NEW YORK (AP) – The choice of South African comic Trevor Noah as Jon Stewart’s replacement on “The Daily Show” advances an intriguing new trend of late-night comic hosts with a more worldly perspective while continuing the longer-running pattern of keeping those jobs filled with men.
Comedy Central announced Monday that the 31-year-old Noah will take over from Stewart, who said last month that he will exit the show that has made him a key part of the news and cultural landscape since 1999.
Noah follows James Corden – also little-known, also from overseas – who recently began as host of CBS’ “Late Late Show” host. Corden is British, as is John Oliver, a veteran of “The Daily Show” who began a well-regarded late-night show on HBO last year.
“It says the world is a much smaller place than it used to be,” said Michele Ganeless, Comedy Central president. “I think people will connect with him regardless of where he was born and where he grew up, as a citizen of the world.”
Although he’s not from the United States, Noah said in an interview Monday that he’s lived in the country “and I’ve learned to love the place. I’ll bring something different because I am different.”