Hasan Minhaj, the acclaimed comedian and former correspondent on “The Daily Show,” was supposedly on the verge of becoming the permanent host of the iconic satirical news program. However, his chances were abruptly dashed due to a scandal involving embellishments in his stand-up special. This revelation, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, shed light on a missed opportunity that could have potentially changed the future of the show.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the deal to make Hasan Minhaj Trevor Noah’s replacement was nearly finalized. The only remaining steps were crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s during the summer. However, just as everything seemed to be falling into place, the New Yorker magazine published an exposé accusing Minhaj of embellishing stories in his stand-up routines.
The New Yorker alleged that Hasan had exaggerated certain anecdotes in his comedy special for shock value. One such story involved taking his daughter to the hospital due to an anthrax scare. Another anecdote claimed that he was rejected by a woman because of his race, a claim denied by the woman in question. Minhaj vehemently denied these allegations, defending himself against the New Yorker’s assertions.
Unfortunately for Hasan Minhaj, the scandal surrounding his alleged embellishments was seen as a significant liability by the higher-ups at “The Daily Show.” Despite his defense against the accusations, the controversy was considered too detrimental to the show’s reputation to move forward with his hiring.
The fallout from the scandal was swift, with some comedians expressing frustration over Minhaj’s alleged actions. Comedian Bill Maher even went as far as calling him a liar on an episode of his own show. It seems that Hasan’s attempt to justify his embellishments by claiming that all comedians exaggerate fell flat with several industry figures.
In an attempt to salvage the situation, “The Daily Show” producers made the decision to bring back Jon Stewart, the beloved former host, on a part-time basis. Stewart will host the show on Mondays throughout the election season and serve as an executive producer of the show until at least 2025. Hosting duties from Tuesday to Thursday will be handled by rotating correspondents.
Although the decision not to hire Hasan Minhaj as Trevor Noah’s replacement may have been necessary to protect the show’s integrity, it undoubtedly disappointed many who were eager to see a fresh face take on the role. Roy Wood Jr., another correspondent on the show, may find solace in the fact that the higher-ups are still actively looking for a new host.
Hasan Minhaj’s potential hosting gig on “The Daily Show” was brought to an abrupt end by a scandal involving embellishments in his stand-up special. Despite the excitement and anticipation surrounding his potential hiring, the show’s producers decided to back off and explore other options. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Minhaj and who will eventually take the reins of the iconic satirical news program.
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