The Blubber

Jon Stewart will return to "The Daily Show" as its executive producer and host on Monday evenings through the 2024 election cycle, per Axios.

Jon Stewart, who hosted The Daily Show for 16 years before stepping down in 2015, is set to make a return to the program as a part-time host and executive producer throughout the 2024 presidential election cycle. Starting on February 12, he will lead the show on Monday nights, while the hosting duties for Tuesdays through Thursdays will be handled by the show's correspondents.

In addition to his on-air role, Jon Stewart and his manager James Dixon will serve as executive producers for all episodes until 2025. The announcement suggests that Stewart will play a significant role in shaping the future direction of the show, postponing the decision of a permanent host until after the upcoming presidential election.

This arrangement not only revitalizes the show instantly but also provides Stewart with an opportunity to contribute to the program's new identity, similar to how he selected Trevor Noah as his successor in 2015.

Last year, when Trevor Noah announced his departure, Stewart expressed interest in assisting the show's future. This led to Stewart making a cameo appearance during Roy Wood Jr.'s guest hosting stint.

Stewart's return may indicate the challenges in finding a permanent host for the program, with various guest hosts and the repetition of roles suggesting a difficulty in securing a wide range of hosts. Despite rumors about former correspondent Hasan Minhaj taking over, controversies around his past stand-up specials seemingly derailed that possibility.

Having recently exited a deal with Apple for a show called "The Problem with Jon Stewart" due to content conflicts, Stewart is now free to return to the place where he achieved his greatest success. This move could also be seen as a bid to reclaim older fans who have expressed a desire for Stewart's return.

The decision to bring back Jon Stewart might also signal a potential challenge in attracting younger viewers. The show's shift towards a younger voice, with Trevor Noah and a revamped theme song by Timbaland, may have faced difficulties as younger audiences increasingly turn away from traditional linear TV platforms like cable channels.

Now with Jon Stewart back as the star host, The Daily Show recaptures a period when it had a more significant impact and a broader viewership. Stewart is credited with transforming The Daily Show into a groundbreaking satirical platform for politics and media, a style that has influenced various late-night TV hosts, including Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers, many of whom started their careers on The Daily Show.