Series synopsis
The Daily Show is an American news comedy television series that premiered on Comedy Central on July 22, 1996. It was created by Madeleine Smithberg, Lizz Winstead.
The World's Fakest News Team tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and pop culture.
Premise
The World's Fakest News Team tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and pop culture.
Premise: When news breaks we fix it.
Cast and characters
Guest cast
- Jon Stewart as Self - Host
- Trevor Noah as Self - Host
- James Doohan as Self
- Trey Parker as Self
- Craig Kilborn as Self - Host
- Miguel Ferrer as Self
- Adam Arkin as Self
- Sarah Michelle Gellar as Self - Guest
- John Lydon as Self
- Jeri Ryan as Self
- Sean Hayes as Self
- Barry Manilow as Self
Episodes
This series spans 20 seasons with 2658 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 99 | December 15, 1999 | December 8, 2025 |
| Season 1 | 7 | July 22, 1996 | December 12, 1996 |
| Season 2 | 16 | January 6, 1997 | January 30, 1997 |
| Season 3 | 33 | March 9, 1998 | December 17, 1998 |
| Season 4 | 159 | January 11, 1999 | December 21, 1999 |
| Season 5 | 166 | January 4, 2000 | December 21, 2000 |
| Season 6 | 158 | January 9, 2001 | December 20, 2001 |
| Season 7 | 160 | January 8, 2002 | December 19, 2002 |
| Season 8 | 161 | January 7, 2003 | December 18, 2003 |
| Season 9 | 161 | January 6, 2004 | December 16, 2004 |
| Season 10 | 159 | January 4, 2005 | December 15, 2005 |
| Season 11 | 161 | January 4, 2006 | December 20, 2006 |
| Season 12 | 138 | January 8, 2007 | November 1, 2007 |
| Season 13 | 160 | January 7, 2008 | December 11, 2008 |
| Season 14 | 161 | January 5, 2009 | December 16, 2009 |
| Season 15 | 161 | January 4, 2010 | December 16, 2010 |
| Season 16 | 124 | January 3, 2011 | September 29, 2011 |
| Season 17 | 157 | October 3, 2011 | September 27, 2012 |
| Season 18 | 158 | October 1, 2012 | September 26, 2013 |
| Season 19 | 159 | September 30, 2013 | September 25, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greatest Millenium Special | December 15, 1999 |
| 2 |
Steve Carell Salutes Steve Carell Steve Carell looks back at many of his best segments as a Daily Show correspondent. |
May 21, 2001 |
| 3 |
Stephen Colbert - Again, A Look Back Stephen Colbert hosts the first and only scheduled episode of The Daily Show's new spin off; "Again, A Look Back" on the Comedy Central sister network MSTDS. The Episode take a look back at many of Stephen's best segments as a correspondent for The Daily Show. |
November 21, 2001 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Premier Episode | July 22, 1996 |
| 2 | David Cross & Bob Odenkirk | November 14, 1996 |
| 3 |
James Doohan Tonight, James Doohan, otherwise known as Scotty from Star Trek. |
November 20, 1996 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Faustino | January 6, 1997 |
| 2 | Kathy Kinney | January 7, 1997 |
| 3 | John Salley | January 8, 1997 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miguel Ferrer | March 9, 1998 |
| 2 | Timothy Dalton | March 10, 1998 |
| 3 | Jason Priestley | March 11, 1998 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael J. Fox | January 11, 1999 |
| 2 | Sandra Bernhard | January 12, 1999 |
| 3 | Tracey Ullman | January 13, 1999 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cynthia Nixon | January 4, 2000 |
| 2 | Robbie Williams | January 5, 2000 |
| 3 | Richard Belzer | January 6, 2000 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richard Lewis | January 9, 2001 |
| 2 | Vitamin C | January 10, 2001 |
| 3 | Julia Stiles | January 11, 2001 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anjelica Houston | January 8, 2002 |
| 2 | Luke Wilson | January 9, 2002 |
| 3 | Jack Black | January 10, 2002 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Cameron Diaz Judy Woodruff |
January 7, 2003 |
| 2 | Ray Liotta | January 8, 2003 |
| 3 | Philip Seymour Hoffman | January 9, 2003 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Brokaw | January 6, 2004 |
| 2 |
Elijah Wood Elijah Wood |
January 7, 2004 |
| 3 | Charlize Theron | January 8, 2004 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Paul Giamatti TONIGHT: Star of "Sideways", Paul Giamatti! Paul Giamatti talks about what it's like to appear in an intelligent, well-acted film. |
January 4, 2005 |
| 2 |
Don Cheadle TONIGHT: Actor Don Cheadle talks about his role in the film "Hotel Rwanda". |
January 5, 2005 |
| 3 |
Howard Zinn TONIGHT: Author Howard Zinn! |
January 6, 2005 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
George Packer TONIGHT: Author of The Assassins' Gate : America in Iraq, George Packer! |
January 4, 2006 |
| 2 |
Pierce Brosnan TONIGHT: Actor, Pierce Brosnan! Also, Jason Jones with "Spear Pressure." |
January 5, 2006 |
| 3 |
James Risen TONIGHT: NY Times reporter and author of State of War, James Risen! |
January 9, 2006 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Louis C.K. Tonight comedian Louis C.K. |
