Comedian Trevor Noah has just finished his second full week as host of "The Daily Show" replacing Jon Stewart, the long-tenured host of the legendary satirical news show who left some large shoes (err -- newsdesk?) to fill. While Jon Stewart was not the first man to host "The Daily Show," as he replaced Craig Kilborn in 1999, Stewart's presence, merciless skewering of the targets of his humor, and overall knowledge and insight into all things political over the past 16 years largely made the show what it was. So how do Noah's first two weeks compare?
The biggest difference between "The Daily Show With Trevor Noah" and its predecessor is the personality of the hosts. Where Stewart's segments seemed to be a political rant told sarcastically by a man who's had it up to here with the current political climate, Noah takes a much more relaxed approach to the news and acts more as your charming guide to the news. Stewart's approach to the news was unapologetically politically charged, presenting the news as a springboard to present his politics; Noah, on the other hand, presents the news to the audience in order to allow himself to make a delightful little joke with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, as in the segment comparing Donald Trump's presidential run to that of many of the presidents of African nations.
This has changed the focus of the show from a political news-show with a comedic twist, to being a 30-minute comedy show using current events and politics merely as an avenue for the host's humor and our enjoyment.
Although different from Stewart's style, this change of focus to playful charm and humor is not necessarily a bad thing. I can honestly say I can't remember ever laughing as much during one of John Stewart's shows, whose humor was more related to clever turns of phrase and quips sprinkled throughout an intriguing political segment, as I did during Noah's show, whose humor is much more deliberate and is thrust into the forefront of the show's identity.
Noah's show, thus far, has also been more of a group effort than Stewart's, highlighting his correspondents -- such as newcomers Roy Wood Jr. and Desi Lydic, as well as veterans Hasan Minhaj, Jessica Williams, and Jordan Kleper -- in a larger role than Stewart did in his time as host, which has given the show much more variety. This shift doesn't come from additional segments with correspondents, but instead from Noah's more relaxed attitude during the segments with his reporters, in which he seems much more reactionary to their "reports," as opposed to Stewart, who seemed to steer the conversation. Now obviously, these reports are scripted, but that fact is a testament to the difference between the two hosts. Noah's approach to his correspondents is to take a step back and allow them to shine, where Stewart seemed more apt to take charge of and drive the conversation.
This is also seen in Noah's interviews, which are probably the biggest improvement for the show. The people who interviewed with Stewart were many times at his mercy, even when he absolutely loved their work, you never knew when Stewart was going to turn the tables on his guest for a laugh, or even when he would dig in and really let them have it. Noah's first two weeks of guests have been much more conversational allowing the guests to showcase their work and their talents with a supportive and easygoing host.
All of these differences between the two hosts don't change the fact that at its heart this is still "The Daily Show." Stewart left behind an unparalleled legacy in both comedy and news. "The Daily Show" has been a staple of night time TV for almost 20 years now, creating spin-offs like the "Colbert Report" and "The Nightly Show" and launching the careers of many of its contributors such as Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Ed Helms. Following Stewart's tenure in the position would be no easy task for anyone, but after Noah's first two weeks on the air, it seems like he is definitely up for the task.
Noah has taken Stewart's legacy and kept enough of what made the show great to keep a sense of familiarity, but he has added enough of his own humor, wit, and above all, unparalleled charm, to create something that is not only his own but is also a fully worthy successor to Stewart's late-night legacy.
