Jon Stewart Renews Comedy Central Contract Through 2008

(CelebrityAccess News Service) — Comedy Central has reached an agreement with Jon Stewart to extend his contract as host of the critically-acclaimed and award-winning "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." Stewart, whose contract was set to expire at the end of this year, will now remain with the all-comedy channel through 2008 and the next presidential election campaign. In addition to hosting "The Daily Show," Stewart also serves as an executive producer and writer.

"A lot of people like to get out when their show's still going well," said Stewart. "This gives me the opportunity to beat this thing into the ground."

"I am thrilled for Jon and Comedy Central that this magnificent union will continue on for another four years," said Larrt Divney, president and CEO of Comedy Chanel. "Jon is one of the great, young comedic minds of our time. His ability to assess what's happening in the world and use humor to dissect the rhetoric and present the truth in its simplest form is unparalleled."

"I have been a fan of Jon's ever since working with him on MTV's 'You Wrote It You Watch It,'" said Judy McGrath, MTV Networks president. "And yes, I have the masters. In the inimitable words of Entertainment Weekly, ''The Daily Show with Jon Stewart' is the most consistent laugh machine on TV…and still maintains it anarchistic spark. 'Indecision 2004'…is the very definition of a comedy series at the top of its game.' I count myself among the legions of Jon Stewart fans, and I can now get some sleep knowing he will be with Comedy Central and MTV Networks for at least another four years. I can't imagine the place without him."

The deal with Comedy Central was negotiated for Stewart by his attorney Tom Hansen of Hansen, Jacobson, Teller. Stewart is managed by James Dixon of Dixon Talent, Inc.

Among the show's many plaudits since Stewart took over on January 11, 1999 are: the 2002-2003 Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series (which ended the five-year run of "Late Show with David Letterman" in this category); multiple Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music or Comedy Program (2000-2001 and 2002-2003); and a George Foster Peabody Award for its yearlong "Indecision 2000" political coverage of the election campaign and aftermath. In addition, Stewart has been twice nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in A Variety Or Music Program.

Currently in the midst of its "Indecision 2004" coverage, "The Daily Show" will continue to report on the contentious Bush vs. Kerry face-off, including taking the show on the road to Boston during the Democratic National Convention in July and covering the Republican National Convention from the show's home base in New York City. The "Indecision 2004" coverage will culminate with a live, one hour Election Night Special at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT).

"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," a nightly news parody launched in the summer of 1996, takes a reality-based look at news, pop culture, politics and the media. In each show, Stewart and a team of correspondents, featuring Stephen Colbert, Rob Corddry, Ed Helms and Samantha Bee, comment on the day's stories employing actual news footage, taped field pieces, in-studio guests and on-the-spot coverage of important news events. The series airs Monday-Thursday at 11:00 p.m. with encore presentations Monday-Thursday at 1:00 a.m., Monday-Friday at 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. – by Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen.