href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Noah”>Trevor Noah, a new comer to the American comedy scene, is set to become the new host of the Daily Show, following the resignation of Jon Stewart later in the year. In December 2014, he made an impressive debut on the show. After subsequent appearances he has gotten a big and unforeseen promotion.

This development comes barely two months after Mr Stewart disclosed his decision to leave the Daily Show. It has also sparked questions about Trevor’s experience, unpopularity and why a woman wasn’t considered for the position. But despite being a relatively unknown name, observers believe he’s the right person to replace Jon Stewart on one of the worlds most viewed TV shows. He may be heavily criticized and faced with the responsibility of delivering quality comedy, but this media company is willing to take that risk.

Michele Ganeless, the Comedy Central president, stated in an interview that the goal wasn’t to find the next Jon Stewart, but someone who brings something new, exciting and different. “He brings such a unique worldview and a deep understanding of human nature, which makes his comedy so insightful,” she added. “He’s truly a student of the world.”  She revealed that both women and men were spoken to, but Trevor was the best for the position.

Some of the rumored candidates who were vying for the job include Daily Show regulars Samantha Bee, her husband Jason Jones, and—according to a Monday morning tweet by ESPN commentator Bill Simmons— Comedy Central personality Amy Schumer, popular comics Amy Poehler, and  Louis CK. It is indeed shocking that a 31 year old biracial South African has apparently understudied both his predecessor and other experienced on-air personalities.

When on stage, Mr. Noah brings a truly international viewpoint to an American audience. He grew up in Soweto where “speaking freely about anything, as a person of color, was considered treason,” he told New York Times. He performed in different parts of the United States between 2010 and 2012, gaining Mr. Stewart’s attention about two years ago.

This is a career boost for the young and talented South African who is thrilled to have been honored with the offer. Trevor discovered from his conversations with Stewart, that it is never easy for anyone at the start, regardless of your individual backgrounds. “He told me, ‘I was where you were when I took over the show,’ ” Mr. Noah said. “ ‘Nobody knew me. I was just starting out, finding my voice, and that’s when I was handed this seat.’ ”

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