Jon Stewart Extends Contract with Comedy Central

Comedy Central announced Monday that Jon Stewart, known for his anti-Trump comedic style, will continue hosting “The Daily Show” until the end of 2026.

There’s been some chatter that Paramount, which owns Comedy Central, might be attempting to trim late-night hosts who criticize President Trump, perhaps to keep things smoother with him and dodge backlash. Still, despite Stewart’s pointed critiques of Trump, the network is sticking with his show.

Interestingly, ratings for “The Daily Show” have seen an uptick since Stewart returned in February 2024, particularly on Monday nights, which is when he takes the helm. Comedy Central’s chief, Ali Pearce, mentioned that extending the contract is “a win for our viewers and the network.”

Stewart previously hosted “The Daily Show” from 1999 to 2015 and made his comeback last year to “gather thoughts for this election season.”

Concerns about Stewart’s future arose following Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media in August. Reports suggested that Skydance’s David Ellison may have made concessions to Trump during the merger discussions, which left many worried about the fate of Trump critics in late-night slots.

Meanwhile, CBS announced that Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show” would be going off the air in May 2026 for financial reasons, raising eyebrows. Colbert’s budget this season was around $100 million, but the show reportedly took a $40 million hit.

In reacting to Colbert’s cancellation, Stewart launched a passionate tirade during his July 22 show, attributing the situation to “fear and pre-compliance.”

Additionally, there was a stir surrounding ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel due to comments about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Prominent liberals like California Rep. Eric Swalwell hinted that Kimmel’s return was influenced by Trump’s dissatisfaction.