Over the past several weeks, James Corden replaced Craig Ferguson as the host of “The Late Late Show”; Stephen Colbert left “The Colbert Report” to take over for David Letterman on “The Late Show”; and Larry Wilmore just landed a gig as the host of “The Nightly Show” on Comedy Central.
Now, one of late-night television’s staples, Jon Stewart, has announced that he is leaving “The Daily Show.” Stewart explained his exit — which will happen later in 2015 — in an emotional announcement on Tuesday night’s episode. “I’m not gonna try to sum up what this place has meant to me over the years. … I’ve got plenty of time,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere tomorrow. But this show doesn’t deserve an even slightly restless host, and neither do you.”
Comedy Central confirmed the news in a brief statement:
“For the better part of the last two decades, we have had the incredible honor and privilege of working with Jon Stewart. His comedic brilliance is second to none. Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera. Through his unique voice and vision, The Daily Show has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come. Jon will remain at the helm of The Daily Show until later this year. He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family.”
As expected, social media began offering suggestions for a replacement host, and we thought we’d get in on the fun with our top five pick..Anyone might have a hard time following in Stewart’s shoes, we bet these funny men and women would give it their best shot. Hit the flip for all the deets.
