Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Comedy Central Jon Stewart, who helped turn "The Daily Show" into a cultural force, is leaving the anchor's chair after nearly 17 years. 
 
 Comedy Central confirmed the news on Twitter: 
 
 According to the AV Club, Stewart announced he was leaving the show at the beginning of the taping for Tuesday's episode. Stewart will continue hosting the show until "later this year." 
 
 Stewart, 52, started hosting "The Daily Show" in January 1999, taking over for Craig Kilborn. Since then, the show has won 20 prime-time Emmys. 
 
 The late-night show became appointment television with Stewart as host, and he emerged as both a leading political satirist and one of toughest interviewers in the news media. 
 
 Jon Stewart with former President Bill Clinton on "The Daily Show" in 2004. Peter Kramer/Getty Images 
 
 In 2008, The New York Times' Michiko Kakutani wondered whether Stewart was in fact "the most trusted man in America." But Stewart had turned to other projects outside of the show recently, directing his first feature film, "Rosewater," last year. 
 
 In a statement, Michele Ganeless, the president of Comedy Central, said she thought the show could outlast Stewart. 
 
 "Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera," Ganeless wrote in a statement, according to Politico. "Through his unique voice and vision, 'The Daily Show' has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come." 
 
 Jon Stewart during live Election Night coverage on Nov. 2, 2004. Frank Micelotta/Getty Images It is unclear what Stewart will do after leaving "The Daily Show." 
 
 But he has numerous other high-profile credits outside of the show. In addition to directing "Rosewater," a dramatic film about the detention of Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari during Iran's election protests in 2009, Stewart starred as a version of himself in the critically acclaimed "The Larry Sanders Show" in the mid-1990s. 
 
 Stewart on an episode of "The Larry Sanders Show." The Larry Sanders Show screencap One of Stewart's most memorable moments came outside of the context of "The Daily Show," when he appeared on "Crossfire" in 2004 and sparred with host Tucker Carlson on cable news' allegedly malign impact on American political discourse. 
 
 Stewart also emerged as a forceful proponent for Bassem Youssef, an Egyptian satirist curtailed by Egypt's post-Arab Spring rulers. 
 
 He used "The Daily Show" to advocate a bill that would pay medical benefits for first responders from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that nearly fell victim to Congressional gridlock. Stewart has deep cultural reach and distinct interviewing and directing talents. 
 
 He is a nearly singular media and cultural figure, and it will be interesting to see what he does once he has left a show that he has anchored since the Clinton administration was in power. 
 
 Jon Stewart on set of "The Daily Show," warming up the crowd in April 2005. Scott Gries/Getty Images In November, Stewart speculated to NPR's Terry Gross about what it would be like to leave "The Daily Show," and he implied that the idea held some appeal for him: "I do feel like I don't know that there will ever be anything that I will ever be as well suited for as this show," Stewart said. "That being said, I think there are moments when you realize that that's not enough anymore, or that maybe it's time for some discomfort." 
 
 Watch Stewart make the announcement below: ||||| Ending one of the most venerable and trusted careers in making a complete mockery of the news, Jon Stewart has announced that he is stepping down as host of The Daily Show. According to sources who were there (some of whom are already passing word along on social media), Stewart let the news slip at the taping of today’s episode, telling those in the audience that he’s retiring. No word yet on when exactly he’s leaving, whether this means he’s ending his time in the anchor chair to focus on being a Serious Movie Director now, or just how much this is Brian Williams’ fault. Presumably all of this information will be revealed in time—and delivered by Stewart himself tonight on your television. We’ll update when we have more. 
 
