Hey, have you heard that David Letterman is coming back to TV via Netflix? He is coming back a heck of a lot sooner than Jon Stewart is. We are still waiting for him to grace HBO’s airwaves again. Yes, again as he did appear in his own comedy special back in 1996 called UNLEAVENED and also as the host of the special GEORGE CARLIN: 40 YEARS OF COMEDY.
Stewart has not made an appearance yet because as we all know by now his state-of-the-art animated gig died. It was killed in May with the following quote as an explanation: “We all thought the project had great potential, but there were technical issues in terms of production and distribution that proved too difficult given the quick turnaround and topical nature of the material.”
But the former Daily Show With Jon Stewart host is not walking away from HBO. Two upcoming specials are in the offing and a press release, following Casey Bloys’ TCA visit, has released the news.
JON STEWART RETURNS TO HBO FOR HIS FIRST STAND-UP SPECIAL IN 21 YEARS
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HBO Also To Present “Night Of Too Many Stars”
Special To Benefit NEXT For AUTISM
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LOS ANGELES, July 26, 2017 – Jon Stewart is set to headline two HBO comedy specials, it was announced today by Casey Bloys, president, HBO Programming. He will return to HBO for his first stand-up special since the 1996 HBO presentation “Jon Stewart: Unleavened,” with the date and location to be announced as they are confirmed.
Additionally, this fall Stewart will host the latest “Night of Too Many Stars” all-star benefit for NEXT For AUTISM, to be presented live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday, Nov. 18. The special will feature stand-up performances, sketches and short films. The comedy event was created by comedy writer and performer Robert Smigel to support autism schools, programs and services. NEXT for AUTISM (formerly New York Collaborates for Autism) is a non-profit organization that strategically designs, launches and supports innovative programs to improve the lives of people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
“We’re excited to bring Jon to the network with this pair of specials,” said Bloys. “We’ve all missed his uniquely thoughtful brand of humor.”
“I’m really thrilled to be able to return to stand-up on HBO,” adds Stewart. ”They’ve always set the standard for great stand-up specials. Plus, I can finally use up the last of the Saddam Hussein jokes left over from my first special.”
Jon Stewart became the host of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” in 1999, stepping down from the show in 2015. The series received 23 Primetime Emmys® and two Peabody Awards. Stewart hosted the Academy Awards® twice, in 2006 and 2008, and wrote the New York Times bestselling books “Earth (The Book): A Visitor’s Guide to the Human Race” and “America (The Book): A Guide to Democracy Inaction,” which was on the New York Times bestseller list for 18 consecutive weeks. He also wrote and directed the 2014 feature film “Rosewater.”
We still eagerly await his arrival. You?
