“The Daily Show” has found its new host and it’s probably not someone you ever expected.
Comedy Central announced on Monday that Trevor Noah, a 31-year-old South African comic, will succeed Jon Stewart on the mock newscast when Stewart departs later this year.
Noah, who has contributed to “The Daily Show” just a few times, was chosen a little more than a month after Stewart unexpectedly announced he was leaving the program after 16 years. Largely unknown in the United States, Noah is the son of a black South African mother and white European father. He has hosted a late-night talk show in South Africa, “Tonight with Trevor Noah.”
Noah, 31, first appeared on “The Daily Show” last December in a segment titled “Spot the Africa,” during which he highlighted African stereotypes by comparing America to African nations, including Noah’s home country of South Africa.
In an interview with The New York Times, Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless said of Noah, “We talked to women. We talked to men. We found in Trevor the best person for the job. You don’t hope to find the next Jon Stewart — there is no next Jon Stewart. So, our goal was to find someone who brings something really exciting and new and different.”
Stewart offered his endorsement on Monday.
“I’m thrilled for the show and for Trevor,” he said. “He’s a tremendous comic and talent that we’ve loved working with … In fact, I may rejoin as a correspondent just to be part of it.”
In South Africa, the announcement made breaking news on a national television news station. On social media, Noah’s name became a trending topic within minutes, with some Twitter users saying he not only represented South Africa, but the African continent.
“You don’t believe it for the first few hours,” Noah told the Times of his new gig while in Dubai. “You need a stiff drink, and then unfortunately you’re in a place where you can’t really get alcohol.”
The comedian later tweeted: “No one can replace Jon Stewart. But together with the amazing team at ‘The Daily Show,’ we will continue to make this the best damn news show!”
Contact Chuck Barney at Facebook.com/BayAreaNewsGroup.ChuckBarney, or Twitter.com/chuckbarney