 UPDATE: Comedy Central just sent out this official statement confirming the news, and saying that Stewart will remain with The Daily Show until later this year. It also says that the show will “endure for years to come,” suggesting that it won’t end with Stewart: 
 
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 UPDATE 2: Here’s video of Stewart’s announcement. ||||| 1 of 26 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Jon Stewart leaves ‘The Daily Show’ View Photos After 16 years on ‘The Daily Show,’ Jon Stewart has departed. Caption After 16 years on ‘The Daily Show,’ Jon Stewart has departed. Nov. 30, 2011 Jon Stewart is seen on stage during a taping of "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart" in New York. Brad Barket/AP Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. 
 
 UPDATED: 
 
 Jon Stewart, who pushed political comedy into a new realm with a show that relayed news by parodying the news, will leave “The Daily Show” later this year after 16 years at the helm, Comedy Central announced Tuesday night. 
 
 To a younger generation of viewers who stopped watching network news, his late-night “fake” news show — which particularly delighted in skewering politicians and the media — made him a trusted messenger to millions. 
 
 [Here’s how Jon Stewart told “The Daily Show" audience he’s stepping down] 
 
 Since its launch with Stewart as host — he took over the program in 1999 from Craig Kilborn — “The Daily Show” has routinely racked up awards. It won the outstanding variety series Emmy for 10 years in a row. 
 
 Stewart, 52, who often emphasized that he is a comedian rather than a news anchor, truly made his mark during the 2000 presidential election with his “Indecision 2000” coverage of the George W. Bush and Al Gore recount in Florida. Afterward, everything on the show clicked, and Stewart emerged as the star of the comedy network — especially during the Bush administration, when the stentorian and seemingly exasperated host would take on the policies of Bush, vice president Dick Cheney and defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld. 
 
 Stewart broke the news of his departure to his audience during the show’s taping in New York. Almost immediately on social media, the tweets started from people who witnessed the announcement. One of them was David Axelrod, a former adviser to President Obama: 
 
 Just had the honor of being the great Jon Stewart's guest on @TheDailyShow, where he announced he's leaving. Emotional night. #jonstewart — David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) February 11, 2015 
 
 Over the years, Stewart’s team of deadpan “correspondents” also became comedy stars, including Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Steve Carell, Larry Wilmore, Ed Helms, Samantha Bee and Jason Jones. Colbert went on to star on “The Colbert Report” for nearly a decade before departing in December to take over for late-night veteran David Letterman on CBS. 
 
 [Jon Stewart’s hardest truth – The time has come to wrap up the joke] 
 
 “The Daily Show’s” steady rise coincided with the popularity of Internet video, as clips from Stewart’s broadcast frequently circulated on the Web the following day. They often featured him mocking the 24-hour cable news cycle, and he became known for taking aim at Fox News Channel and CNN. As such, Stewart became a serious pundit in his own right — albeit one who amply punctuated his commentary with expletives. 
 
 “Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera,” the network said in a statement Tuesday. “Through his unique voice and vision, ‘The Daily Show’ has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come.” 
 
 A darling of liberals, Stewart made headlines for his ongoing self-proclaimed “feud” with Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly, which culminated in a live debate called “The Rumble in the Air-Conditioned Auditorium” in 2012. 
 
 Stewart’s impact could also be measured off-screen. His 2010 Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in Washington brought hundreds of thousands to the Mall to see Stewart and his fellow Comedy Central star Colbert take the stage and encourage people to participate in politics and civil discourse despite the seemingly hopeless partisan gridlock in Washington. 
 
 [Act Four: Pop culture needs Jon Stewart now more than ever] 
 
 As for “The Daily Show,” some suspected that Stewart’s departure appeared imminent last summer when he took three months off to direct a feature film, “Rosewater,” about journalist Maziar Bahari’s imprisonment in Iran. 
 
 In an interview with The Washington Post in November, Stewart wouldn’t discuss future career plans other than joking that they included “a nap.” He also dismissed the suggestion that he would run for political office, and laughingly shot down the idea that people — even those who see him as a trusted figure — would vote for him. 
 
 “You don’t know that,” he said, “except in the way that people would vote for a second-string quarterback to take over for the first-string quarterback if they are feeling frustration at their team’s goals.” 
 
