The Three Big Names 'The Daily Show' Pursued Before Settling on Noah Trevor

By Dustin Rowles | Industry | March 30, 2015 |

The decision to replace Jon Stewart with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show came as a huge surprised to most of us considering how little we know about him. Having spent the morning watching Trevor Noah clips on YouTube, however, I’m convinced that he will be a great choice to lead The Daily Show into the future. Aside from the fact that we barely know who he is, he should have broad International appeal, too: He’s South African. He has that incredible accent. He’s handsome as f*ck, and he has a pair of dimples that could turn a straight guy gay. Plus, the mystery of an unknown is as almost as big a lure as for a big name. I mean, look at James Corden: Nobody knew who the hell he was, and he managed to beat Seth Meyers in the first week of ratings because people just tuned in out of simple curiosity. Curiosity should likewise give Trevor Noah a few weeks, at least, to prove himself.

However, according Bill Simmons (on Twitter), Comedy Central did make a few other plays before settling on Noah, and all three of them would’ve likewise been excellent hosts:

Heard Comedy Central pursued 3 big-ass names for Daily Show: Poehler, Louis CK, Schumer. Went 0 for 3. Young/cheap/upside was smart audible.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 30, 2015

It’s totally understandable why those three would turn them down. I mean, they are already well established. Taking over The Daily Show would’ve been a sucker play for them. Succeeding probably wouldn’t have made them more popular than they already are. If they failed, however, their past careers would’ve been obscured by the fact that one of them tanked The Daily Show. The good thing about Trevor Noah — BESIDES THOSE DIMPLES — is that he has much less to lose and an unlimited upside.

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