Tuesday Meltdown: The Return of the King

No one looks more weary and wild eyed than a semi-retired king who realizes he has to go back and help rescue his people from impending doom. Get these poor dudes some eye cream already.

In case you missed Comedy Central’s announcement two weeks ago, here’s a flicker of positivity from the bleak geopolitical hellscape we’re currently living through: Jon Stewart — aka the Internet’s Dad — returned to The Daily Show chair last night, eliciting sighs of temporary relief across America. From now until early 2025, Stewart will be back hosting The Daily Show on Monday nights, as well as serving as the show’s executive producer — which means he’ll also be guiding the show’s programming through the upcoming US presidential election on November 5th (and the aftermath that’s likely to follow…ugh). Welcome back, Jon! We don’t deserve you, but we’re very f*cking glad you’re here.

Since Trevor Noah’s surprise abdication in late 2022 — a move that caught even show insiders off guard — The Daily Show has been hosted by a revolving door of auditioning comedians, albeit with mixed results. Many longtime fans of the show were hoping that hilarious everyman and show staple Roy Wood Jr. would get the nod — but after a few months, it became clear he wasn’t getting the gig, and he peaced out. The show then embarked upon a truly dizzying rotation of interim hosts; my personal favourites were Michelle Wolf — both a deeply funny person and sharp political mind — and the hilarious Ronny Chieng, another long-time show member whose global perspective is sometimes reminiscent of Noah’s vibe. It’s been hard to keep up with, tbh – everyone from Marlon Wayans and Al Franken to Bodega Boys legend Desus Nice has been shooting their shot at the coveted job, with mixed results.

However, when Daily Show alumni and frequent stand-in host Hasan Minhaj took his turn to audition in the spring of 2023, it immediately felt like something magical was happening: the coronation of the next “chosen one”. A gifted intellectual and incisive storyteller, Minhaj instantly felt like the right fit for the job, most importantly because of his ability to ruthlessly analyze and dismantle the news with surgical precision — perhaps the most important attribute required for this specific hosting gig. His presence also remedied a decades-old issue in the world of late night television, a problem only temporarily solved by Noah: how every network talk show is hosted by a lovely but homogenous middle-aged white dude (listen, the Strike Force Five podcast was an absolute DELIGHT…but it’s a thing).

Trevor and Hasan, seen at the desk during simpler times in 2018.

But then, a sudden and scathing takedown exposé in The New Yorker — alleging that Minhaj exaggerated stories in his comedy routines, including stories of racism — instantly took him out of the running (I highly recommend Aja Romano’s summary of the situation for Vox, and Minhaj’s own response can be found here). IMHO, the timing of the piece felt a little, well, calculated — specifically, because Minhaj was notoriously critical of some powerful systems and governments in his excellent, short-lived Netflix show “Patriot Act” — and he was widely considered the front runner for The Daily Show gig when this exposé was published. In fact, there are rumblings across the internets (search on Reddit and TikTok for yourself, people) that Minhaj — a Muslim-American who can be a little too good at bottom-lining the inconsistent behaviour of our current western governments — was ousted by a strategically-timed hit piece. That being said, some ex-Daily Show staffers, who worked with Minhaj during his initial run on the show’s news team in the 2010s, weren’t surprised by the allegations, and felt that they were enough to eliminate him from contention. He’s also not particularly well respected by some fellow comics, and there were allegations of misogyny on The Patriot Act set from four women of colour.

So yeah. By late 2023, things were looking BLEAK for the future of The Daily Show — their lead guy was out, the rotating host format was uneven to watch, and the show looked like it was in trouble — something that had people paying attention pretty damn concerned. But why? Who gives a sh*t about a satirical cable news program that has run its course, right? Well, a free press is a critical tool and mechanism of a properly-functioning democracy, and objective mainstream news coverage in the US — aside from John Oliver’s exceptional program Last Show Tonight — has become rarer than a blue steak. And Uncle Jon knows it, which is why a lot of people believe he’s decided to come back and make The Daily Show must-see TV again.

Last night, during Stewart’s triumphant return to the ol’ swivelling chair, he used his first appearance to focus on an important topic: the fact that both Joe Biden and Donald Trump will be aging octogenarians in office, should they win. More important than their specific age (there are razor sharp seniors, to be clear) is their current level of health, both mental and physical — and BOTH presidential candidates have recently demonstrated gaps in mental acuity that should disqualify both of them from seeking the leadership of Earth’s most powerful nation (not to mention Trump’s litany of lawsuits and morally bankrupt behaviour).