 The specific timing of Stewart’s departure was not announced. The network statement said only that the host would leave “later this year.” His contract expires in the fall. 
 
 Losing a marquee host is a tough loss for Comedy Central, though the statement made sure to note that the program — which regularly attracts about a million viewers a night — “will endure for years to come.” 
 
 It is the latest in a long line of changes in the Comedy Central late-night lineup. Besides Colbert’s departure, John Oliver — who at one point appeared to be Stewart’s likely successor — also left last year to host the breakout hit “Last Week Tonight” on HBO. Larry Wilmore, also a potential hosting option as a “Daily Show” standout, recently started his own “Nightly Show” on the network, replacing Colbert. 
 
 [Why Jon Stewart and Brian Williams should just switch jobs] 
 
 Here’s Comedy Central’s full statement: 
 
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 Jon Stewart leaving 
 
 Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," will step down later this year, the president of the network confirmed in a statement to the On Media blog Tuesday. 
 
 “For the better part of the last two decades, I have had the incredible honor and privilege of working with Jon Stewart. His comedic brilliance is second to none," Michele Ganeless, president of Comedy Central, said in a statement. 
 
 "Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera," Ganeless continued. "Through his unique voice and vision, ‘The Daily Show’ has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come." 
 
 (POLITICO Video: Jon Stewart announces 'Daily Show' departure) 
 
 "Jon will remain at the helm of ‘The Daily Show’ until later this year," she wrote. "He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family.” 
 
 Stewart, who became host of "The Daily Show" in 1999, has had an immeasurable influence on American politics and satire. Under his leadership, "The Daily Show" has also spawned the creation of influential Comedy Central shows like "The Colbert Report" and "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore," as well as HBO's "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver." 
 
 Stewart also announced his forthcoming departure during Tuesday's taping of "The Daily Show," which airs tonight at 11 p.m. EST. 
 
 (POLITICO Video: The career highlights of Jon Stewart) 
 
 UPDATE (11:40 p.m.): At the end of Tuesday night's episode of "The Daily Show," Stewart addressed his departure, noting that the show and audience do not deserve "a restless host" and that the specifics of his departure have not been worked out but that it will occur before September: 
 
 Doug Herzog and Michele Ganeless gave me an incredible opportunity 17 years ago to pilot this wonderful franchise, and 17 years is the longest I have ever in my life held a job, by 16 years and five months. Thank you. The upshot there being, I am a terrible employee. In my heart, I know it is time for someone else to have that opportunity. ... Not right away, we’re still working out details; I’m up in September, might be December or July. I don’t have a lot of specific plans; I’ve got a lot of ideas, a lot of things in my head. I’m going to have dinner on a school night with my family, who I have heard from multiple sources are lovely people. I’m not going to be here and try to sum up what this place has meant to me over the years. I couldn’t do that, we’ve got plenty of time, and I’ve got myriad of people to thank … but this show doesn’t deserve an even slightly restless host, and neither do you. I don’t think I’m going to miss being on TV every day; I’m going to miss coming here every day. I love the people here, they’re the best, they’re collaborative and they’re kind. … I love them and respect them so much. It’s been an absolute privilege. The honor of my professional life. I thank you for watching it, for hate-watching it, whatever reason you’re turning in for. You get in this business with the idea that maybe you have a point of view and something to express. And to receive feedback from that is the greatest feeling I can ask for, and I thank you. 
 
 Hadas Gold contributed to this report. ||||| Jon Stewart, who turned Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” into a sharp-edged commentary on current events, delivering the news in layers of silliness and mockery, said on Tuesday that he would step down after more than 16 years as its anchor. 
 
 Mr. Stewart, whose contract with Comedy Central ends in September, disclosed his plans during a taping of the program on Tuesday. Saying that “in my heart, I know it is time for someone else” to have the opportunity he had, Mr. Stewart told his audience that he was still working out the details of his departure, which “might be December, might be July.” 
 
