Add one more item to the growing list of tributes to Jon Stewart, whose last episode of “The Daily Show” airs tonight. This morning’s edition of The New York Times carries the following ad honoring the comedian, taken out by Comedy Central:
The ad. (Photo by Benjamin Mullin)
The display didn’t come cheap. According to The New York Times’ media kit, full-page ads in the nationwide edition run for about $150,000 before the added cost for color. But it’s a pittance compared to the money Stewart reportedly left on the table when he decided to leave the show. When comedian Denis Leary appeared Tuesday night, he said the “Daily Show” host turned down a new deal valued at $50 million in favor of spending more time with his family:
Stewart’s departure — and the ascendency of South African comedian Trevor Noah to the hosting gig — comes at a time when Comedy Central is seeking to lure a new, diverse audience to the show. Earlier this year, FiveThirtyEight noted that ratings for “The Daily Show” have declined in recent years, although they tend to peak during election season.
