Jon Stewart’s talk show on Apple TV has come to a surprising and sudden end over what reports are saying are disagreements over the topics the comedian planned to tackle in the upcoming season.
The Problem with Jon Stewart, which was gearing up for its third season, has been canceled with the former “Daily Show” host and Apple splitting over the last few days, according to the New York Times. It noted that taping of the upcoming season was supposed to begin within a couple of weeks.
The split was attributed to creative differences over Stewart’s choice to book guests to tackle the topics of artificial intelligence and China, according to the Times report.
The cancellation marks an ignoble end to a show that was announced on the Apple TV+ service with large fanfare in 2021, with Stewart virtually talk show royalty after a stellar run on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” from 1999 to 2015. Stewart helped popularize the now-common trend of talk show hosts threading together comedy and politics in a way that both informed and entertained viewers.
An Apple spokesperson couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Stewart tackled everything from the culture wars to gun control and the economy in pointed segments that infused equal parts facts, outrage and humor. It was among the higher profile shows on the burgeoning service, which boasts a more limited library of shows and movies than its streaming peers, but a number of critically acclaimed shows like Ted Lasso and The Morning Show.
It’s possible tackling China could have put Apple in an awkward spot, with the company having to walk a fine line to avoid angering the Chinese government and risk its large presence there. The company is already feeling some of the backlash, with the Chinese government banning employees from bringing iPhones to work.
Photo credit: The Problem With Jon Stewart/Busboy Productions