Think about it: Whoever replaced Jon Stewart was doomed to fail, right? How could anyone possibly create their own identity on a show so closely tied to its previous host? But much like Jay Leno with The Tonight Show, or Brian Johnson with AC/DC (work with us here), Noah replaced an icon and has thrived in the gig. The Daily Show is still the top destination for informational satire, educational mockery and politically-charged entertainment, and its host earned a contract extension that will keep him in the chair until at least 2022.
That doesn't keep him off the road, though, and Noah will perform at the Yuengling Center (greybeards might still call it the USF Sun Dome) tonight at 8 p.m.
Obviously, you wouldn't expect (or want) a recreation of his cable show. But you might get something closer to the show's Between the Scenes segments, where Noah is talking conversationally with the audience between commercials. That kind of casual banter, coupled with stand-up topics like growing up in South Africa and coming from a mixed-race family, should make for a funny evening of insights from his unique perspective. And the fans who tune in to The Daily Show to find humor in the non-stop news cycle will get to know him a little better, too.
Trevor Noah | Yuengling Center, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa | $31.25-$55.75 | Showtimes and tickets here
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This article appears in Jan 17-24, 2019.