This article is a list of the correspondents and on-screen contributors who have appeared on the satirical television program The Daily Show. Correspondents, collectively known as "The Best F#@king News Team Ever", normally have two roles: "experts" with satirical "senior" titles whom the host interviews about certain issues, or hosts of original reporting segments which often showcase interviews of serious political figures. During Jon Stewart's tenure, the show's contributors often had their own unique recurring segment on the show and tended to appear less frequently; current host Trevor Noah is a former correspondent and contributor who was featured during the Stewart era.
Name |
Year Joined |
Year Left |
Notes |
Dan Bakkedahl |
September 20, 2005 |
September 25, 2007 |
Hired to replace departing correspondent Stephen Colbert on September 25, 2005. Filed his final report on September 25, 2007. Bakkedahl was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Samantha Bee |
July 10, 2003 |
April 30, 2015 |
"This Week in God", "Are You Prepared?!?"; married to correspondent Jason Jones; all-time longest-serving regular correspondent after passing Stephen Colbert in 2011. Departed the show on April 30, 2015. Bee was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Mary Birdsong |
January 31, 2002 |
March 14, 2002 |
Contributing correspondent. |
A. Whitney Brown |
July 23, 1996 |
December 15, 1998 |
"Backfire"; was one of The Daily Show's original correspondents. Had his own The Daily Show special in 1998 called "Weirder Than Whitney". |
Steve Carell |
February 11, 1999 |
April 4, 2005 |
"Even Stephven", "Produce Pete", "Dollars and "Cents"", "We Love Showbiz", "Slimmin' Down With Steve", "Ad Nauseam". Carell had his own The Daily Show special in May 2001 called "Steve Carell Salutes Steve Carell" highlighting his most popular field assignments on the show. Carell is the first correspondent to become a major movie and television star, and the only correspondent to receive an Academy Award nomination since leaving The Daily Show in early 2005. Steve has since returned numerous times as a featured guest and was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. He is married to fellow former correspondent Nancy (Walls) Carell. |
Wyatt Cenac |
June 3, 2008 |
December 13, 2012 |
Senior Correspondent; also provides voice for Michael Steele puppet. Filed his final report on December 13, 2012, but also made cameo guest appearances on August 15, 2013 for the last show of guest host John Oliver and for Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Michael Che |
June 4, 2014 |
September 18, 2014 |
Left to co-anchor Weekend Update on SNL. Shortest correspondent tenure as of 2015. [3] Was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Stephen Colbert |
June 26, 1997 |
September 26, 2005 |
"Even Stephven", "This Week In God", "The Jobbing of America". Stephen Colbert hosted The Daily Show six times (January 24, 2001; February 20 and 22, 2001; March 26–27, 2001; April 3 and 5, 2001; May 2–3, 2001; March 6, 2003; July 6, 2004). Although Colbert left The Daily Show team in mid-2005, through 2010 Stewart frequently "tossed" to him at The Colbert Report at the end of a show. Colbert has also made a number of Daily Show cameos since 2005, particularly in reference to his mock "presidential campaigns" in 2007/08 and 2011/12, and Stewart's stewardship of Colbert SuperPAC in 2011. With a nearly nine-year tenure, Colbert was the longest serving correspondent on The Daily Show until his record was broken by Samantha Bee in 2011. Before taking over as new host of The Late Show on CBS, Colbert made his final appearance for Jon Stewart's last episode on August 6, 2015. |
Nate Corddry |
October 4, 2005 |
May 2, 2006 |
The younger brother of correspondent Rob Corddry. As a running joke on the show, older brother Rob would often appear in Nate's segments usually picking on him. This eventually led to the two brothers having their own "Even Stephven"-style debate segment called "Brother vs. Brother". Was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Rob Corddry |
April 17, 2002 |
August 24, 2006 |
"This Week In God", "Come On!", "Popular Music Omnibus", and as he liked to call them, "Poop jokes". Corddry filled in for Jon (on paternity leave) on February 9, 2006. He left the show in August 2006 to start a film career and to star in The Winner, a Fox comedy that ran from March 4 to March 18, 2007. He has also returned as a special guest correspondent several times since and was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. Corddry created and stars in the comedy series Childrens Hospital, currently airing on Adult Swim. |
Josh Gad |
May 5, 2009 |
Jun 27, 2011 |
Contributing Correspondent. Made his last appearance on June 27, 2011. Made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Vance DeGeneres |
