chill, Netflix’s Dash & Lily and the film Summoning Sylvia.Open the full entry and Grace Kuhlenschmidt Grace KuhlenschmidtGrace Kuhlenschmidt is a comedian, actor and correspondent on The Daily Show whose work developed through improvisation and online shorts before bringing character comedy and observations about internet culture to television news satire.Open the full entry to the correspondent team.⁠[4][10]

October 2026Hosting extension and distribution

On October 19, 2026, Comedy Central extended Stewart’s Monday hosting through December 2028. Michael Kosta, Ronny Chieng, Jordan Klepper, Desi Lydic and Josh Johnson (comedian) rotate from Tuesday through Thursday, with Troy Iwata and Grace Kuhlenschmidt contributing as correspondents. Jen Flanz is showrunner. The program airs Monday–Thursday at 11 p.m. ET/PT on Comedy Central, with episodes on Paramount+ the next day.⁠[11]

November 2, 2026Midterm-election podcast discussion

The Daily Show: Ears Edition The Daily Show: Ears EditionThe Daily Show: Ears Edition is Comedy Central’s official audio companion to The Daily Show, featuring audio versions of the television program, interviews, selected segments and additional discussions for podcast audiences.Open the full entry released “The Midterm Precap,” featuring Michael Kosta, Ronny Chieng and Jordan Klepper discussing the US midterm campaign and media coverage, followed by reading and viewing recommendations.⁠[12]

Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts

The broadcast brand is Comedy Central, the streaming service is Paramount+, and the audio program is The Daily Show: Ears Edition. Public accounts include YouTube YouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry (https://www.youtube.com/thedailyshow (opens in a new window)), X (https://x.com/TheDailyShow (opens in a new window)) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thedailyshow (opens in a new window)). Official website: https://www.cc.com/fan-hub/the-daily-show (opens in a new window).⁠[13]