Hasan Minhaj to be next ‘Daily Show’ host?

NEW YORK: Acclaimed comedian Hasan Minhaj was reportedly a top contender for the coveted host position at Comedy Central’s Daily Show according to the international media.

The media reports said that although no agreement has been reached yet, Minhaj’s name has emerged as a strong possibility to succeed Trevor Noah, who unexpectedly departed from the role last year.

Minhaj has prior experience as one of the faux “correspondents” on the Daily Show team from 2014 to 2018. He later hosted the Netflix show Patriot Act on a weekly basis.

In a recent interview with Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, Minhaj expressed his interest in the opportunity and said that it would be a major life decision involving his family. He said that he wanted to ensure that everyone involved was prepared for the potential impact of his words.

Meanwhile, the Comedy Central declined to comment on the matter, while Minhaj’s representatives have yet to provide immediate information.

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As per the international media, following Noah’s departure, Comedy Central enlisted temporary hosts such as Sarah Silverman, Leslie Jones, Kal Penn, and Al Franken. Some of the show’s current correspondents, like Roy Wood and Desi Lydic, have also taken turns behind the desk.

The Comedy Central was aiming to make a selection by May to present to advertisers during the annual upfront marketplace. However, the recent writers’ strike may have delayed those plans as it has also impacted CBS’s efforts to launch a new show as a replacement for James Corden.

As per the reports, the late-night programs generated more than $698 million in advertising revenue in 2018, but that number declined by around 41 per cent to $412.7 million by 2022.