For those who were wondering “Where in the world is Jon Stewart?” when tuning in on Monday The Daily show (which was hosted by correspondent Jordan Klepper), all viewers had to do was tune in Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Stewart, who has been behind the desk at Comedy Central on Mondays for two months, took the evening off from the desk for the Netflix Is a Joke festival in Los Angeles. He has Friday headed at The Greek Theater for his “Jon Stewart and Friends' show, in which he brought out Jimmy Kimmel, Sarah Silverman and Mike Birbiglia as special guests. Stewart will also be a guest John Mulaney presents: Everyone's in LA this week on Netflixa series of live talk shows that are part of the streamer's celebration.
While in LA, Stewart also decided to spend time with Kimmel and his family, it seems. The Daily Show executive producer appeared on a pre-taped segment of Kimmel's Monday night show, which was a sequel to an earlier show part where the Kimmel clan picked up a hitchhiker who happened to be pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo – a favorite of the Kimmel kids, as the late-night host mentions in his intro to the Stewart clip.
With Molly McNearney riding shotgun and his son Billy and daughter Jane in the backseat as they are taken to school, Kimmel decides to repeat October's impromptu hitchhiker pickup. But this wasn't a pop star beloved by 7- and 9-year-old kids – this time it's the sardonic comedian turned political influencer and freshly returned people's champion of late-night cable TV.
After an awkward climb into the middle seat of the SUV and some sing-along fun with young Billy clawing at the car door, Stewart asks the kids if they had the same good feeling seeing him as they did when they picked up Rodrigo. The very polite Jane answers in the affirmative; Stewart, elated, leans in to tell Kimmel, “Your daughter is the nicest person I've ever met!”
The car conversation with the kids is about Stewart's aging and skin care, but takes a turn when he gets hungry to talk about Arby's — a “diarrhea factory,” as far as the backseat guest of the day is concerned, but also the caterer at Kimmel's 30th birthday party, the host jokes (maybe). Then, before the ride ends, Stewart asks to play one Rodrigo song. (Cover your ears for his big finish, because carpool karaoke is not.) At the end of the segment, Kimmel's newest hitchhiker is 86 years old and has left the family car.
Still, Stewart managed to get an invite to Monday's taping Jimmy Kimmel Live! show, in which he handed his late-night TV brother a bag of roast beef from what must be his least favorite fast food chain.
Steward will come back to The Daily Show on Thursday for a make-good and will continue to host once a week during the presidential election.