Jon Stewart's 'Daily Show' return is so smooth, it's like he never left
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
After watching Jon Stewart's triumphant return to The Daily Show on Monday night, I had two thoughts.
The GOAT of late night satire is back. And even some of the show's biggest fans may not be all that happy to see him return.
That's because, in his first episode returning as host — nearly nine years after he originally left — Stewart took on a subject that even his most liberal fans might find touchy: the idea that concerns about how age may have affected President Biden aren't necessarily overblown.
He didn't mince words about the erratic behavior of Biden's likely opponent for the presidency, Donald Trump, either — showing how the former president couldn't remember basic things during court depositions like how long he was married to Marla Maples or whether he had bragged about how great his memory was. ("It turns out, the leading cause of early onset dementia is being deposed," Stewart cracked, after showing a montage of Trump's grown children having similar recall issues.)
But even though some liberals may be sensitive to the idea that comparing Biden's gaffes with Trump's behavior is an unfair "both sides" balancing act, Stewart insisted supporters should do a better job showing the current president is vital and effective as they say he is.
"It's the candidate's job to assuage concerns," Stewart said in a 20-minute segment that kicked off last night's program. "Not the voter's job not to mention them."
Easily slipping back into the host chair
From the show's opening moments, 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. He brought a confidence the program sorely needs; it's been searching for a permanent host for more than a year since the departure of Trevor Noah, who succeeded Stewart as host.
Stewart returns in a unique arrangement, hosting The Daily Show on Monday nights and serving as an executive producer for all evenings — similar to an arrangement crafted by another cable TV star, Rachel Maddow on MSNBC. The new setup allows him to avoid the grind of daily hosting, ceding the rest of the week to the show's correspondents, starting with Jordan Klepper, who hosts Tuesday through Thursday.
Even as he eased into familiar rhythms — poking fun at idea that he's an old guy returning to his old job, highlighting concerns about two other old guys competing to get their old job back — Stewart faced a new challenge: reminding everyone why he was such a venerated host in the first place.
In his first 16 years hosting The Daily Show , Stewart elevated the program into an incisive look at the hypocrisies of media, politics and society. Along the way, he helped birth a style of fact-based satire that has exploded all over television, from the work by Daily Show alums John Oliver on HBO's Last Week Tonight and Stephen Colbert on CBS' The Late Show to the sharper political tone of Late Night with Seth Meyers and Jimmy Kimmel Live .
But the media environment Stewart has returned to is quite different. Ratings in late night have declined, and the young audiences that once fueled the genre have moved on to TikTok and YouTube. With luck, Stewart's appeal to The Daily Show 's old school fans will bring better ratings on the cable channel, but it's still likely to be a smaller crowd than he once commanded.
Regardless, last night's program shows Stewart's still got the comedy chops and incisive ideas to power the show at least through the presidential election in November. He has said in interviews that part of the appeal in returning was to have a place to "unload thoughts" as the election season progresses.
Last night's debut proved Stewart will bring that and more, buying time for an influential show at a crossroads to figure out a new future for itself at least one more time.
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Big Dog is back ... oh wait, that was a guy called Bill.
n.b. ... there are clips within the seed at the site.
I'll make sure to catch this when I catch up with my dad this week for dinner and some Stephen Colbert/The Late Show also,
I really missed Jon when he left the Daily Show and I got to enjoy Trevor Noah after I got over Jon leaving and then Trevor left!
I look forward to Jon throughout the election season.
Haven't seen you around in a while Hallux. Hope you've been well.
Sorta, I've been mostly horizontal and reading: Liz Cheney's Oath and Honor and Nabokov's Lolita.
Some folks say we go to the Daily Show, and Stephen Colbert (actors/comedians) for the news and that is partially true because they actually provide the truth and facts about the subjects/topics that they speak about unlike those who disparage them.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiight
Some folks should think about their choices
As predicted, someone, as always, proves me correct.
I watched half his show last night.
His show replaced the "King of Queens" reruns I endlessly enjoy. I will give him credit. He was as tough on Biden as he was on Trump.
I take it neither or both are cis royalty.
Nope. Real people comedy.
I logon here for that.
I logon for our readers.
Indeed, they're a chatty bunch. One and all chock full of wiley witty wisdom.
All three of them?
And in your dreams!
um....
Can he save The Daily Shows ratings?
Only time will tell …..
Expect many untrue references to the news here as he is a hero to some of our brethren.
He's a hero to 9-11 firemen and anyone else who climbed up the stairs.
What untrue references? Jon is a hero as Hallux states.
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Hero is a pretty strong description. He’s done a lot of good but hero?
Nah.
Somebody's jealous of a decent man who has accomplished much in life, obviously.
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I notice there is no answer to the untrue references part, because obviously that's not true.
LOL
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I've noticed a few things too.
So cryptic!
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Jon Stewart got a lot of criticism on twitter about how he talked about Biden's age. I haven't seen the show yet. If it's on YouTube I'll probably look at it.
I'm glad he's come back once a week for the election year. But if he starts getting into that "both sides" shit he's not going to be helpful.
Is it his job to be helpfull?
Supposedly the reason he came back is to try and make sure that Trump doesn't get elected.
According to Jon
"I very much wanted to have some kind of place to unload thoughts as we get into this election season," Stewart said.
Stewart said his goal is not to have a specific influence on viewers but to have a means of catharsis and a way to comment on issues that people will hopefully enjoy.
As far as influence…just about everything that I wanted to happen over the 16 years that I was at 'The Daily Show' did not happen," explained Stewart, joking that there's no one better to comment on this election than someone "who truly understands two aging men past their prime."
I am sure that is what they are hoping for
It may well take one to do so ... remember that comedy is tragedy + time.
And The Daily Shows ratings have tanked.
Pretty big reason right there …
By telling jokes?
Well, he certainly failed in show # 1 where he called for the democrats who claim Biden is sharp and energetic to provide a film of it.
The desperation is palpable, we are now bringing washed up comedians out of retirement to prop up the senile old fool.
Good to see you're still grumpy.
Washed up? He's a millionaire many times over. Somebody's jealous!
So you measure success by bank accounts, then trump destroys your Messiah Biden.
No, maybe you measure success that way. That piece of shit former 'president' is worthless as a human being. I will never understand how so many, including yourself, defend the indefensible former 'president'.
I've been a fan of Jon for a long long long long time. He's a decent man. A good man. I love him. Many people love him. He is a hero despite the mockery from some.
Again, somebody's jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stewart is too smart to turn out to be a shill for Biden. I think he will be equally critical of both sides, like Bill Maher has.
Seems you are correct. And it is pissing liberals off LOL.
Seems like many were expecting him to be a savior now they just wish he would be quiet about any Biden shortcomings.
The defenders of free speech strike again. S/
He doesn't piss me off. I like when he goes after Democrats. It shows me and them that they are human and have warts like every one else
If you were one of the 7 people to watch his apple show, you probably wouldn't say that.
He'll toss in one joke cutting against Biden to every 5 to 10 times he attacks Trump, and progressives will flip out that he's engaging in both sideism (such a stalinist term). Stewart has always been a heavily partisan democrat, he just appears more moderate becasue of the other Colberts and John Olivers of the world. Like a normal fat guy standing next to 3 guys who weigh 700 pounds, it alters your perspective.