The date has been set.
Jon Stewart has announced that August 6 will be his last day to anchor his long-running evening program The Daily Show. He made the big revelation during the last moments of Monday night's show.
"One quick thing before we go: I mentioned to you that I would keep you up to date on any new information we had about the transition of the program, all those other things," Stewart said.
"We do have some specific information. My last Daily Show program will be August 6. I will be wearing a suit and more than likely be showered."
As you can expect, the audience was saddened by Stewart's message, but the comedian host quickly offered one of his signature quips: "I'm sorry; I will be wearing overalls and won't shower."
The date will undoubtedly mark the end of an era in television, both for Stewart and his loyal fans.
Stewart has spent the last 16 years at the helm of the show, taking over the hosting duties from former anchor Craig Kilborn in 1999. He added his own personal comedic flair to The Daily Show, developing a brand of comedy that focuses on satirizing politics and the national media.
While the show continues to be a very popular program on Comedy Central, Stewart decided to leave the show, making his announcement back in February but without offering a definite date or reason for his departure during the time.
He did eventually reveal his reason for leaving the show in a recent interview.
"It's not like I thought the show wasn't working any more, or that I didn't know how to do it," Stewart said. "It was more, 'Yup, it's working. But I'm not getting the same satisfaction.'"
According to Stewart, he could not imagine himself covering another presidential election.
"I'd covered an election four times, and it didn't appear that there was going to be anything wildly different about this one," he said.
The comedian host also said that working as the director for Rosewater – a film based on the real-life story of a journalist detained in Iran – as well as writing books and performing live shows have allowed him to contemplate how "to continue a conversation about what it means to be a democratic nation."
"Honestly, it was a combination of the limitations of my brain and a format that is geared towards following an increasingly redundant process, which is our political process," Stewart said.
"I was just thinking, 'Are there other ways to skin this cat?' And, beyond that, it would be nice to be home when my little elves get home from school, occasionally."
Fellow comedian Trevor Noah will take over The Daily Show after Stewart's departure, but no specific start date has been announced yet.
Photo: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | Flickr
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