Jon Stewart Negotiates Daily Show Contract Amid Industry Shifts

Jon Stewart, who returned to host Monday nights on Comedy Central's The Daily Show in early 2024 after a hiatus since 2015, is actively working on extending his contract beyond its December expiration. During a conversation with New Yorker editor David Remnick, Stewart confirmed his desire to stay on the show and noted ongoing contract discussions with Comedy Central, now part of the Paramount-Skydance merger under CEO David Ellison, whom Stewart refers to as his "new boss." The late-night TV landscape has faced upheaval, highlighted by the announced end of Stephen Colbert's The Late Show at CBS (also a Paramount property) and Jimmy Kimmel's suspension at ABC, with Stewart and Colbert both having publicly criticized a $16 million settlement between CBS and President Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes editing controversy. Stewart emphasized his commitment to free speech and creative freedom regardless of contract outcomes, indicating a readiness to continue fighting for these principles on air. The evolving corporate dynamics and political tensions surrounding late-night programming underscore the uncertain but active efforts by Stewart to maintain his role at The Daily Show.