The Daily Show has launched the careers of many comedians,
including Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Wyatt Cenac, Mo Rocca, and John Stewart
himself. There have been a few less of the ladies than men on the Daily Show in general,
but those that have are some of the best around. In the earlier days, there was
Nancy Walls, Beth Littleford, Olivia Munn, and Rachael Harris. Some of the most
recent ladies, however, have been truly amazing both on the show and in their
later work.
Desi Lydic
Desi Lydic is one of the newbies, joining TDS during the
Trevor Noah era. Her “What the Actual Fact?” segment is necessary throughout
the bullshit slinging of the 2016 presidential election and this piece on shaming
new mothers is beautiful. Since Jessica Williams' departure from the show, she’s
the one shining female correspondent left (and no, I am not forgetting Michelle
Wolf; this is a blog about those I find inspiring so I will stop myself from
saying anything more).
Kristen Schaal
I adore Kristen Schaal. Every time she was on the show I
knew it was going to be amazing. It was a rarity that her bit didn’t have me
laughing out loud (not in text speak, but actually laughing in real life). Her
piece on birth control was tops but I cannot find it on YouTube, so here’s
another that’s up there too.
Outside of The Daily Show, she rocked the character Hazel in
30 Rock. And her post-TDS career has been booming, what with shows like Bob’s
Burgers and The Last Man on Earth.
Jessica Williams
Jessica Williams burst onto the show in 2012, was pretty
immediately amazing, and left one of the most beloved correspondents. I wrote a
little about her in my post about her podcast, “Two Dope
Queens,” but I can keep talking her up. The day it was announced she was
leaving the show was a sad one. But it quickly turned around with the
announcement that she will soon have her own show and the comfort of still
hearing her on the Two Dope Queens podcast.
I have high hopes for Jessica Williams and her career. If
Samantha Bee is any indication of success for brilliant women post TDS, Jessica
Williams will be providing us with the comedy fix we need for many years to
come.
Samantha Bee
Sam Bee was the longest running regular correspondent on the
Daily Show. As great as she was on the
show, however, my favorite work of hers has been after her departure. In her
own show, Full Frontal, Bee unleashes a fury of intelligent analysis and humor.
One of my all time favorite pieces she has done was last week. This was one of
several segments on “Pussy Gate” and the second presidential debate.
And when two powerful comedians get together, it’ll knock
your sock off. Thank you, Daily Show, for introducing these ladies to us and for
bringing them together.
