5 Things to Know About Trevor Noah: Jon Stewart’s Potential ‘Daily Show’ Replacement (Video)
A cone of silence has surrounded the ongoing search for Jon Stewart’s “Daily Show” replacement, but a young comedian named Trevor Noah entered the heavily-guarded race on Friday.
Noah, who has been a featured player on the Comedy Central program since 2014, was included on a short list to take Stewart’s anchor chair, media reports said.
“We are not commenting or providing guidance on any speculation about any individuals,” a spokesperson for Comedy Central told TheWrap.
Also Read: Jon Stewart’s ‘Daily Show’ Replacement: Who Fans Would Choose (Exclusive Infographic)
The South African talent has previously worked as an actor and radio host, and made a name for himself on the popular news satire underscoring cultural differences between his home country and the US.
Five things you should know about Noah:
Powerful Global Presence
He may be a fresh face in America, but Noah’s got international appeal. He counts nearly two million followers on Twitter, enjoys sold-out standup performances around the world (currently in the Middle East), starred in a South African soap opera and served as cover star for a foreign edition of GQ magazine.
Youth Appeal
Noah is 31, tall and handsome. With the right launch he could easily pull up key demos for the show, pleasing both network brass and introducing new viewers to “The Daily Show.” He’s also tapped into the humor and culture of the internet, giving equal attention to a viral photo of Rihanna dressed up to look like Prince as he would a sketch about racial turmoil.
Also Read: Jon Stewart Destroys ‘Shockingly Terrible’ Fox News for Hypocritical Ferguson Outrage (Video)
He’s Versatile
Noah shows aptitude in both deadpan humor and broader strokes. Stewart was a big hit with intellectuals because of his public speaking skills and killer timing, whereas Stephen Colbert was beloved for his dedication to his character on “The Colbert Report.” Noah shows the ability to play all over that spectrum.
He’s Self-Depreciating
Late night comedy hosts can sometimes play like prima donnas or elitists, but Noah has the DNA of any other Comedy Central star — unafraid to take shots at himself. “I was in the crowd when Rafiki held Simba over the edge of the cliff like an African Michael Jackson,” his Instagram bio reads.
And that aforementioned magazine cover? “Somebody took my picture and put it on the cover of GQ magazine,” his caption reads. “#iWokeUpLikeThis #iUsedPhotoshop #iWokeUpWithPhotoShop #PhotoShopSpentTheNight #NothingHappened.”
Never Afraid to Go There
Race and culture are Noah’s sweet spots, but he’s not afraid to go after America’s favorite cult — celebrity — as evidenced by the following tweets:
If PlayStation was smart, they’d get Brian Williams to be their spokesman- “PS4. So real, you’ll think you were there”
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) February 7, 2015
Like Kim Kardashian keeping her clothes on, Beyonce just switched it on us. #Church #Grammys — Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) February 9, 2015
As bad as J Lo is at acting, that’s how good Meryl Streep is. #Oscars2015
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) February 23, 2015
3 guys in this picture. One can have any woman he wants and the other two are loved by their mothers… pic.twitter.com/w9OXO8NzlD — Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) November 26, 2014
Check out video of Trevor Noah’s standup and “Daily Show” performances.
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