January 8, 2007 |
| 2 |
Harry Frankfurt Tonight philosophy professor and author of <I>On Truth</I>, Harry Frankfurt. |
January 9, 2007 |
| 3 |
Gov. Mike Huckabee Tonight former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Jon discusses the first 100 hours of the Democrats and there great start, namely Congress shutting down on the first day (to watch a football game which started at 8:30PM). Jon talks with Jon Oliver, senior comparative presidential historian about media pundits who compare Bush with Lincoln. |
January 10, 2007 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ronald Seeber Tonight, a professor of labor relations at Cornell University who shares his views on worker strikes, Ronald Seeber. Jon begins tonights show by sharing his statement of solidarity with the writer's strike by showcasing his unibrow. Also, the show's name has been changed until the strike is over to A Daily Show With Jon Stewart. Jon then reports on the winners of the Iowa caucus. Finally, Jon summarizes the conflict surrounding the Writers Guild strike in a segment called "Space Reserved For Clever Pun". |
January 7, 2008 |
| 2 | David Frum | January 8, 2008 |
| 3 | John Zogby | January 9, 2008 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
David Gregory Jon wants David Gregory to explain why Brett Favre walking off his charter plane is breaking news on MSBNC. |
January 5, 2009 |
| 2 |
Michael Wolff Author Michael Wolff. |
January 6, 2009 |
| 3 |
Rachel Maddow Wyatt Cenac, Samantha Bee and John Oliver go undercover for more information on the Obama girls. Aasif Mandvi says Sanjay Gupta's appointment will be a tremendous over achievement in a community of overachievers. Rachel Maddow is insulted as an American that the Obamas can't stay in the presidential guesthouse. |
January 7, 2009 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Michael Pollan A Nigerian terrorist tries to blow up a U.S. airliner on Christmas day. The Best F**king News Team helps Tiger Woods find a new religion, and Michael Pollan encourages Americans to eat healthy food. |
January 4, 2010 |
| 2 |
George Lucas John Oliver searches for the best time in American history, and George Lucas talks about his book. |
January 5, 2010 |
| 3 |
Admn. Mike Mullen Obama finally responds to the Christmas terror plot, and Mike Mullen praises the U.S. military. |
January 6, 2010 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Paul Giamatti The media calls Barack Obama the "comeback kid," and Paul Giamatti says "rapscallion. |
January 3, 2011 |
| 2 |
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Republicans focus on 2010 issues, and Kirsten Gillibrand wants to reform the Senate filibuster rules. |
January 4, 2011 |
| 3 |
Jimmy Wales John McCain gets cranky, and Jimmy Wales imagines Wikipedia's relevance in 500 years. |
January 5, 2011 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Thomas Friedman The U.S. military kills Anwar al-Awlaki, Herman Cain talks about Rick Perry's ranch, and Thomas Friedman discusses America's role in the global market. |
October 3, 2011 |
| 2 |
Michael Lewis Chris Christie restates his position, Mitt Romney flip-flops, ESPN pulls Hank Williams Jr.'s song, and Michael Lewis discusses his travels as a financial disaster tourist. |
October 4, 2011 |
| 3 |
Hugh Jackman Conservatives call Occupy Wall Street protesters anti-American, Florida votes to move its primary up, and Hugh Jackman boxes robots. |
October 5, 2011 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Arnold Schwarzenegger The Obama and Romney camps aim low at the debates, the White House responds to violence in Libya, and Arnold Schwarzenegger discusses time travel and his book, "Total Recall". |
October 1, 2012 |
| 2 |
Liam Neeson A Pennsylvania judge rules against the state's voter ID law, John Oliver asks Herman Cain to save America from foreign debt, and Liam Neeson talks kicking ass in "Taken 2". |
October 2, 2012 |
| 3 |
Rand Paul An explosive Obama video resurfaces, Stephen Colbert plays the part of Bill O'Reilly, and Rand Paul shares libertarian anecdotes from his book, "Government Bullies". |
October 3, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Bill O'Reilly Republicans threaten to shutter the government if their Obamacare demands go unmet, and Bill O'Reilly talks Syria and "Killing Jesus". |
September 30, 2013 |
| 2 |
David Mitchell Fox News weathers the government shutdown, Jason Jones surveys Obamacare supporters and opponents, and David Mitchell discusses "The Reason I Jump". |
October 1, 2013 |
| 3 |
Sandra Bullock Congressional Republicans show signs of shutdown remorse, Lewis Black sets his sights on Barilla Pasta, and Sandra Bullock talks zero-gravity projectile vomit. |
October 2, 2013 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Comedy Central |
|---|---|
| First aired | July 22, 1996 |
| Last aired | June 18, 2026 |
| Status | Returning Series |
| Schedule | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 23:00:00 |