5 Reasons Hasan Minhaj Would Be a Great 'Daily Show' Host
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The buzz surrounding the possibility that Hasan Minhaj could move into the host position at The Daily Show has been growing since March 2023, when Minhaj took over as guest host for a week, and reached a fever pitch earlier this month when Variety reported that the comedian was being eyed by Comedy Central to take over the seat left by Trevor Noah more than eight months ago.
Minhaj is not the only big name who stepped in after Noah departed the popular nighttime talk show. Other guest hosts have included Leslie Jones, Wanda Sykes, Sarah Silverman and Marlon Wayans. But of these guest hosts, Minhaj is the one who has managed to seriously set himself apart.
There are a number of reasons why Minhaj is both the practical and the most fun person who could take over as host for The Daily Show—here are our top five.
5 reasons Hasan Minhaj would be a great 'Daily Show' host
He's worked at The Daily Show before
Minhaj is the only potential host who has experience working at the show outside of his 2023 guest-host stint. He was actually the last person hired on the show as a "correspondent" by Jon Stewart back in 2014, a fact that Minhaj made known when he played his audition tape for viewers earlier this year. The comedian went on to work for the show for four years under both Stewart and Noah.
Ahead of his guest-host appearance, he said returning to the show would be like a "homecoming."
"It really was my college undergrad," he said. "It was my comedy college undergrad, so to speak."
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He'd know how to have a good time on the job—while understanding the seriousness of the work
Minhaj has been open about having a great time as a guest host. As he told Variety in May 2023, he was surprised by "how fun" the role was. But he also has a deep understanding of the scope of the job.
“I think whoever takes that seat and sits behind that desk, they just have to have a love and a reverence for the institution and what it represents in culture,” Minhaj told Yahoo. “And hopefully whoever does it pours all of themself into it. I was lucky enough to work with Jon and Trevor and I saw intimately how much effort and energy and passion that show requires. So whoever does it, I wish them nothing but the best. And I hope they bring all of themselves to it. Because it takes everything out of you. It's gonna take everything to do that show.”
Fans want him to host the show
When Minhaj took over as guest host in early 2023, fans almost immediately demanded that he get the coveted spot. Assuming Comedy Central likes good ratings, Minhaj seems like a smart choice!
His appointment would continue an important Daily Show trend
Minhaj, who was born in California but raised by Indian Muslim immigrants, will be a breath of fresh air among late-night talk show hosts, who are still predominantly older, white men. Just think of the perspective he can bring to the role!
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He'd have his writers' backs
Minhaj was recently spotted on the picket lines alongside WGA and SAG-AFTRA union members. "Words mean nothing until writers make magic," his sign said. "Pay your writers!"
Considering that The Daily Show's success hinges on its writers (it's won nine Emmys for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program), it'd be ideal to have a host who understands the team's worth.
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