January 14, 1999 |
May 17, 2001 |
"Dollars and "Cents"", "A Tale of Survival", had his own The Daily Show special in 2000 highlighting his popular "Tales of Survival" segments. Was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Susie Essman |
September 25, 1996 |
September 25, 1996 |
Contributing correspondent. |
Rachael Harris |
October 28, 2002 |
March 20, 2003 |
"Mark Your Calendar", "We Love Showbiz". |
Ed Helms |
April 29, 2002 |
December 05, 2006 |
"Digital Watch", "Ad Nauseam", "Mark Your Calendar", "We Love Showbiz", "This Week in God". Helms and fellow correspondent Rob Corddry had their own The Daily Show special in 2003 called "I'm a Correspondent: Please Don't Fire Me". Helms made an appearance on July 21, 2008 as a special guest correspondent. Most recently, Helms was one of the stars of the hit 2009 comedy The Hangover, making him the second prominent former correspondent (after Steve Carell) to star in a hit movie and return as a featured guest on the show. Helms was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. Helms also starred in The Office, which ran from March 24, 2005 to May 16, 2013. |
Jason Jones |
September 29, 2005 |
March 26, 2015 |
"Are You Prepared?!?", "Jason Jones 180"; married to correspondent Samantha Bee. Filled in for a sick Jon Stewart on October 7, 2014. Departed the show on March 26, 2015. Jones made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Beth Littleford |
July 24, 1996 |
May 18, 2000 |
"The Beth Littleford Interview", "bETh". In 1999, she had her own The Daily Show special called "The Beth Littleford Interview Special", highlighting her popular celebrity interviews. She was the only original correspondent to stay with the show after Jon Stewart took over as host, leaving the show in 2000. |
Olivia Munn |
June 3, 2010 |
February 3, 2011 |
Senior Asian Correspondent. Made her final appearance on February 3, 2011. Was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
John Oliver |
July 31, 2006 |
December 19, 2013 |
Senior British Person; "Wilmore-Oliver Investigates"; on writing staff from 2007 to 2013. Interim host during the summer of 2013. He departed the show on December 19, 2013 to prepare hosting his own late night show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on HBO which premiered on April 27, 2014. Returned to host the show on November 13, 2014 to promote Jon Stewart's film, Rosewater. Oliver returned for an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Caroline Rhea |
August 13, 1996 |
August 13, 1996 |
Contributing correspondent. |
Rob Riggle |
September 20, 2006 |
December 10, 2008 |
Senior Military Affairs Correspondent; Some of his most memorable work on the show included his overseas special assignments. His week-long reports from Iraq in 2007 titled "Operation: Silent Thunder" brought much attention to the show. After the success of "Silent Thunder", he traveled to China for his second overseas four-part series during the 2008 Olympics, titled "Rob Riggle: Chasing the Dragon". Shortly after announcing he would be leaving the show, he made his farewell appearance on December 10, 2008. Riggle made a surprise appearance on the August 3, 2010 show, during an interview with Will Ferrell and again on August 15, 2013 for the last show of guest host John Oliver. Made a cameo the week of Nov 17th in a correspondent report and was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Mo Rocca |
November 16, 1998 |
August 20, 2003 |
"Dollars and "Cents"", "Mark Your Calendar", "Mopinion". Rocca went on to parlay his Daily Show correspondent persona in numerous other cable appearances, such as several VH1 "talking head" shows and at the 2004 political conventions for Larry King Live. Was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Jeffrey Ross |
July 22, 1996 |
June 18, 1997 |
Contributing correspondent. |
Michael Showalter |
July 22, 1996 |
July 22, 1996 |
Contributing correspondent. |
Denny Siegel |
February 2, 1999 |
April 15, 1999 |
Contributing correspondent. |
Jeff Stilson |
October 9, 1998 |
January 18, 1999 |
Contributing correspondent. |
Miriam Tolan |
June 15, 2000 |
July 25, 2001 |
Contributing correspondent. Also occasionally filled in for Nancy Walls on "Dollars and "Cents"" |
Brian Unger |
July 22, 1996 |
December 16, 1998 |
"Backfire", was one of The Daily Show's original correspondents. |
David Wain |
July 23, 1996 |
August 6, 1996 |
Contributing correspondent. |
Nancy Walls |
December 7, 1999 |
August 8, 2002 |
"We Love Showbiz", "Popular Music Omnibus", "Dollars and "Cents"", married to fellow former correspondent Steve Carell. Walls was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Matt Walsh |
May 2, 2001 |
June 25, 2002 |
News You Can Utilize, "Dollars and "Cents"", had his own The Daily Show special in May 2002 called "Matt Walsh Goes to Hawaii". Walsh was among the former correspondents who made an appearance on Jon Stewart's final episode on August 6, 2015. |
