Recent events at Paramount Global have created uncertainty for its late-night comedy lineup, directly impacting The Daily Show. Jon Stewart's role at the program is under scrutiny following network decisions and his on-air responses, while longtime writer and correspondent Josh Johnson takes over hosting duties for the first time.
Josh Johnson Steps in as Guest Host
Josh Johnson, who has served as a writer and correspondent for The Daily Show since 2017, began his first tenure as guest host on Tuesday, July 23, 2024 [1]. Johnson is scheduled to host the program from Tuesday through Thursday, a role he discussed in a promotional interview [3]. He expressed his readiness to lead the show and planned to cover current events, including discussions around Donald Trump and newly released files related to Jeffrey Epstein [3].
Johnson’s temporary appointment is part of the show's rotating host format, which has been in place since Trevor Noah’s departure. However, his hosting debut occurs during a period of significant turmoil for the network and the show itself, placing his performance in a brighter spotlight [1].
Scrutiny Over Jon Stewart's Tenure
Jon Stewart returned to The Daily Show in February 2024 to host Monday episodes through the U.S. presidential election. His return was met with high viewership, but his future with the show is now reportedly in question [1]. Speculation intensified after Stewart made several on-air statements critical of the show's parent company, Paramount Global [4] [5].
The uncertainty is linked to ongoing merger discussions between Paramount Global and Skydance Media [1]. Corporate leadership changes often result in programming shifts, and Stewart has publicly acknowledged the precarious position of the show. Before recent events, he had already commented on the possibility that new ownership might not continue with the program's current format or talent [4]. Stewart’s contract is specific to his Monday hosting duties, and reports suggest that his continued role is not guaranteed, especially if the merger proceeds and leadership changes [1].
The Cancellation of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'
A significant factor contributing to the instability is CBS's abrupt cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. On July 18, 2024, just days after Colbert used his monologue to criticize a financial settlement between Paramount and Donald Trump, CBS announced the show's immediate end [5]. The network, which is a subsidiary of Paramount, stated the decision was part of a programming strategy shift. The proximity of the cancellation to Colbert's critical commentary led to widespread accusations of corporate retaliation [1] [5].
Colbert’s final monologue on July 15 criticized Paramount for paying a reported $16 million to a company associated with Donald Trump to settle a dispute over a documentary series. This payment was framed by both Colbert and Stewart as problematic and ethically questionable [1].
Stewart's Direct On-Air Response
On his July 22 broadcast, Jon Stewart directly addressed the cancellation of Colbert's show and the broader issue of corporate influence over content [2]. He opened his program with a segment that condemned the network's actions without naming Paramount directly. Stewart argued that large corporations often silence critical voices to protect their financial interests [5].
To punctuate his point, he introduced a satirical musical group called the "Go F**k Yourself" choir [2]. The choir performed a song with lyrics encouraging corporations and advertisers to show courage and resist pressures that lead to censorship. Stewart called on advertisers who support free speech to "sack up" and stand by shows that engage in political commentary, even when it is critical of powerful entities [5]. His segment was widely interpreted as a direct challenge to his own employers and a defense of his colleague, Stephen Colbert [1].
The Paramount-Trump Settlement
The core of the recent controversy is a financial settlement paid by Paramount Global. The payment was made to a company connected to Donald Trump to resolve a conflict over an unfinished documentary series about the 2020 election [1]. Both Colbert and Stewart focused on this settlement in their monologues.
Stewart, in a previous episode, had compared the settlement to a payoff depicted in the film Goodfellas, suggesting it was a "bribe" to avoid further conflict with a powerful political figure [1]. This characterization established his critical stance on the matter, which Colbert later echoed. The network's reaction to Colbert's commentary, followed by Stewart's defiant doubling-down, has created a visible rift between the late-night hosts and their corporate ownership. The situation leaves the future of The Daily Show, a program historically defined by its sharp political and corporate satire, in an uncertain state [1] [4]. The convergence of a potential corporate merger, the silencing of one major host, and the defiance of another suggests that more changes may be forthcoming for the late-night television landscape.