Do I wish The Daily Show had selected a permanent host? Yes — and it would’ve been ideal if it was a fresh voice from an underrepresented group. Despite this wish, when I learned that Jon Stewart was coming back (albeit temporarily), my first reaction was relief…because this man has a unique ability to resonate, and to connect with people from all walks of life. Not only is he delightfully silly and self-effacing — for over 30 years, he has demonstrated a consistent track record for lampooning people who behave foolishly or unethically, regardless of party, race or religion — earning him the trust of people from across the political divide. In a nation that increasingly prioritizes partisan rhetoric and runaway capitalism over policies and advocacy for regular people, the value of an untethered voice like his cannot be overestimated. Here’s a clip of Jon on Letterman from 1992 — this dude has never changed. He’s never sold out. THINK ABOUT HOW RARE THAT IS.

From his relentless campaigning for veteran’s rights (especially his work advocating for 9/11 first responders, and holding hypocritical “troop loving” lawmakers accountable for attempting to block funding for their ongoing care — see below), to his searing analysis of interventionist-style US foreign policy, Stewart has a proven legacy of exposing the brutal double standards of America’s burgeoning nationalism and reliance on the global military industrial complex.

He also cleverly dismantles the wild hypocrisy of neoliberal double talk and propaganda, insidious behaviours that are gaining popularity, despite President Biden’s mediocre leadership (because of the ever-present threat of Trumpism, many fear-driven Dems, specifically Boomers, believe that all progressives should be adopting the, “it’s better than the opposite, so don’t you dare say a word” philosophy). The problem with this strategy? The “it’s not as bad as the other option” option? Well, it’s STILL A REALLY SH*TTY OPTION, and Gen Zs have realized that despite their repeated promises, many status quo Dems aren’t interested in creating meaningful change…ever. To the contrary, this isn’t “interim mode” for a lot of multi-term backbench politicians — young people have educated themselves, and have figured out that their current “progressive” government is dutifully following its Clinton-era marching orders, which were first implemented by noted saxophonist and massage connoisseur Billy C thirty years ago, in response to Reaganomics. Young voters have also noticed that this brand of old-school blue politician can be downright condescending to them when they share legitimate feedback, and have proven to be corrupt. So yeah — the lack of patience and trust Gen Zers have in their current systems & governments? I get it.

Most importantly, Stewart has the courage to talk about issues that other commentators won’t touch — including (and most disappointingly) his successor-slash-predecessor, Trevor Noah. Noah, a genius who literally grew up in apartheid (seriously, if you’ve never listened to “Born A Crime” — his story, and his narration, make this one of the all-time great audiobooks)…well, he’s been curiously silent when it comes to current events in the Middle East over the last few months. Deafeningly silent. It’s been so f*cking depressing…and honestly, kinda weird. Why? Because Noah is a world class smarty pants, who can effortlessly have meaningful conversations with Sam Altman one week, and DaBaby the next. He’s a special talent who can riff on almost any subject with nuance, care, and reflective insight.

To be clear: do I think every famous person needs to weigh in on foreign policy? Well, the activist in me says that anyone with a platform should use it powerfully and intentionally…but sure, if you’re Ina Garten or something, I guess you could make a case for sticking to chatting about buttermilk pies, and making the perfect cosmo. And there is a lot to be said for abandoning the cult-like worship of celebrity altogether (more on this to come soon).

But TREVOR NOAH? The Global South’s prodigal son, who proudly hails from the literal country that is courageously and continuously pressuring the ICJ to protect Gazan civilians, despite receiving threats against their safety?! Trevor Noah, who just a month ago made history as the first-ever Black person to win the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series — a monumental achievement, considering how homogenous this category of entertainment has always been? Noah, who very deservedly won this award for his often-ingenious work hosting a satirical news show — a program that is SUPPOSED TO LAMPOON THE ESTABLISHMENT AND HOLD IT ACCOUNTABLE?