Lauren Weedman |
July 16, 2001 |
October 7, 2002 |
"Dollars and "Cents"", "We Love Showbiz". |
Bob Wiltfong |
April 6, 2004 |
December 1, 2005 |
Contributing correspondent. |
Lizz Winstead |
July 22, 1996 |
December 18, 1997 |
Original correspondent and co-creator of The Daily Show. |
Stacey Grenrock-Woods |
April 2, 1998 |
July 14, 2003 |
Contributing correspondent. |
Name |
Year Joined |
Year Left |
Notes |
Amy Atkins |
March 10, 1998 |
March 23, 1998 |
Contributor. |
Dave Attell |
April 1, 1999 |
January 22, 2002 |
Contributor, "The Ugly American". On August 6, 2015, Attell made a return appearance to say goodbye to Jon Stewart on his final episode. |
Michael Blieden |
July 30, 1996 |
January 24, 2000 |
Contributor, original host of "Ad Nauseam". |
John Bloom |
July 25, 1996 |
June 20, 2000 |
Contributor, "God Stuff". |
Rich Brown |
October 20, 1998 |
May 9, 2000 |
Contributor, "Public Excess". Also a one-time correspondent. |
Sameer Butt |
December 4, 1997 |
April 16, 1998 |
Contributor. |
Frank DeCaro |
October 10, 1996 |
March 19, 2003 |
Contributor, "Out at the Movies"; he currently hosts his own program on Sirius Satellite Radio and was a celebrity panelist on GSN's revival of I've Got a Secret. |
Eric Drysdale |
January 31, 2001 |
January 31, 2001 |
A long time writer for The Daily Show and later on The Colbert Report; Drysdale was a one-time correspondent as well as often appearing in other various comedy bits for the show. |
Mick Foley |
November 19, 2009 |
June 18, 2013 |
Contributor, "Senior Ass Kicker". |
Adrianne Frost |
March 7, 2002 |
March 7, 2002 |
One-time correspondent. |
Jon Glaser |
February 10, 2004 |
February 10, 2004 |
One-time correspondent. |
Dave Gorman |
April 24, 2006 |
October 5, 2006 |
Contributor, "Poll Smoking"; appeared on the show once as a guest in 2001 to promote Are You Dave Gorman?. |
Al Greenwood |
March 16, 1998 |
March 28, 2000 |
Contributor, "Al Up in That". Greenwood (known for his local "Bedspread King" commercials) appeared as the show's "elderly consumer advocate". In 2000, he hosted The Daily Show special "Al Greenwood's Wrinkled Nuts", a best-of collection of the correspondent's field interviews with elderly residents. Greenwood died on June 6, 2001, at age 93, an "in memoriam" clip for Greenwood was shown as the "Moment of Zen" on the show that week. |
Buck Henry |
January 31, 2007 |
September 24, 2007 |
Contributor, "The Henry Stops Here", Senior Historical Perspectivist. |
Tom Johnson |
July 18, 2000 |
October 2, 2001 |
Contributor, "Lord Viper Scorpion". |
Laura Kightlinger |
January 21, 1999 |
January 21, 1999 |
One-time correspondent. |
Andy Kindler |
October 19, 2000 |
March 21, 2001 |
Contributor, "TV Guy". |
Robert Knight |
February 4, 1997 |
April 23, 1997 |
Contributor. |
Ed Lover |
September 30, 1996 |
December 19, 1996 |
Contributor, "Ed Lover's America". |
Demetri Martin |
November 14, 2005 |
February 28, 2008 |
Contributor, "Trendspotting". Left to star in his own Comedy Central show, Important Things with Demetri Martin. |
Jerry Minor |
June 22, 2000 |
June 22, 2000 |
One-time correspondent. |
Molly Pesce |
February 24, 1996 |
May 28, 1998 |
Originally co-hosted The Daily Show's movie review segments with Frank DeCaro. Eventually, DeCaro would go solo with his own segment "Out at the Movies" in 1997. |
David Pompeii |
June 25, 2001 |
June 25, 2001 |
One-time correspondent. |
Tom Shillue |
September 29, 1998 |
July 20, 2000 |
Contributor, "This Week in Hate". Become a correspondent in 2000 before leaving. |
Campbell Smith |
May 8, 2001 |
January 14, 2002 |
Contributor, "Dollars and "Cents"". |
William Stephenson |
April 20, 1999 |
August 27, 1999 |
Contributor, "What I'm Sayin". |
Patrick Stewart |
September 26, 2012 |
September 26, 2012 |
Senior Replacement Correspondent. |
Paul F. Tompkins |
August 6, 1998 |
December 3, 1998 |
Contributor, "Us People's Weekly Entertainment". |
Sarah Vowell |
November 17, 2011 |
November 17, 2011 |
One-time correspondent, "Senior Historical Context Correspondent". |
Larry Wilmore |
August 22, 2006 |
December 2, 2014 |
Senior Black Correspondent, "Wilmore-Oliver Investigates". Left to host The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. On August 6, 2015, Wilmore made a return appearance to say goodbye to Jon Stewart on his final episode. |
Bassem Youssef |
February 10, 2015 |
April 14, 2015 |
Senior Middle East Correspondent. The host of Al-Bernameg (The Program), a satirical news program broadcast in Egypt from 2011 to 2014. The press has compared Youssef with Stewart, who served as an inspiration for Youssef to begin his career.[4][5][6] On August 6, 2015, Youssef made a return appearance to say goodbye to Jon Stewart on his final episode. |
Darth Vader |
August 6, 2015 |
August 6, 2015 |
One-time correspondent, "Senior Evil Correspondent" |