Jon Stewart Admits He Has Fears About “The Daily Show'”s Fate amid Outrage Over “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Cancellation

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On the July 17 episode of his podcast, Jon Stewart was asked to weigh in on what he thinks the future of The Daily Show will look like if the Paramount and Skydance merger goes through

Notably, the podcast dropped before the news of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's cancellation

CBS said in a statement that The Late Show's cancellation is "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night"

Jon Stewart is thinking about the fate of his own show amid the news of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's cancellation.

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Hours before Stephen Colbert revealed during the July 17 taping of The Late Show that next year would be its last, Stewart weighed in on the future of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, given it also owned by Paramount, CBS' parent company.

Days before the cancellation was announced, Colbert called out Paramount for the $16 million settlement made with President Donald Trump on The Late Show, but in a statement, CBS said the cancellation is "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night" and "not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."

Paramount is in the middle of a merger with Skydance Media, which needs the Trump administration's approval to complete.

When Stewart was asked about what he foresees for The Daily Show if the Skydance merger goes through with Paramount, he was candid about how unsure he is.

"Boy, that’s a good question," he said. "Unfortunately, we haven’t heard anything from them. They haven’t called me and said like, ‘Don’t get too comfortable in that office, Stewart!'"

Matt Wilson/Comedy Central

Jon Stewart on The Daily Show

Stewart, 62, then joked, "I’ve been kicked out of s------ establishments than that. We’ll land on our feet."

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On a more serious note, he said that he "honestly don't know" what the show's fate will be. "I’d like to believe that... Like, without The Daily Show, Comedy Central is kind of like muzak at this point. I think we’re the only sort of life that exists on a current basis other than South Park."

Stewart would "like to think we bring enough value" to the channel, "but that may not be their consideration," he admitted. "I just don't know."

Stewart's comments on the topic came a week after he had 60 Minutes alum Steve Kroft on The Daily Show to talk about Trump's settlement.

On the July 7 episode, Kroft, who retired in 2019 after 30 seasons on 60 Minutes, commented on Paramount's $16 million settlement made with President Donald Trump, who had alleged that CBS' 60 Minutes deceptively edited an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty

he Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Jon Stewart during Sunday's February 11, 2024

“I think there’s a lot of fear,” Kroft said about the environment at 60 Minutes following the lawsuit. “Fear of losing their job, fear of what’s happening to the country, fear of losing the First Amendment. All of those things.”

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He also called the settlement a "shakedown" and that "some people call it extortion."

CBS' full statement about Colbert's cancellation emphasized the show's success in the category, seemingly anticipating speculation about whether it had to do with the Paramount settlement.

"Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult," the statement said. "Stephen has taken CBS late night by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue and interviews with leaders in entertainment, politics, news and newsmakers across all areas."

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"The show has been #1 in late night for nine straight seasons," the statement continued. "Stephen's comedy resonates daily across digital and social media; and the broadcast is a staple of the nation’s zeitgeist."

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