
Today, Africans worldwide woke up to the news that Trevor Noah, our cousin who made it big in the United States, is leaving The Daily Show. Noah, already a well-known comedian on the continent (though Variety claims he came out of near anonymity), took over the Daily Show mantle from John Stewart in 2015. He proved critics wrong by demonstrating that not only could he carry the show, but he also brought in a newer, younger, and more diverse demographic and, won an Emmy Award. To celebrate seven good years of the Daily Show with Trevor Noah, here are several memorable moments we will always remember:
1. Trevor Noah visits his beloved Gogo
Probably our favourite episode of the Daily Show. Trevor takes his entire crew to visit his late grandmother/Gogo in Soweto. Gogo not only drops some gems, history but also reveals that yes, Trevor knew her slippers well as a kid.
2. Trevor’s accents
Trevor Noah has a great command of a myriad of accents. He imitated Donald Trump’s stream-of-weird-consciousness way of talking during the Trump era, Obama, Joe Biden and many more. Here are some of his most memorable accents:
3. The ‘Between the Scenes’ scenes
Trevor Noah’s version of the Daily show pioneered what became known as Between The Scene’s. moments where he shared candid conversations with his audience between takes, here are some faves:
4. Trevor’s on-point social commentary
Trevor Noah is the type of comedian that can make you laugh and think at the same time. Trevor has a gift for social commentary that arguably, remains unmatched. From addressing gun violence in the States to Kanye West stalking his ex, he was always on point.
5. The Daily Social Distancing Show
The pandemic is now a part of the new normal but during the height of it, watching Trevor shoot the show out his apartment, grow out his fro and go through what felt like a million different coloured comfy looking sweatshirts, gave us some laughs and comfort during quarantine:
6. Giving Africans a platform
Trevor is probably the only late-night show host who repeatedly made a point of having African personalities on his show, from Lupita Nyongo, and Chimamanda Ngozi, Gugu Mbatha-Raw to Burna Boy (before the rest of the world caught on), Trevor always showed love.
7. Team work makes the dream work
Part of Trevor Noah’s Daily Show charm was the obvious friendship and chemistry he had with his colleagues on the show. We got introduced to Dulce Sloane, Roy Wood Jr, Ronny Chieng among others.
It’s been a great seven years and Trevor hit the comedy circuit by headlining a tour in his home country South Africa last month. Here’s to many more!