Jon Stewart sets TV return with Apple TV+ show

Jon Stewart is coming back to TV.

The longtime host of ”The Daily Show” will host and executive produce a one-hour, single-issue current affairs series for the Apple TV+ streaming service that will “explore topics that are currently part of the national conversation and his advocacy work,” Apple said in a statement.

Each season will also include a companion podcast. Stewart’s longtime manager, James Dixon, will serve as an executive producer, and so will Richard Plepler, the former CEO of HBO.

Plepler negotiated Stewart’s last planned return to TV, in 2015, for a topical animated series that would be produced close to its airdate. However, two years later, they scrapped the planned project.

“We all thought the project had great potential, but there were technical issues in terms of production and distribution that proved too difficult given the quick turnaround and topical nature of the material,” HBO said in a statement. “We’re excited to report that we have some future projects together, which you will be hearing about in the near future.”

Stewart left “The Daily Show” in August of 2015 after 16 years. Since then, he opened an animal-rescue farm in New Jersey with his wife, gave impassioned (and effective) testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and wrote and directed the film “Irresistible.”

Back when Stewart announced he’d be releasing content with HBO, he said in a statement, “Appearing on television 22 minutes a night clearly broke me. I’m pretty sure I can produce a few minutes of content now and again.”

Read more at usatoday.com