 “I don’t have any specific plans,” Mr. Stewart said, addressing the camera at the end of his show, at times seeming close to tears. “Got a lot of ideas. I got a lot of things in my head. I’m going to have dinner on a school night with my family, who I have heard from multiple sources are lovely people.” 
 
 “I’m not going anywhere tomorrow,” Mr. Stewart added, “but this show doesn’t deserve an even slightly restless host, and neither do you.” Comedy Central did not elaborate on the future of the show, except to say that it “will endure for years to come.” ||||| America 
 
 Jon Stewart Will Leave 'The Daily Show' This Year 
 
 i itoggle caption Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images 
 
 Update: 12:30 a.m. ET Wednesday 
 
 
 
 Stewart closed Tuesday night's episode of The Daily Show with discussion of his pending departure. 
 
 "Seventeen years is the longest I have ever — in my life — held a job, by 16 years and five months," Stewart said. "The upshot there being, I am a terrible employee. ... 
 
 "We're still working out details, I'm up in September, I'm up around then, might be December, might be July ... I don't have any specific plans. Got a lotta ideas, I got a lot of things in my head. I'm gonna have dinner — on a school night! — with my family, who I have heard from multiple sources are lovely people. 
 
 "This show doesn't deserve an even slightly restless host, and neither do you. I don't think I'm going to miss on television every day — I'm gonna miss coming here every day ... I love the people here, they're the best. They're creative and collaborative and kind." 
 
 "It's been an absolute privilege. It's been the honor of my professional life." 
 
 Original Post 
 
 Jon Stewart, the comedian who has become a highly influential figure in American politics, is leaving The Daily Show sometime this year. 
 
 Stewart let the news slip during this evening's taping of the show. 
 
 Fittingly, The A.V. Club, a real-news spin-off of The Onion, first reported the news and Comedy Central confirmed it, saying Stewart would step down "later this year." 
 
 "Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera," Michele Ganeless, Comedy Central's president, said in a statement. "Through his unique voice and vision, The Daily Show has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come. Jon will remain at the helm of 'The Daily Show' until later this year. He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family." 
 
 The A.V. Club quoted audience members saying Stewart said he was "retiring." 
 
 Comedy Central's other towering figure of political satire, Stephen Colbert, ended his own run on The Colbert Report, last year. 
 
 Colbert is taking over for David Letterman in September. 
 
 Billed as "the most trusted name in fake news," Stewart has been hosting The Daily Show on Comedy Central in 1999. Despite its irreverence and its sometimes cutting humor, the show has attracted the most prominent of American political figures seeking to woo a younger demographic. 
 
 Everyone from Presidents Obama and Clinton to Gen. Colin Powell and Sen. John McCain have appeared on the show with Stewart. 
 
 In a recent Pew study, 12 percent of respondents said they had gotten political news from the program. That compares to 12 percent who answered USA Today and 10 percent who answered The Wall Street Journal.
– Jon Stewart is retiring from the Daily Show later this year. He reportedly revealed the big news during the taping of tonight's episode, reports the AV Club. In a statement to Politico, a Comedy Central exec confirms that Stewart will step down at a still-unspecified date after more than 15 years. "Through his unique voice and vision, the Daily Show has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come," says network chief Michele Ganeless, which seems to suggest that the show will go on with a new host. This is one of those rare cases when a network's official statement is right in line with what most others are writing: "To a younger generation of viewers who stopped watching the news, his late-night 'fake' news show—which skewered politicians and the media—made him a trusted messenger to millions," writes Emily Yahr at the Washington Post. Business Insider: The show is a "cultural force." NPR: A "hugely influential figure in American politics." New York Times: A "nightly home for sharp-edged political satire and up-to-the-moment commentary on the news." (Stewart, of course, is a movie director now, too.)