Following Noah's arc
The now former Daily Show host went from unknown to top of comic mountain
And just like that, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah is a thing of the past.
Noah hosted Comedy Central's satirical news program for the final time on Thursday, an hourlong episode that was introduced to viewers as “a celebration of the fact that we fixed America.”
“When I started the show,” he said at the beginning of the episode, “I had three clear goals: `I'm going to make sure Hilary gets elected, I'm going to make sure I prevent a global pandemic from starting and I'm going to become best friends with Kanye West.' I think it's time to move on.”
Most of Noah's farewell adopted the same tone — nostalgic, but cheeky. Aside from a brief interview with comedian Neal Brennan, the episode was entirely devoted to looking back on Noah's seven years at the helm and poking fun at his vague plans for the future. At one point, Noah, who often references his South African upbringing, joked that there were “just a few hours before I fly back to Africa.
“Rafiki's holding up the new kid,” he continued, referencing the famous scene from the movie The Lion King.
“We've all gotta be there. It's a whole thing.”
Noah announced his imminent departure from The Daily Show in September, explaining on air that he wished to spend more time on other aspects of life, whether family and friends or live comedy shows and touring.
After seven years, he said, “my time is up. But in the most beautiful way.” (Until the next permanent host is announced, the show will be led by guests including Al
Franken, Chelsea Handler, D.L. Hughley, Leslie Jones, John Leguizamo, Hasan Minhaj, Kal Penn, Sarah Silverman, Wanda Sykes and Marlon Wayans.)
The Daily Show transformed into a cultural institution under Jon Stewart, the late-night program's second host, who worked the gig for 16 years. Noah, a South African comedian for the most part unknown to American audiences back in 2015, was an unlikely successor
to Stewart, but one chosen by Comedy Central executives in an attempt to attract millennial viewers to the network. In the end, Noah, now 38, was able to do more than speak authentically to a younger demographic.
Lottery announcer Dulcé Sloan went directly for the question on everyone's mind: What's next for Noah? She struggled to grasp that, according to the host, he doesn't really have anything specific planned. “So you're just leaving a job to do nothing? Wow, you really are half white,” Sloan remarked.
Surprise guest Jordan Klepper, a former correspondent who has intermittently returned to the show, had his own theory: Perhaps Noah would run a candy store. Klepper introduced this idea during a video segment in which he interviewed New Yorkers about how Noah's departure made them feel. A few were passionate in their thoughts. One man believed Jimmy Fallon to be a Daily Show correspondent.
Noah's haters received several mentions throughout the night — to “the people who hate-watched, we still got the ratings,” he quipped — but positivity reigned supreme. He thanked the audience numerous times, and specifically shouted-out Black women for shaping how he came to view the world.
That shout-out fell in line with Noah's final lesson from hosting the show: Gratitude.
“It's taught me to be grateful for everything that I have, that I don't even realize I have,” he said. “Grateful to the wonderful people who helped me make every single episode.”