Comedian and longtime Daily Show writer Josh Johnson made a standout hosting debut on Tuesday, drawing record viewership that surpassed even Jon Stewart in the coveted 18-49 age group.
The episode pulled in 590,000 total viewers, making it the most-watched installment of the year not hosted by Stewart.
Even more notable were Johnson’s numbers in the show’s target demographic: 226,000 viewers aged 18-49 tuned in, edging out the best performances of Stewart himself—a clear sign of Johnson’s rising popularity and wide-reaching appeal.
“It’s my first time hosting anything on TV. Ever,” wrote Johnson in a post before his debut.
The writer and stand-up comic, who joined the show’s writing staff in 2017, became the most viewed face on TV Tuesday, with audience numbers beating out all other shows in the late-night category.
In a post about his chart-topping performance, Johnson wrote that he “didn’t know how many people were rooting for me.”
“Hosting The Daily Show has been one of the wildest, most meaningful experiences of my career so far, and knowing that so many of you tuned in means more than I can explain,” the post continued.
Johnson’s debut garnered the highest viewership in the target demo since September 10, 2024—the night Stewart covered the debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The new host took the reins of the show Tuesday through Thursday this week, joining the rotating roster of midweek hosts, including Ronny Chieng, Jordan Klepper, Michael Kosta, and Desi Lydic.
