Comedy Central (and parent Viacom) certainly want to make sure that Trevor Noah’s debut as host of the all-new "Daily Show" performs well right from the start, and that awareness is strong.
Noah’s “Daily Show” premiere episode, which is set for next Monday, September 28 at 11pm, will be simulcast on other Viacom-owned cable TV networks, including MTV, VH1 and BET!
That Kevin Hart will be the very first guest of the all-new “Daily Show" is maybe then no coincidence if that episode will indeed also air on BET that night, given his popularity with that network’s demo (his "Real Husbands of Hollywood" is a hit for BET).
When first announced, I thought Hart was an unexpected and intriguing choice for first guest, especially given that he doesn’t have any movies set for release the rest of this year, so he doesn’t have anything local to plug. He does kick off an international stand-up comedy tour overseas in the UK on January 20, 2016.
The network sees Noah as “the next evolution in the franchise that is ‘The Daily Show,’” Comedy Central said.
As you might recall, Baratunde Thurston was tapped to be the show’s social media guru, and the "Daily Show" team also added some new correspondents under new host Trevor Noah, in Ronny Chieng, Desi Lydic and Roy Wood Jr. (who is African American).
The aim here is obviously to engage viewers (and attract new ones – even younger) where they live, incorporating a robust social media component.
Said Noah: “I’m so excited to welcome these new members of the Daily Show Team. Now I get to share my stress with other new people.”
Chieng, Lydic and Wood will be joining the team’s existing roster of talent, including Jordan Klepper, Hasan Minhaj, Jessica Williams, Lewis Black, John Hodgman, Al Madrigal, Aasif Mandvi and Kristen Schaal.
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” premieres on Monday, September 28 at 11 p.m. ET/PT.