Listen, as a woman whose skin is the colour of overcooked oatmeal, I don’t think calling out a prominent BIPOC icon for their lack of advocacy on issues pertaining to end-stage capitalism is ideal at all, which is why I typically don’t do it. For the record, I will be talking about Taylor Swift’s lack of advocacy & disappointing choices in an upcoming article later this week, but you aren’t going to hear me talk about Beyoncé’s silence on this topic, and human rights issues in general. Do I notice it? Oh yes. Do I hope it changes? Oh yes. Do I find it disappointing, because Bey is 300% cooler than T Swift, and therefore my expectations are higher for her? OH YES. But I’ll defer to some of my fave pop culture TikTok commentators like Mars Orbit and CoachEm to speak on this issue and offer their perspectives.

I started digging into things, specifically to see if there was a reason why Noah has been silent on this specific issue…and spoiler alert, there is. Unfortunately, early in his stand-up career (many years before getting The Daily Show gig), Trevor made some very questionable jokes on Twitter involving Israel, that were in extremely poor taste, at best (some straight up racist, at worst). When he got The Daily Show job, as it often happens, these old tweets resurfaced — and Comedy Central made a statement, as did Noah, via his agent. He also shared this on Twitter at the time:

As a result, Noah — who I genuinely believe is a passionate human rights advocate, sincerely dedicated to all humans being equal and free, including Palestinian and Israeli folks — has danced around this topic since. During his Daily Show run, he consistently weighed in on foreign affairs, and regularly and correctly condemned growing homegrown antisemitism during his Daily Show run, such as some of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s extremely troubling QAnon-related comments in 2021 (see clip below). However, he also consistently avoided the topic of USA’s ongoing, decades-long involvement in Israel-Palestine (this is about as vocal as he got). And this double standard, of talking about some current events, but not others? It’s a problem, considering how closely the US has been “involved” (that’s a nice way of putting it) in MENA politics since the FDR administration.

Do I understand why Noah speaks carefully on this topic, given his legitimate missteps in the past? Yes. Do I think being ruthlessly committed to highlighting antisemitism is important, especially with people like Sen. Greene holding powerful positions on Capitol Hill? Absolutely. Simultaneously, having someone who is wary of certain subjects in The Daily Show chair, who doesn’t and/or isn’t able to treat political topics with equal energy, is not ideal.

My point: I believe Trevor Noah is one of the most talented, charismatic voices in popular culture right now, and I am a huge fan — but he’s not the right person for this specific job at this critical moment in time. And you know what? I actually think he knew it, which is why he decided to throw in the towel. Do I believe Trevor Noah is a bigot? No, I don’t. Not even close. In fact, I think he’s overcompensating for his early mistakes — and there’s no getting around it, they were mistakes, big ones — by becoming another milquetoast “it’s complicated” bystander during yet another US-backed interventionist mission in the Middle East, where thousands of people are being bombed, maimed, and tortured during a “war” motivated by economics. On a show as important as The Daily Show, having a host who avoids specific topics — especially ones as important, topical, and far-reaching as this one — is a problem. A big one.

But this issue isn’t a problem for Jon Stewart. A secular Jewish man who has spoken at length about the antisemitic bullying he experienced growing up in New Jersey, Stewart is an outspoken critic of some of the US government’s interventionist tactics and foreign policy decisions across the globe — including their actions in Palestine, in partnership with Israel. He’s also talked about the criticism he’s received in his own community for openly speaking about this topic, and also about the growing trend of weaponizing language — specifically, how it can sometimes be as reductive as bigotry itself (especially when language policing is used as a tactic to divert attention from legitimate human rights atrocities). He described this phenomenon on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show in 2021 — see the clip below:

Jon, like many Jewish progressives across the USA and the world, isn’t denying the legitimate presence of growing antisemitism (a lot of it happening within far right groups as recently as last week, in US Congress) — instead, he’s focused on consistently calling out legitimate cases of bigotry, while also fearlessly holding the US accountable for aiding and abetting war criminals, who are manipulating information to justify the use of ongoing collective punishment against civilians, including torturing children.

It remains to be seen how Jon uses the Daily Show platform to provide guidance over the coming weeks and months — but I’m excited about having a courageous voice who speaks freely at “the desk” during this wildly critical moment in history. Welcome back, Jon. I hope we’re ready to listen. Who knows, maybe the ghost of George Carlin, your hero, will inhabit you at the desk, and you’ll deliver a segment so captivating that it will break the trance that many westerners are currently under.

See you tomorrow — we’ll be switching gears, and melting down what Tay could learn from Bey about managing career overexposure, as well as why Adidas needs to redo their online shoe sizing system, FOR THE LOVE OF G-D.

Talk soon,

Lex