Indian American actor Kal Penn is reportedly the leading candidate to replace Trevor Noah as the host of “The Daily Show,” according to recent reports.
Trevor Noah, who stepped down from hosting duties a few months ago, is set to be succeeded by Kal Penn, as reported by TheWrap, a reputable publication.
Kal Penn previously hosted the show as a guest in March and was competing against four other contenders, including the American comedian Hasan Minhaj.
Since Trevor Noah’s departure from the show in December, “The Daily Show” has been on the hunt for various guest hosts to find the perfect fit. Over the past few months, a list of celebrities has taken turns as guest hosts from February to March. Notable names on the list include Roy Wood Jr., Desi Lydic, and Jordan Klepper.
As the hosts rotated, “The Daily Show” witnessed a significant 21% increase in ratings from January to mid-April 2023. Minhaj and Penn were among the initial celebrities given the opportunity to guest host, alongside John Leguizamo, Al Franken, Marlon Wayans, Sarah Silverman, Chelsea Handler, D.L. Hughley, Wanda Sykes, and Leslie Jones.
According to reports, Kal Penn’s first hosting gig featuring President Biden attracted 658,000 viewers. Meanwhile, Franken garnered the highest viewership with 792,000, securing the top spot in TheWrap’s ratings breakdown. Leguizamo and Silverman followed in second and third place, respectively. Kal Penn secured the fourth position with an average of 606,000 total viewers, while Hasan Minhaj followed closely in fifth place with an average of 602,000 viewers.
Kal Penn, born Kalpen Suresh Modi, is an Indian-origin American who has left a mark in Hollywood with several notable movies and TV series. He gained recognition for his breakout role as a stoner Ivy Leaguer in the cult hit “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle,” and since then, his career has soared. Penn has been part of blockbusters such as “Superman Returns,” “The Namesake,” and TV shows like “24,” “Designated Survivor,” and had a cameo appearance in “The Big Bang Theory.” He was also involved in politics, serving as a staffer in the Obama administration.
