Jon Stewart Reveals Why He Wanted To Return To ‘The Daily Show’

Peter White

12 February 2024 at 11:25 am·2-min read

Ahead of his return to The Daily Show tonight, Jon Stewart has revealed why he’s getting back behind his old desk.

Stewart, who will host Monday nights on Comedy Central through the presidential election, said he “very much wanted to have some place to unload thoughts as we get into this election season.”

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“Who better to comment on this election than someone who truly understands two aging men past their prime?” he joked.

Speaking on CBS Mornings, Stewart said he hopes to have a “catharsis” and a “way to comment on things and a way to express them that hopefully people will enjoy.”

“But as far as influence … just about everything I had wanted to happen over the 16 years that I was at The Daily Show did not happen, if you were hoping for influence,” he said.

Stewart, who will be joined by The Daily Show’s correspondents including Desi Lydic, Michael Kosta and Ronny Chieng as well as Jordan Klepper hosting the rest of the week, touched on his Apple TV+ show The Problem with Jon Stewart, which was canceled by the streamer in October.

“I thought I was going to do it over at — they call it Apple TV+. It’s a television enclave, very small,” Stewart said. “It’s like living in Malibu. They decided they felt that they didn’t want me to say things that might get me in trouble.”

Stewart also praised the production team of The Daily Show, much of which is the same as it was when he left in 2015.

“The team are unbelievable,” he said. “Jen Flanz runs a ridiculous ship; she knows what she’s doing in a way that is really impressive to watch and all of the writing staff and producers, it’s a building filled with incredibly talented people.”

Starting tonight, @jonstewart is back at @TheDailyShow anchor desk on Mondays through the 2024 election cycle.

He shares why he’s taking on a second term: “Who better to comment on this election than someone who truly understands two aging men past their prime?” pic.twitter.com/WSOBtSmrdj
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) February 12, 2024

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