Trevor Noah is leaving the Daily Show after seven years. In his last show, the South African comedian finds serious words again - and sends a very special thank you to black women.
When US presenters leave their talk show, it's usually with a big bang and lots of celebrities. When Ellen DeGeneres retired from her eponymous show around the 19th season last May, it was none other than Jennifer Aniston who was the last guest to take the stage. The "Friends" actress was the first Hollywood star invited in the pilot episode in 2003. But that's not all: Oprah Winfrey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban, Zac Efron, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Luke Bryan, Kerry Washington, Brad Paisley and Bruno Mars also honored DeGeneres a last visit.
Trevor Noah, however, likes to do things differently from the rest. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton and Bill Gates said goodbye to him on Thursday at his finale on the "Daily Show" on Comedy Central in a video compilation. However, no Hollywood A-listers were featured, only his six in-house correspondents - Roy Wood Jr., Jordan Klepper, Desi Lydic, Dulcé Sloan, Michael Kosta and Ronny Chieng - with whom he has worked side by side for the past seven years had worked. They all honored the South African with short comedy interludes.
However, it got really emotional when the comedian said goodbye to his audience. When he took over the show from Jon Stewart, they initially didn't have enough people to fill the guest block, the 38-year-old recalled. "And then I look at it now and I don't take it for granted. I appreciate every seat that's ever been taken to see something I do because I always know the empty space behind it," he continued.
However, his biggest thanks go to black women, Noah said with tears in his eyes. Because they had a great influence on where he is today: "Who do you think teaches me? Who do you think formed me, nurtured me, informed me?" These were his mother, grandmother and aunt - "all these black women in my life". That also applies to the USA. "I always tell people: if you really want to learn about America, talk to black women!" Because unlike everyone else, they know "what happens when things don't go the way they should" and can't afford to just let it come to them. "When things go bad, black people know it's going to get worse for them."
But that wasn't the only appeal Trevor Noah had to his audience. So despite the perception that things are getting even darker and more divided than ever, people should stay positive. "Please don't forget that the world is kinder than the internet or the news would have you think," he told viewers. That's one of the three things he learned during his time on the show. His other insights are that politics is an invented way to solve things. And that it is important to remember how important context is.
It is not yet known who will present the "Daily Show" in the future. Starting January 17th, a number of comedians will initially sit behind the podium including Chelsea Handler, Sarah Silverman, Marlon Wayans, Hasan Minahj, Al Franken, Leslie Jones, Kal Penn, D.L. Hughley, John Leguizamo, and Wanda Sykes. It is also unclear whether any of them are in the running for the post. It is also quite possible that someone completely unknown will become the new face of the satirical show. After all, Trevor Noah was also a blank slate in the US when he took over the job in 2015.
