Jon Stewart is headed back to TV! The former host of The Daily Show is set to headline an all-new current affairs series on the Apple streaming service.
The series is a part of an expansive, multiyear deal with Apple and the show is intended to run for multiple seasons. Stewart is no stranger to this kind of format as it squarely puts him back in the anchor's chair to explore a host of topics at the center of the national conversation and his own advocacy work. The show, which is still untitled, will feature hourlong, single-subject episodes and will be executive produced by Stewart through his company Busboy Productions.
Apple is also expected to offer a companion podcast for the series and you can tell by going all-in with Stewart, that this is a major coup for the streaming service. Stewart is accomplished and has been lauded for what he has done in the past, earning 20 Emmys for The Daily Show, including 10 consecutive outstanding variety series wins. It's pretty safe to say that Stewart redefined the political satire landscape in American culture. While Stewart's new show won't have the same release pattern as his run on Comedy Central with The Daily Show, it's bound to thrust AppleTV+ into the national conversation in a significant way. Apple has had success with another timely interview series, The Oprah Conversation, which features Oprah Winfrey conducting interviews with various people of influence and covers a variety of topics. One could argue that Stewart's show might have an even bigger cultural impact.
Also, as a part of the multiyear deal, Stewart and his production company will have a first-look deal for other projects to be developed and produced by Apple. As a producer, Stewart's credits already include The Colbert Report, CBS' The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, as well as a pair of films which include ROSEWATER and the recently released, IRRESISTIBLE, which starred Steve Carell. Stewart also directed both films and our very own JimmyO was lucky enough to remotely interview Stewart about that project which can be seen below.
Stewart departed as host of The Daily Show in 2015 and while he has kept a relatively low profile since, he has still kept his name out there, especially via his advocacy work. Stewart is a huge advocate, particularly on behalf of 9/11 first responders and the country's wounded veterans, and he hasn't been shy about speaking up for them. Before this recent deal with Apple, Stewart had a long-term production deal with HBO but that has since come to an end. HBO is said to have made a play for Stewart's new series but he was ultimately won over by Apple and they are expected to launch the series next year.
Are YOU happy to see Jon Stewart return to TV?