Every Daily Show host, ranked from worst to best

The Daily Show is an institution. It has launched the careers of dozens of comedians since it launched in 1996. It has also changed the way people consume news. Most talk shows have become a form of The Daily Show when discussing current events.

Especially since some of the late night cornerstones, like Stephen Colbert, got their start as a Daily Show correspondent. But Colbert never got to sit behind the desk, so he doesn't make the cut here. This list is dedicated to the official hosts of The Daily Show, and breaking down which of them reins supreme.

3. Craig Kilborn (1996-98)

Craig Kilborn has been lost to time, somewhat. He got his start on SportsCenter, but moved over to Comedy Central to help The Daily Show get off the ground in 1996. The most obvious difference with Kilborn's version of the show is that it generally shies away from politics.

The host placed much more of a focus on pop culture, making it more of a precursor to titles like The Soup and Tosh.0 than the politically-minded franchise The Daily Show would become. Kilborn wasn't bad, he just didn't stick around long enough to leave his mark.

2. Trevor Noah (2015-22)

Trevor Noah went the opposite direction of Craig Kilborn. He took over The Daily Show right before the 2016 Presidential election, which is when political humor became the default talking point of talk show hosts everywhere. Noah did it better than most, and was showered with Emmys as a result.

Trevor Noah's standup background served him well, and his rapport with Jon Stewart, made the transfer of power seem pretty seamless to viewers. He simply wasn't as funny or groundbreaking as his predecessor. He comes in at number two here, a respectable silver medal finish.

1. Jon Stewart (1998-2015, 2024-)

Jon Stewart is the Johnny Carson of The Daily Show. He revolutionized the model, struck the perfect balance between political commentary and broad comedy, and effectively turned a parody show into a better source of news than "real" outlets.

It's telling that Stewart's return to The Daily Show has reinvigorated interest in the show. He's the gold standard, and regardless of who comes through to host, they will be compared to his tenure. It's nice to have him back, even if it's only for a little while.

Bonus... John Oliver (2006-13)

So, John Oliver is the great what if of The Daily Show. The British comedian was a correspondent on the show from 2006 to 2013, and he even filled in for Stewart for two months as host. He was an ideal fit behind the desk, and, as evidenced by Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, he has the chops to carry a half hour program on his own.

Unfortunately, things ended poorly. John Oliver and Jon Stewart proposed a situation in which Oliver would be the summer host of The Daily Show and Stewart would remain on as main host, but Comedy Central turned it down. Both men left as a result.