Jon Stewart addressed the announcement that he’ll be leaving “The Daily Show” after nearly two decades.
At the top of the hour during Tuesday’s show, Stewart told viewers at home, “You probably know things these people [in the studio] don’t know yet, which is a twist.”
He started by thanking Comedy Central, saying it gave him “an incredible opportunity 17 years ago to pilot this wonderful franchise. Seventeen years is the longest I have ever in my life held a job by 16 years and five months.”
There is no word yet on who will replace Stewart or when. “It is time for someone else to have that opportunity,” Stewart said. “Not right away it’s going to be… we’re still working out details. It could be I’m up in September, might be around then, might be December, might be July.”
The announcement set Twitter on fire Tuesday with many speculating what Stewart should do next.
To that end “The Daily Show” host said this: “I don’t have any specific plans, got a lot of ideas I got a lot of things in my head. I’m going to have dinner on a school night with my family whom I have heard from multiple sources are lovely people.”
As for why he’s leaving, Stewart only said, “This show doesn’t deserve an even slightly restless host and neither do you… I don’t think I’m going to miss being on television every day. I’m going to miss coming here every day.”
Stewart got a bit emotional as he said his goodbyes.
“It’s been an absolute privilege. It’s been the honor of my professional life. And I thank you for watching it, for hate watching it, whatever reason you were tuning in for. You get in this business with the idea that maybe you have a point of view and something to express and to receive feedback form that is the greatest feeling you can ask for.”