The Daily Show

1996 • TMDB 6.4 • 31 seasons • News, Comedy

Overview

Since 1996, The Daily Show has been television’s most durable fake-news desk: a nightly half-hour that treats real headlines as raw material for satire. Under Jon Stewart, the show became a cultural force, using clips of politicians and pundits to expose contradictions that straight news often let slide. Trevor Noah then carried it through a new political era, and Stewart’s later return kept its bite intact.

Each episode mixes a monologue, field pieces from a rotating team of correspondents, and an interview that can be funny, pointed or both. The correspondents — from Jordan Klepper and Desi Lydic to Ronny Chieng and Michael Kosta — give the show its range, turning policy debates, campaign rallies and media absurdities into sketches that still land days later. It is news you can laugh at, and often news you understand better afterwards.

Creator and Main Cast

Created by Madeleine Smithberg and Lizz Winstead. Hosts and correspondents include Jon Stewart, Trevor Noah, Jordan Klepper, Desi Lydic, Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta, and Craig Kilborn as an early host.

Seasons Snapshot

• Early seasons (1996–1999) — Craig Kilborn establishes the fake-news format on Comedy Central.
• The Stewart era (1999–2015) — Jon Stewart turns the show into a nightly institution and a launchpad for correspondents.
• Recent seasons (2015–2026) — Trevor Noah’s tenure and Stewart’s return carry the show into its 31st season.

Why Watch The Daily Show

Because it remains the fastest way to feel less helpless about the news cycle. The jokes are built on actual clips and actual quotes, so the satire doubles as a media-literacy lesson, and the correspondent pieces still produce the show’s most memorable moments. Watch one episode and you will understand why it has survived three decades of real headlines.

Trailer

Watch official clips and segments on YouTube via The Daily Show’s official channel.

Where to Watch

In the US, The Daily Show airs on Comedy Central and is available through Comedy Central’s streaming listings. Availability was checked against JustWatch US listings on October 29, 2026; check the JustWatch US page for The Daily Show for the latest options.