TV

Jon Stewart follows John Oliver, Bill Simmons to HBO with new exclusive four-year production deal

For his next act, Jon Stewart’s new boss will be the same as John Oliver’s (and Bill Simmons’s, too!): HBO.

The pay-cable network announced an exclusive four-year production contract with Stewart today, which will start with the former Daily Show host producing short-form digital content for HBO NOW and HBO GO, followed by first-look deals for TV shows and movies.

But that’s not all…

Stewart’s new shorts may be updated and refreshed daily and even within the day, thanks to “pioneering cloud graphics company OTOY Inc.,” with whom “he is developing new technology” according to the press release.

“Jon Stewart led a revolution that changed the face of TV comedy on The Daily Show,” said HBO programming president Michael Lombardo. “He graced our network nearly 20 years ago, so we’re thrilled to welcome back his immense talents in this next chapter of his career.”

“I’m so excited to be working with Richard [Plepler], Michael and the entire HBO family,” says Stewart. “Appearing on television 22 minutes a night clearly broke me. I’m pretty sure I can produce a few minutes of content every now and again.”

Stewart stepped down as host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central this summer after 16 years, and won 23 Emmys overall (including three this year).

He previously starred in an HBO stand-up special, Jon Stewart: Unleavened, hosted the HBO special, George Carlin: 40 Years of Comedy, and appeared on the network via roles on Mr. Show with Bob and David and The Larry Sanders Show.

At HBO, Stewart will be reunited with former Daily Show correspondent and fill-in anchor John Oliver, who has hosted Last Week Tonight with John Oliver since April 2014. HBO also has become the new home for Bill Simmons in his post-ESPN career.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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