Trevor Noah will succeed Jon Stewart as 'The Daily Show' host

South African comedian Trevor Noah has been chosen as the new host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show once Jon Stewart steps down later this year. Noah joined the show as a correspondent back in December and has only made three appearances on the show. From the New York Times:

“You don’t believe it for the first few hours,” Mr. Noah said of learning about his new job. “You need a stiff drink, and then unfortunately you’re in a place where you can’t really get alcohol.”

The appointment of Mr. Noah, a newcomer to American television, promises to add youthful vitality and international perspective to “The Daily Show.” It puts a nonwhite performer at the head of this flagship Comedy Central franchise, and one who comes with Mr. Stewart’s endorsement.

“I’m thrilled for the show and for Trevor,” Mr. Stewart said in a statement. “He’s a tremendous comic and talent that we’ve loved working with.” Mr. Stewart added that he “may rejoin as a correspondent just to be a part of it!!!”

But the decision also invites questions about Mr. Noah’s experience and visibility (or lack thereof), and why the network did not choose a woman to crack the all-male club of late-night television hosts.

Michele Ganeless, the Comedy Central president, said in an interview: “We talked to women. We talked to men. We found in Trevor the best person for the job.”

Noah’s a brilliant storyteller, as anyone who saw his acclaimed Born a Crime show can attest. Congratulations and good luck, Trevor!

Watch one of Noah’s Daily show segments, below..

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