It’s been just a little over five years since Jon Stewart left TV and let’s face it, his absence has been felt. While the comedy news genre he pioneered is ubiquitous, his unique brand of moral clarity and articulate fury is nowhere to be found. Or, well, it was nowhere to be found. The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Stewart has just signed a first look deal with Apple that includes a “all-new current affairs series” for its streaming service.
It’s a big get for Apple. Stewart’s years at The Daily Show left him swimming in Emmys and launched the careers of half a dozen or so comedy all-stars. The show will apparently feature hour-long episodes that focus on single issues, which sounds kind of like the work being done by Stewart’s protégé John Oliver over on HBO. But Stewart’s show will apparently also discuss issues from its host’s advocacy work.
Both before and since his retirement from The Daily Show, Stewart has been dogged in his determination to secure healthcare benefits for 9/11 first responders, many of whom are suffering serious medical conditions stemming from their work in the 2001 terrorist attack in New York City. Congressional leaders who faced Stewart during his quest did not find the sardonic jester most of us know from television, but a man fueled by righteous rage at the injustice and broken promises 9/11 first responders have dealt over the last two decades.
"Your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity: time."
Jon Stewart receives a standing ovation from 9/11 first responders after slamming lawmakers for failing to fund programs providing healthcare to the first responders https://t.co/vSFOq11Wr5 pic.twitter.com/BrAC3UfYMD
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 11, 2019
Whether or not that’s the sort of issue we’re talking about when it comes to what sort of advocacy work we can expect from this new show remains to be seen. But it’s clear the man still has a lot on his mind — we’ll see how his particular style holds up when the new show debuts.
