Comedy Central announced that Jon Stewart has signed a new deal extending his tenure as host of "The Daily Show" through December 2028. Stewart returned in February 2024 after a nine-year absence, hosting only on Mondays, but ratings have surged with new episodes averaging over one million viewers—the show's best performance since 2019. His monologues have also gone viral online, accounting for 14 of the 20 most-watched YouTube clips among late-night hosts last year.
The two-year deal provides a boost to the late-night genre, which has faced cancellations and declining viewership. CBS recently canceled "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" after exiting original late-night comedy production. ABC's future in late night remains uncertain as Disney negotiates with Jimmy Kimmel.
CBS chief George Cheeks, now with Skydance, expressed excitement about continuing the partnership with Stewart, calling him a "generational talent" and praising "The Daily Show" as a cornerstone of Comedy Central.
Source: New York Times Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing