News broke that Jon Stewart would be leaving The Daily Show after 17 years as its host on Tuesday night before his newest episode aired. On the show, he spoke about stepping down and got a warm reaction from the studio audience.
Comedy Central tweeted Stewart was leaving, calling him a “comic genius” and saying he’ll always part of the network’s family.
On Tuesday night, Stewart said, “Doug Herzog and Michele Ganeless of Comedy Central gave me an incredible opportunity 17 years ago to pilot this wonderful franchise,” adding, “And 17 years is the longest ever in my life I have held a job…by 16 years and 5 months, the upshot there being I am a terrible employee. But, in my heart, I know it is time for someone else to have that opportunity.”
He didn’t say the exact time of year he would be leaving, as he even seems unsure of it, but he did say the “show doesn’t deserve an even slightly restless host, and neither do you.”
His contract expires in September but he said he could leave in December, noting “we’re still working out details.”
Stewart also said he has a lot of “ideas” for what he wants to do after stepping down but that’s all up in the air as well. One thing he does know is, "I'm gonna have dinner on a school night with my family, who I have heard, from multiple sources, are lovely people."
image via Tina Kaawaloa/INFevents.com