Jon Stewart’s Return to The Daily Show Generates Huge Ratings

According to Comedy Central, The Daily Show managed to draw in approximately 1.85 million viewers across the premiere and encore simulcasts, with Comedy Central accounting for around 930K viewers, its highest since 2018. These impressive numbers inject new life into the long-standing comedy program, which experienced a decline in popularity following Noah’s departure in 2022. In the interim, the show had experimented with guest hosts before ultimately announcing Stewart’s return to host one episode per week on Mondays.

Stewart’s comeback episode featured his signature satirical style as he took aim at both President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, reminiscent of his heyday in the 2000s. Critics widely praised the episode, describing it as a return to form for both The Daily Show and Stewart himself, who last hosted the series in 2015.

Stewart’s Enduring Influence in Political Satire

During his tenure on The Daily Show, Stewart became a cultural icon, delivering poignant and heartfelt reactions to events such as the September 11 attacks and fearlessly challenging the hosts of Crossfire. Since his departure, Stewart has remained in the public eye, hosting Apple TV’s The Problem With Jon Stewart from 2021 to 2023.

The immense success of Jon Stewart’s return to The Daily Show not only brings a renewed energy to the beloved comedy program but also reaffirms Stewart’s enduring influence in the realm of political satire.