Jon Stewart Announces Final ‘Daily Show’ Appearance Date

After 17 years at the helm, Jon Stewart revealed Monday night he would host The Daily Show for the last time on August 6.

The announcement of Stewart’s impending departure was initially made in February, but no details were given for the exit, other than unvetted 31-year-old South African correspondent Trevor Noah had been handpicked as the show’s heir.

Of the farewell spot, Stewart said Monday, “I will be wearing a suit. I will more than likely be showered.” To an upset studio audience, he added: “I’m sorry, I will be wearing overalls and I won’t shower. So I hope that you will join us for that program.”

Stewart then invited fans to sign up for a chance to win tickets to his final show, which will include airfare and lodging.

In February, Stewart addressed his upcoming exit from the show for the first time:

I’m up in September. Might be around then, might be December, July, we’re still working out details. I don’t have any specific plans. Got a lot of ideas. I got a lot of things in my head. I’m going to have dinner on a school night with my family, who I’ve heard from multiple sources are lovely people. You know, I’m not going to be here and try and sum up what this place has meant to me over the years, but I couldn’t do that and we have plenty of time and I have a myriad of people to thank and we’ll get to that over time.

I’m not going anywhere tomorrow. But this show doesn’t deserve an even slightly restless host and neither do you. I don’t think I’m going to miss being on television every day. I’m going to miss coming here every day. I love the people here. They’re the best. They’re creative and collaborative and kind. You understand what I’m saying. I love and respect them so much.

Trevor Noah was named the show’s successor, a decision that immediately came under fire after posts from Noah’s Twitter account revealed a series of racist, sexist and anti-Semitic jokes:

https://twitter.com/tiffanycli/status/582888256104083456