<Table> <Tr> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Year Joined </Th> <Th> Year Left </Th> <Th> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Craig Kilborn </Td> <Td> July 22 , 1996 </Td> <Td> December 17 , 1998 </Td> <Td> The original host . Left the show because he was chosen to host The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder 's departure . Kilborn appeared on the show 16 years later on Jon Stewart 's final episode on August 6 , 2015 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jon Stewart </Td> <Td> January 11 , 1999 </Td> <Td> August 6 , 2015 </Td> <Td> Succeeded Kilborn as the new host of The Daily Show and is the most prolific host of the show . Stewart 's final show was an hour long special on August 6 , 2015 . He returned to the show on December 7 , 2015 , to urge Congress to permanently extend a health care law for 9 / 11 first responders . </Td> </Tr> </Table>
host of the late show who was once a correspondent for the daily show
Craig Kilborn