Erstwhile comedian Jon Stewart will no longer helm Comedy Central’s flagship late-night program The Daily Show, the network has confirmed.
After The AV Club first reported the story, Comedy Central released a statement on Twitter wishing Stewart well after he leaves the show.
For the better part of the last two decades, we have had the incredible honor and privilege of working with Jon Stewart. His comedic brilliance is second to none. Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera. Through his unique voice and vision, The Daily Show has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come. Jon will remain at the helm of The Daily Show until later this year. He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family.
Stewart took a break from his Daily Show duties in 2013 to direct his first feature film, Rosewater. His fill-in host, John Oliver, impressed HBO and was offered his own show; Last Week Tonight with John Oliver premiered in April 2014 to positive reviews–some of which even dinged Stewart for slacking on his own gig. Stephen Colbert, who made his name on Stewart’s Daily Show and followed the program for many years on his own half-hour Colbert Report, will soon take over for David Letterman as the host of CBS’s Late Show.
Where Stewart ends up next, no one has yet speculated. However, as NBC’s Brian Williams drama rages, consider that the network has already offered Stewart the job of hosting their Sunday morning talk show Meet the Press.