Jon Stewart lines up staff for upcoming Apple TV+ show

Jon Stewart has begun solidifying his staff picks for his yet unnamed current events series set to air on Apple TV+.

Stewart has picked a showrunner for his upcoming current event series, selecting news Brinda Adhikari. Adhikari is an established fixture in news media and has worked for media giants such as "CBS Evening News," where she won a 2020 Edward R. Murrow award.

Also on staff will be Chelsea Devantez, serving as head writer. Devantez is known for her work on shows such as "The Opposition with Jordan Klepper," and "Bless This Mess."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Stewart has also brought on Lorrie Baranek to serve as executive producer. Baranek has two decades of production experience, including projects like "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman" and "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore."

The series will consist of hour-long, single-subject episodes that explore subjects relevant to the national conversation and Stewart's advocacy work. The series will echo Stewart's previous work on "The Daily Show," a long-running news satire television program. The project is currently seeking out talent to join the crew, as tweeted by Brinda Adhikari.

Friends! Our show is hiring. For many positions. If you have a background in comedy/news/docs/advocacy/general positively-intentioned badassery, take a look. Please apply using the instructions on this link below:https://t.co/5qAstLSCGD
— Brinda Adhikari (@adhikab) February 16, 2021

It is not clear when the unnamed project is set to begin production, nor is it clear when the series will debut.

12 Comments

crowley 15 Years · 10431 comments

About 3 years ago

Is Stewart confirmed as presenting, or is he just producing? I think this will definitely be a draw for Apple TV+ for a certain crowd if the former. Probably for the latter too, but a little less certain.

baconstang 10 Years · 1160 comments

If it's an hour long, single subject, I do hope they start with a 5 minute current round up. Ala Oliver.

fastasleep 14 Years · 6451 comments

crowley said:

Is Stewart confirmed as presenting, or is he just producing? I think this will definitely be a draw for Apple TV+ for a certain crowd if the former. Probably for the latter too, but a little less certain.

From last year, "The show, which will run for multiple seasons, puts Stewart back in the anchor’s chair as he explores a host of topics at the center of both the national conversation and his own advocacy work."

siretman 11 Years · 120 comments

Can’t wait. I missed Jon and was upset at his retirement from the Daily Show. Looking forward to enjoy him again soon.

chasm 10 Years · 3624 comments

siretman said:

Can’t wait. I missed Jon and was upset at his retirement from the Daily Show. Looking forward to enjoy him again soon.

Trevor Noah has been a great replacement, but I fully understand missing Jon since he just vanished from the scene for a long while, and he was superb.

I think getting him on Apple TV+ is going to a huge shot in the arm for the service, though frankly IMHO it is just about -- not quite, but very close -- to not needing any shots in the arm anymore. Fretting that TV+ is not (and is never going to be) a Disney+ or Netflix or HBO Max is a fool's errand: Apple clearly has no interest in being any of those things. Apple's goal is for TV+ to be a showcase of excellence, like PBS is, like Acorn TV is, like the Criterion Channel is. None of those services are "flops" because they don't have viewership levels of Prime Video, they are richly enjoyed by the people who are attracted to outstanding uses of the medium.

As I often say, if "mass market popularity" is the same as "the best," then McDonald's makes the finest hamburgers on Earth. McDonald's does what they do, and other smaller companies cater to people who prefer something that is "a cut above." Thank heavens both types (and variations in-between) exist.