Jon Stewart leaving ‘The Daily Show’

Jon Stewart will be leaving “The Daily Show” after nearly 17 years, he announced to the audience of Tuesday night’s episode. The comedian, writer and director took over in 1999 from Craig Kilborn, slowly turning the fledging newscast spoof into a cultural and political force, taking politicians on both sides of the aisle, the media and even himself to task for any misstep while also launching the careers of the likes of Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and John Oliver.

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“For the better part of the last two decades, I have had the incredible honor and privilege of working with Jon Stewart. His comedic brilliance is second to none,” Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless said in a statement. “Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera. Through his unique voice and vision, ‘The Daily Show’ has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come.”

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No set date for Stewart’s departure was announced, though Ganeless did say the host would continue on the show “until later this year.” Stewart first took a leave of absence from the show to direct his feature film, “Rosewater,” leaving Oliver to sit in for him. Oliver’s work as Stewart’s temporary replacement led to him getting his own HBO series, “Last Week Tonight.”

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