Apple cancels ‘The Problem with Jon Stewart’ over creative disagreements with liberal comedian over planned episodes about AI and China
Apple has canceled left-wing comedian Jon Stewart’s follow-up, The Problem with Jon Stewart, despite ordering a third season that was set to begin filming.
The show, which critics had previously labeled boring and stuck in the past, had filming for the next few weeks of season three until Apple and Stewart had a falling out over the content.
Specifically, reports say that Stewart had planned episodes about artificial intelligence and communist China, where Apple executives were either uncomfortable with the subject matter or with the planned guests.
They also said Stewart’s views on the upcoming presidential election could cause further upheaval, the newspaper reported New York Times.
The weekly series prides itself on delving deep into important issues through interviews and discussion.
Apple has canceled left-wing comedian Jon Stewart’s follow-up to The Daily Show, The Problem with Jon Stewart
During the first episode, Stewart, who is estimated to be worth $120 million, discussed the health issues veterans experience due to the nature of their work.
Stewart also regularly hosted a podcast in which he delved deeper into the issues raised on the show.
The comedian made the left-wing masses laugh for 16 years as host of The Daily Show with his George W. Bush impersonations and comedic conversations with correspondents Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and Samantha Bee.
His satirical take on the day’s events often provided more insight into reality than some mainstream news channels.
He left the show in 2015, handing it over to Trevor Noah. It’s unclear how much Stewart’s deal with Apple was worth, but the tech giant likely paid him tens of millions to try to boost his foray into streaming.
Under Stewart’s leadership, the show won more than twenty Primetime Emmy awards.
Stewart has been on the comedy sidelines for the past six years, but even his diehard fans have been reluctant to rave about his new venture.
The show only briefly made headlines for an episode in which Stewart issued a formal apology for old jokes of his that mocked transgender people.
Stewart has been on the comedy sidelines for the past six years, but even his diehard fans have been reluctant to rave about his new venture
According to reports, Stewart had planned episodes about artificial intelligence and communist China, where Apple either felt uncomfortable with the subject matter or with the planned guests
During the season two premiere, the former host of The Daily Show defended the transgender community.
He called his old jokes “sh***y and reductive,” before saying: “Sh***y and reductive jokes are kind of my brand.”
Stewart introduced the topic during his opening monologue of an episode called The War Over Gender, where he emphasized that there are more than two genders and that those who identify outside the binary deserve to be recognized in culture and society.
As he delivered his monologue, a photo of Stewart at his old performance flashed on the screen, highlighting the fun he was challenging himself to have – although he didn’t go so far as to actually play footage of his old jokes.
An almost ten year old Change.org petition mentions an example of such a Stewart joke.
Critics have said The Problem is more political and less funny than The Daily Show, which made him a household name
During the season two premiere, the former host of The Daily Show defended the transgender community
Stewart openly mocked transgender Caitlyn Jenner after she publicly transitioned from Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner to her new self
Even publications they were once fans of Stewart’s political humor and general schtick found the show annoying.
The New York Times said the comedy legend’s new show was lacking in laughs.
“In the first two episodes, his show is ‘The Daily Show,’ but longer (about 45 minutes), more sustained and passionate in its attention and less funny – often deliberately, sometimes not,” the Times opined. James Poniewozik.
Stewart’s efforts were not unappreciated by casual viewers like Frank Conniff.
“Jon Stewart’s new show is more journalism than comedy,” Coniff tweeted. “Personally, I don’t mind seeing a comedian doing journalism because most journalists on TV don’t do that.”