When Walter Cronkite signed off for the final time as anchor-man of CBS he was replaced by Dan Rather who knew he was filling some big shoes. So who will be the Dan Rather to fill the void left by Jon Stewart the “Cronkite of Fake News” as he departs from the Daily Show?
The Daily Show on its own merit sans Stewart’s omnipresence, is in no short supply of success stories, spawning such house-hold names as Stephen Colbert and the spin-off show The Colbert Report. Box-office film-actor Steve Carell got his start there as well as John Oliver, who also received his own show“Last Week Tonight” which airs on HBO.
Colbert would be the natural choice as a replacement, but he too is moving on to bigger and better things with an up-coming stint as host of the Late Show replacing David Lettermen.
Stewart, like Cronkite is leaving some pretty big boots to fill as any new host would have to mirror Stewart in wit, charisma, charm, intelligence-everything a professional wise-cracking pundit should be. Stewart provided a real service, like Cronkite did at various times in American history. Jon Stewart new how and when to be solemn and serious and yet make us laugh to forget what we were even being somber about.
Not since Chevy Chase said “I’m Chevy Chase and you’re not.” has news been such fun.
Best Wishes Mr. Stewart.
