NEW YORK — You want a great career in comedy? Start by landing a job as a correspondent on “The Daily Show”! Under Jon Stewart’s 16-year-long run as host, it became one of TV’s best launching pads.
Here are a few shining examples:
Stephen Colbert (1997-2005). Arriving two years before Stewart became host, Colbert scored in his emerging persona as a right-wing blowhard correspondent. He left “The Daily Show” to launch his own companion show, which he hosted for a decade. Then, in late 2014, he exited Comedy Central for CBS, where in September he will step into the “Late Show” slot long occupied by David Letterman.
Steve Carell (1999-2005). From 2005 to 2011, he starred in the NBC comedy “The Office,” then left to continue a thriving film career, including his Oscar-nominated performance in the 2014 drama “The Foxcatcher.”
John Oliver (2006-2013). In April 2014, this droll Brit debuted his own weekly comic-commentary show, “Last Week Tonight,” on HBO.
Ed Helms (2002-2006). He joined “The Office” in 2006, continuing through its conclusion in 2013. His films include “The Hangover” trilogy and “We’re the Millers.”
Larry Wilmore (2006-2014). A successful writer-producer (“The PJs” and “The Bernie Mac Show”), he served as Senior Black Correspondent before leaving “The Daily Show” to host Comedy Central’s “The Nightly Show,” which premiered in January.
Samantha Bee (2003-2015) and Jason Jones (2005-2015). After their lengthy stints at “The Daily Show,” this married comic couple left in May 2015 to develop a comedy for TBS.
Rob Corddry (2002-2006). After “The Daily Show,” he created and stars in the online and TV cult favorite “Childrens Hospital.”
Aasif Mandvi (2006-2015). Along with comic TV appearances, he has been a regular on the dramas “The Bedford Diaries” and “Jericho,” as well as on the current HBO comedy “The Brink.”
Trevor Noah (2014-2015). A rising young stand-up comic from South Africa, Noah had barely set foot into “The Daily Show” as a correspondent before he was tapped to succeed Stewart as host. He takes over in that role on Sept. 28.
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