Big news from the world of TV could have huge implications on show business and politics.  Jon Stewart announced he is stepping down as host of The Daily Show, which he transformed from a fake news comedy show, to a necessary source of political and media criticism that still kept things very, very funny.

Stewart announced his decision during the taping of the showed that aired on Tuesday night in America.  It’ll air on The Comedy Channel in Oz.  The president of the Comedy Central network, Michele Ganeless, confirmed the news with a statement:

“For the better part of the last two decades, I have had the incredible honor and privilege of working with Jon Stewart.  His comedic brilliance is second to none.  Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera.  Through his unique voice and vision, ‘The Daily Show’ has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come.  Jon will remain at the helm of ‘The Daily Show’ until later this year.  He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family.”

Stewart joined “The Daily Show” in 1999, replacing Craig Kilborn.  He changed the direction of the show from topical jokes and recorded stories about weird people, to insightful satire about real events such as the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, torture, CIA spying, and several presidential elections. 

With Stewart at the helm, “The Daily Show” became a talent pool without parallel.  Three popular spin-offs maintained its wit, humor, and perhaps most importantly, its breadth of knowledge – “The Colbert Report”, “Last Week Tonight”, and “The Nightly Show”, with Stephen Colbert, Jon Oliver, and Larry Wilmore respectively.  Correspondents Steve Carell, Rob Corddry, Ed Helms, Olivia Munn, Rob Riggle and others have gone on to become regular fixtures in Hollywood. 

Stewart took several months off of the show in 2013 to direct his first feature film “Rosewater”, which didn’t make any money but showed Stewart capable of delivering a film that earns generally good reviews.

In explaining his decision to fans, the 52-year old said he had felt “restless”.  He'll continue to host the show throughout much of 2015 and leave later in teh year.