Meet the new Daily Show host

So, there’s a new Daily Show host…

Trevor Noah (from npr.org)

I still can’t get my head around the fact that Jon Stewart is leaving, as explained in this post from February, and for sure it will take a few days to process the information that Trevor Noah will be replacing Jon.

After Jon’s announcement, nobody seemed to want to step up to the job because it is a tremendous responsibility, and whoever would take the position would be inevitably compared to Stewart. But it took time for Stewart to take the show to where it is today. If you ever watch the first show Jon hosted (which is available in the video section on their webpage) he couldn’t be more uncomfortable and not in his element, and he even admitted years later that during the first years of the show, he was prepared to quit at any time. But nothing better than experience to make things better. The topics, his delivery and everything else about the show just got better and better and he managed to be one of the most important voices in the political conversation.

Trevor will face a tough time, especially at the beginning, with the comparison with the former host, and this will be the biggest — but inevitable — mistake everybody will make. Nobody can be near to what Stewart does and Noah has to develop his own style which, again, TAKES TIME.

But the problem with American television is that most shows are not given time to develop and grow. For example, I’m a big Seinfeld fan, I can’t get enough of the reruns and laugh every time of the same jokes, but I wonder if the show would have been so successful had it been launched last year. It’s known that the producers had to fight for the show to be on the air and the ratings they had during the first seasons wouldn’t get them past the second season in current standards, at best.

When Stephen Colbert left and gave way to a new show (The Nightly Show) because there can’t be a Colbert Report without AT LEAST a person named “Colbert,” we can all compare the shows as a whole, because not only is the host different, but the format, guests, topics and segments are different as well. One thing that remains in The Nightly Show is the audience chanting the host’s name “Larry! Larry! Larry!” just like they used to do with Colbert. But that era is over now and Larry himself has to find his own voice and develop his audience along the way. It’s been nearly three months that The Nightly Show is on, with some hits and misses, but overall on a positive note, in my opinion. And I think that what will make both shows (Daily and Nightly) successful is the host TAKING CHARGE, being in control when at the desk and, most importantly, being diligent in their research and NOT screwing up on/off camera.

We WILL see changes “under new management hosting” at The Daily Show and it will actually be disappointing if we don’t. But with the industry and audience growing more impatient and wanting a perfect show from day one, I truly wish Noah the best of luck.

Please don’t go…

So, it turns out I’m in San Francisco for the month! A lot has happened, probably to be reported here later on, but nothing, NOTHING, has overwhelmed me so much as the news I saw last night….

JON STEWART IS LEAVING THE DAILY SHOW (Looking at the TV in horror…)

From salon.com

It all started with Ronaldo, Daniel, Lindsay and I doing the bar crawl last night. It was fun, we had good and bad beers, and at the end we all collected a really cool print from San Franpsycho. We ended the run at my favourite place, which does feel like “the local” we had in London: Gambrinus. They serve a long list of Polish beer and the atmosphere is great, so we decided to have something to eat there before going home.

We were going to have a piece of Ro’s birthday cake for dessert, but we were all so tired and full that we just called it a night. Ronaldo slept over at Daniel’s and I just crashed in bed, watching the 11-o’clock news to see what had happened during the day. Eyes closed, listening to the anchor talk about the local news, when suddenly they report on Brian Williams being suspended for 6 months without pay after the whole helicopter incident in Iraq. After that, they show a picture of Jon Stewart with the caption “Stewart stepping down.” I couldn’t believe my eyes. No longer tired. No longer being able to sleep. Just two months ago Colbert ended his hilarious tenure at Comedy Central, now the guy that started it all is leaving as well?

It’s just hard to process everything… He said he’ll leave later this year, “it could be September, it could be July…” As soon as JULY?? Maybe Comedy Central would have the summer to prep the new anchor, but then again, are they keeping The Daily Show as it is? Stewart started in 1999 replacing Craig Kilborn and transformed the show in what it is today. The Daily Show is Jon Stewart and Jon Stewart is The Daily Show, it’s not like a news show that every so often has a new anchor. There can’t be a Colbert Report without Stephen Colbert, can there be a Daily Show without Jon Stewart? (Well. there is the podcast…)

I feel really, really sad. I have to say that it’s spoiled my trip a little bit and I will definitely be bummed out for a couple days… I was so excited about the premiere of Better Call Saul and looking forward to upcoming episodes, but now all I can think about is already not watching Stewart do his thing, even though there will be at least some five months to go.

Here’s a link to his first show, which will sadly be paired with the last one soon.