Jessica Williams, one of the youngest faux-news correspondents to grace Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” is leaving the late-night outlet after the Viacom-owned network earlier this year unveiled a development deal with the comedienne. The network made an announcement about the move on Twitter Wednesday.
You nailed it on The #DailyShow, @msjwilly. We’re thrilled to make more stuff with you. Cue awesome highlight reel.https://t.co/mE27qI64MF
— Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) June 29, 2016
Comedy Central said in May it had signed Williams to a pact under which she would work on a narrative scripted pilot, that she will executive produce. Naomi Ekperigin, a comedian who has worked as a writer on the network’s “Broad City,” is expected to write the show with Williams. Williams joined the late-night program in 2012 and was suggested as a potential successor to Jon Stewart last year on social media after that host announced he would leave the program. The speculation reached such a pitch that Williams took to Twitter to knock the rumors down.
Comedy Central has a history of working with “Daily Show” correspondents on new projects, including Stephen Colbert on “The Colbert Report” and Larry Wilmore on “The Nightly Show.” Keeping the comics in-house can be crucial, as they often attract the notice of rivals. John Oliver, once a “Daily Show” contributor, has found success hosting “Last Week Tonight” on HBO, and “Daily Show” veteran Samantha Bee, now gaining notice on TBS wiht her program “Full Frontal,” was a “Daily” veteran. Her husband, Jason Jones, was also a “Daily” correspondent who moved to the Time Warner outelt to launch “The Detour,” a comedy.
