John Mulaney Recalls Turning Down The Daily Show When Jon Stewart Left

As the search for the next full-time host of The Daily Show continues, funnyman John Mulaney is reflecting on how he almost got the job in 2015. At that time, Jon Stewart ended his longtime run on the show, having served as the host since succeeding Craig Kilborn in 1999. Trevor Noah would be named as Stewart’s replacement and would serve as host for seven years, ending his own run this past December.

While promoting his new Netflix special John Mulaney: Baby J, Mulaney was featured for a new interview on the Basic! podcast with Doug Herzog and Jen Chaney. He recalled how back in 2015, he’d just wrapped up a sitcom that hadn’t done well at all. As Mulaney explained, per THR:

“It was shortly after the SNL 40th anniversary. I had a sitcom on Fox. They’d aired all 13 [episodes], but it was canceled. It didn’t do good numbers, but at least critics reviled it. So, it was a fun time.”

While the sitcom flopping affected his confidence, Comedy Central saw potential in Mulaney. The comedian reveals that he was given an offer to succeed Stewart on The Daily Show. While he found it very “flattering” to be asked, Mulaney says that he felt far too “gun-shy” about getting back in front of the cameras like that after his sitcom didn’t work out. Perhaps if it had been about five years later, Mulaney would have accepted, but he just wasn’t quite ready yet to take on that kind of pressure.

“I was extremely flattered that y’all were asking me about it. I sensed they would be big shoes to fill. I think I also was gun-shy from putting myself out there at that moment after the Fox run. And I sensed all eyes would be on whoever came after Mr. Stewart… It wasn’t the right thing at that moment, but I remember saying to Kent, ‘I wish it was five years from now.’ And he went, ‘Yeah, but it’s not.’ I mean, I just remember Kent had a great tone of, ‘I hear you. I’m here to hear out anything you have to say, but it’s now, and we’re asking you about it, and we can’t talk hypothetically for that long at this dinner, John.’”

Related: Jon Stewart Returns to The Daily Show with Surprise Appearance

Who Will Be the Next Host of The Daily Show?

A permanent host hasn’t been named for The Daily Show after Trevor Noah’s exit. Celebrity guest stars have filled in on a rotating basis, and this has included names like Leslie Jones, Marlon Wayans, Chelsea Handler, Kal Penn, Wanda Sykes, Sarah Silverman, and D.L. Hughley. The Daily Show correspondents are also rotating out as guest hosts at this time.

Stewart also recently returned for a surprise appearance on the show. He popped up on an episode hosted by correspondent Roy Woods Jr. while wearing a Jedi outfit. Woods joked that he needed something big to help him “go viral” that week, and the two joked a bit about Stewart’s former stint on the show.

Stewart joked, “I’m Jon. I used to work here when the budget wasn’t as big. A few years back. I actually hosted the program to be honest with you.”

“The Daily Show had a white host?” Woods joked back.