Trevor Noah Says Goodbye to ‘The Daily Show’ With Nostalgic Tribute to America—And Black Women

On Thursday night, Trevor Noah ended his seven-year stint as the host of The Daily Show with a nostalgic whirlwind of a final episode. Over the course of an hour, Noah reconnected with all of his correspondents, got special prerecorded shout-outs from Oprah, Issa Rae, and more, and brought comedian and longtime friend Neal Brennan on as his final guest. However, in the episode’s final 15 minutes, Noah did away with skits and bits, instead monologuing to the audience about his journey to the show and the many lessons he’s learned about America over the years. 

“If you truly want to learn about America, talk to Black women,” Noah said. The host, who is South African, teared up as he said it. “Who do you think teaches me? Who do you think has shaped me, nourished me, informed me?”

He then went on to name women including Roxane Gay, Tressie McMillan Cottom, and Tarana Burke. “Do yourself a favor. If you truly want to know what to do or how to do it, or maybe the best way or the most equitable way, talk to Black women,” Noah added. “They’re a lot of the reason that I’m here.” 

Noah’s final episode was tender and funny in all the right ways, ending his tenure on a high. It was also a reminder to audiences that for Noah, The Daily Show was always a pit stop, never a destination. Prior to taking the mantle from previous host Jon Stewart, Noah was a successful comedian selling out venues, and he likely would have continued apace. He wasn’t even that familiar with the show before Stewart called him up and asked him to make a few guest appearances to get his feet wet ahead of ultimately tapping him as his successor. Now Noah’s leaving because it’s as good a time as any to leave, and there’s so much more life out there to be lived. There’s no big gig on the horizon, no secret announcement that he’s got some other job lined up. The host explained his surprise exit best in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, noting how deeply American it is to hold on to something forever. 

“Maybe this comes with not being raised in America, but I believe that everything should end,” sayid Noah. “A lot of American business and American media is just like, ‘Keep it going as long as possible,’ but I think it’s healthy for things to end when they’re still in a good place. I want to leave before I’m burnt out, because there are many other things I’d like to do.”

During the show, Noah said it in quippier fashion. “You should be happy that an African leader is peacefully leaving power,” he told the audience. “That’s never a guarantee.”

Brennan, a respected comedian who’s known Noah for 13 years, joked that, even still, he was worried about how Noah would feel when he woke up the next day and was no longer the host of The Daily Show: “You’re just gonna be a best-selling author who does comedy in sold-out arenas around the world.”  

Brennan was, perhaps for some, a surprising final guest for Noah, a comedian’s comedian who rose to fame as Dave Chappelle’s writing partner, and who is currently receiving warm reviews for his new special, Blocks. But the candor between Noah and Brennan was pleasant and added to the nostalgic feel of the finale. The conversation arrived at a thoughtful place as Brennan spoke about his struggles with depression and anxiety. He’s treated his mental health issues with everything from transcranial magnetic stimulation to ketamine therapy to ayahuasca. Noah leaned into the potential tenderness of the moment, asking Brennan to give advice to viewers who might also be struggling with their mental health.