Jon Stewart, the comedian-turned-faux newsman who transformed The Daily Show into a cultural powerhouse over the course of more than a decade, is leaving the show later this year.
Stewart announced his coming departure during the taping of Tuesday’s show, and Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless confirmed it in a statement. It wasn’t immediately clear what Stewart’s next move will be.
Thank you Jon. pic.twitter.com/yPdxjnkuLw
— Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) February 10, 2015
Stewart became anchor in 1999, taking a show that Craig Kilborn had started and turning it into a cultural touchstone that left no subject matter—and no politicians—unscathed. The show has received 50 Emmy nominations and won 15. And it spawned another powerhouse in its own right when Stephen Colbert, a Daily Show correspondent, launched The Colbert Report. Colbert ended his show late last year for a move to David Letterman’s job at CBS.
Comedy Central has sent out this official statement confirming the news, and saying that Stewart will remain with The Daily Show until later this year. It also says that the show will “endure for years to come,” suggesting that it won’t end with Stewart:
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