Watch: Jon Stewart returns to host 'Daily Show,' says he's 'excited to be back'

Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Jon Stewart is back on The Daily Show.

The comedian and television personality, 61, returned to host the Comedy Central late-night talk show Monday after more than eight years away.

Stewart left The Daily Show in 2015 after 16 years as host. Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios announced in January that Stewart will host the show again Mondays through 2025.

"Jon Stewart is the voice of our generation, and we are honored to have him return to Comedy Central's 'The Daily Show' to help us all make sense of the insanity and division roiling the country as we enter the election season," Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios president and CEO Chris McCarthy said at the time.

In his 20-minute opening monologue Monday, Stewart said he's "excited to be back" and plans to cover the elections, China, artificial intelligence, the Israel-Palestine conflict and more during his Monday night residency.

Stewart roasted President Joe Biden, 81, and Donald Trump, 77, at length, calling the pair "objectively old."

The Daily Show will continue to have a rotating cast of correspondents and comedians host the show Tuesday-Thursday. Stewart's successor, Trevor Noah, left the show in 2022.